Just inside the entrance to Adventureland is another outpost on the edge of civilization. While the British colonial structures on one side of the path bring civility to the jungle, Bwana Bob's on the other side aims to bring a bit of the jungle to the village. Bob trades all sorts of goods, from apparel to make tropic expeditions more comfortable to jewelry "hand crafted by natives."
Of course, if you question the authenticity of some of Bob's wares, you might be right. This Adventureland merchandise location takes its name from the 1963 film Call Me Bwana and the movie's star, Bob Hope. In the film, Bob plays Matthew Merriwether, an author who purports to be an expert on all things African, but has never actually visited the continent.
Why Bob Hope? Hope, long an admirer of Walt Disney, had been one of the biggest Hollywood stars to come out for the opening ceremonies of Walt Disney World. In his appearance on the "Walt Disney World Grand Opening Special" on NBC, his praise for Walt Disney the man and Walt Disney World the place was profound. Naming a location in the park as a tribute to Bob Hope was a way of saying, "Thank you."
Historical note: Bwana Bob's has not always been in Adventureland or in the same location where it's found today. The shop actually made its debut in 1983 in what had been an Adventureland ticket booth (attraction tickets were discontinued in 1982 with the introduction of the World Passport ticket). That booth, and the original Bwana Bob's, was between the Liki Tikis and the path leading down to the Jungle Cruise dock. It was removed in 2002 to allow for smoother traffic flow around the newly installed Magic Carpets of Aladdin. The present cart structure was added at about the same time and later rechristened Bwana Bob's.
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