Jumbo, Jr. better known as Dumbo or Dumbo the Flying Elephant is the titular protagonist of Dumbo (1941). Dumbo is a circus elephant with giant ears which he can use like ears to fly.
At the parks, Dumbo used to meet and greet guests since the opening of the park. However, over the years, he became rarer to find, and currently, can only be found during special events. There is also a ride themed after Dumbo throughout the theme parks.
History[]
Background[]
Origins[]
Jumbo, Jr. was the baby elephant of circus elephant Mrs. Jumbo, born in the early 20th century with enlarged ears which caused him to be bullied, ostracized, and ridiculed with the nickname, "Dumbo". One day, Dumbo was bullied by a human boy at the circus who tugged at the baby elephant's ears. Dumbo's mother tried spanking the boy as punishment, causing her to be deemed a, "Mad Elephant" and locked away, leaving Jumbo Jr. without his mother.
The Flying Elephant[]
Jumbo Jr. befriended a mouse named Timothy Q. Mouse, and was forced to become a circus clown where he was dressed in a ridiculing outfit and put in dangerous shows. One night, the clowns dumped alcohol in Dumbo's drinking water causing the baby to hallucinate Pink Elephants and while intoxicated, use his ears to fly and wind up in a tree.
Dumbo and Timothy were found in the tree by a group of crows who found out that Dumbo could fly. Timothy intended on using Dumbo's flying abilities to help him gain recognition to escape being abused as a circus clown, however Dumbo did not believe in his own flying abilities. Timothy and the crows then gave Dumbo a crow's feather which they told the baby was a, "Magic Feather" which would let him fly.
During Dumbo's circus show, he intended to jump of a burning building to show how he could fly. However, Dumbo lost his feather so didn't believe he could fly until Timothy convinced him of the truth. Dumbo proceeded to use his ears to fly and impress the crowd, causing him to become the circus' star and lead to his mother being freed.
Storybook Circus[]
Dumbo came to be a star of the Storybook Circus, which also seemed to have a variety of other flying elephants. This circus would set up in Carolwood Park, a part of Fantasyland.
Appearances[]
Dumbo has made rare live appearances. He also sometimes flies over Sleeping Beauty Castle in fireworks shows.
Central Plaza[]
Timothy and Dumbo are portrayed on a sculpture.
Fantasyland[]
Dumbo's likeness is in some artwork for the Storybook Circus.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant[]
This attraction named for Dumbo has guests ride flying elephants at Dumbo's circus. In the Magic Kingdom, Dumbo appears within the circus tent portion of the queue, flying in the air.
Mickey Mouse Revue[]
Dumbo played a tuba with Timothy Mouse.
Main Street Cinema[]
One of the postings from the Disneyland Casting Agency reads, "Elephant Trainer: Must work with flying elephants. Trained in the magic feather technique. Send resume to: T.M. at our Florida office.".
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin[]
In the queue's bulletin board there is a message which reads, "Lost One Magic Feather if found, please contact Dumbo c/o Timothy Mouse Walt Disney Studio Hollywood, Cal.".
Trivia[]
- Dumbo's circus, "WDP Circus" has been referenced in the lore of Buena Vista Street.[1]
- Head Imagineer Tony Baxter noted that the redesigned, toy-maker's invention redesign of Dumbo the Flying Elephant made the attraction appear as-if it were constructed by Geppetto from Pinocchio.
Gallery[]
