News Splash Mountain retheme to Princess and the Frog - Tiana's Bayou Adventure

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

Allow me to play devil advocate for a moment but I think it's possible that's 2019 was when the idea got past the "Oh that costs too much" filter and into the "Maybe someday" category but then got rushed out waaaayy too early (As in I believe we were supposed to either 1st hear it this year or next) because of 2020 in general.

This is my position as well. I’m also not entirely sure WDW’s was ever entirely intended to be “swept in” initially due to thematic integrity issues. Similar to the Guardians/ToT revamp. With DL probably serving as an initial test.

However as more questions around SoTS began to swirl when Disney+ launched and with the political landscape then evolving greatly in 2020 I think it stands to reason that the “announcement” for this project was accelerated for both coasts/resorts (even if the project itself is/was still in the early planning phases).

It’s a very simple premise: streaming platforms and investors are desperate for content. When TWDC indicated they that SoTS was “too problematic” to place on their platform (even with a content warning label) in 2017 it was the first tell-tale signal that the company was divorcing itself of the property permanently. From a corporate synergy perspective promoting a property that is not on Disney+ is a huge no-no which was really the death knell for any iteration of the Brers.

 

[Ghost93]

It’s a very simple premise: streaming platforms and investors are desperate for content. When TWDC indicated they that SoTS was “too problematic” to place on their platform (even with a content warning label) in 2017 it was the first tell-tale signal that the company was divorcing itself of the property permanently. From a corporate synergy perspective promoting a property that is not on Disney+ is a huge no-no which was really the death knell for any iteration of the Brers.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Throughout the late 90s and 2000s, Disney had contemplated potentially releasing Song of the South on DVD with a host providing a disclaimer and a plethora of special features. Around 2006/2007 the movement to get the movie released on home video really picked up and Bob Iger said he would consider it. Ultimately though, the company decided it would not be the best move. A DVD release became less likely in the late 2000s and by 2017 it was pretty much confirmed that Disney wanted to cut all ties with the film.

 

[aladdin2007]

I still feel like this will happen in CA first, before it ever happens or sees the light of day here, if it does. Although at the rate dictator chapek is going it wouldn't surprise me if he demanded small world removed for a boat ride through screens showing disney plus promos. yes Im joking, but... that's just how bad he is coming across. Of course the other end of the spectrum is they dont want to spend money on expensive changes like that, so could our splash be saved by that theory? possible.

whatever happened to the tokyo rumor about whatever they did or didn't do with theirs has to be the same with ours?

 

[Ghost93]

I still feel like this will happen in CA first, before it ever happens or sees the light of day here, if it does. Although at the rate dictator chapek is going it wouldn't surprise me if he demanded small world removed for a boat ride through screens showing disney plus promos. yes Im joking, but... that's just how bad he is coming across. Of course the other end of the spectrum is they dont want to spend money on expensive changes like that, so could our splash be saved by that theory? possible.

whatever happened to the tokyo rumor about whatever they did or didn't do with theirs has to be the same with ours?

If Disney doesn't eventually change Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom, the media will eventually start running negative articles about it. Disney can drag its feet with the retheme, but if it ever gives the illusion that the retheme has been canceled there will be pushback.

 

[EagleScout610]

It’s a very simple premise: streaming platforms and investors are desperate for content. When TWDC indicated they that SoTS was “too problematic” to place on their platform (even with a content warning label) in 2017 it was the first tell-tale signal that the company was divorcing itself of the property permanently. From a corporate synergy perspective promoting a property that is not on Disney+ is a huge no-no which was really the death knell for any iteration of the Brers.

This. Disney had one last chance with D+ to rescue the property but instead decided to stick the final nail in the coffin. That's why even if they admitted the movie was fine tomorrow, remade it and dropped it, it'd still have the title of "That racist Disney movie that they didn't put on D+"

 

[EagleScout610]

whatever happened to the Tokyo rumor about whatever they did or didn't do with theirs has to be the same with ours?

They wanted to have Tokyo retheme their Splash based on the MK version since the two rides are the same but mirrored. Tokyo told them to "Pound sand"

 

[tanc]

Pirates of the Caribbean in Tokyo is going under a very long refurbishment. I wonder if the auction scene is going to be removed. If it is, I would imagine Splash might be the next thing eventually. I'm not sure if Tokyo can keep it forever.

 

[Midwest Elitist]

Pirates of the Caribbean in Tokyo is going under a very long refurbishment. I wonder if the auction scene is going to be removed. If it is, I would imagine Splash might be the next thing eventually. I'm not sure if Tokyo can keep it forever.

Tokyo doesn't care about our cultural issues.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Pirates of the Caribbean in Tokyo is going under a very long refurbishment. I wonder if the auction scene is going to be removed. If it is, I would imagine Splash might be the next thing eventually. I'm not sure if Tokyo can keep it forever.

There’s a huge difference between switching out a scene and a full ride. Having a Brer Rabbit attraction also isn’t much of a concern for Japan, as they just look at it as cute animals and interesting Americana.

It’s of course possible that Disney US forces a retheme on Tokyo, but they would have to pay for it out of their own pocket rather than OLC’s, and even then, it would probably be Zootopia or some other theme that is relevant in Japan.

The only way I see OLC paying for the PatF retheme is if the Florida version is a masterpiece (basically the best themed dark ride of all time).

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Throughout the late 90s and 2000s, Disney had contemplated potentially releasing Song of the South on DVD with a host providing a disclaimer and a plethora of special features. Around 2006/2007 the movement to get the movie released on home video really picked up and Bob Iger said he would consider it. Ultimately though, the company decided it would not be the best move. A DVD release became less likely in the late 2000s and by 2017 it was pretty much confirmed that Disney wanted to cut all ties with the film.

I don't think it's a coincidence that any real push to get it released within Disney ended with Dick Cook leaving the company and the subsequent retiring of the Walt Disney Treasures DVD line (who's highest ranking advocates were him and Roy E Disney).

In 2004 when all the WWII content got released to DVD Eisner was still CEO and Cook and Roy were both there too. Now all 3 are gone and there's much less interest in putting any Walt-era stuff (problematic or not) out there. We only just got Darby O'Gill on Blu-ray last month and its a DMC exclusive.

 

[MisterPenguin]

They wanted to have Tokyo pay for MK's retheme in addition to their own since the two rides are the same but mirrored. Tokyo told them to "Pound sand"

That's different than what some insiders originally said, which was they wanted Tokyo to pay for their own retheme in the image of what is being done in the states... not paying for MK's retheme as well as their own.

Do you have a source that Tokyo was asked to pay for two parks' retheme?

 

[Trauma]

Why in earth would Tokyo do anything right now?

They can sit back and see how the ride turns out.

If it’s somehow a better attraction then splash, then I wouldn’t be surprised if they copy it.

Since the odds of it being a masterpiece are low, I would say Tokyo splash is safe.

 

[EagleScout610]

That's different than what some insiders originally said, which was they wanted Tokyo to pay for their own retheme in the image of what is being done in the states... not paying for MK's retheme as well as their own.

Do you have a source that Tokyo was asked to pay for two parks' retheme?

I think I had gotten it mixed up as to why Tokyo was out.

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

Why in earth would Tokyo do anything right now?

They can sit back and see how the ride turns out.

If it’s somehow a better attraction then splash, then I wouldn’t be surprised if they copy it.

Since the odds of it being a masterpiece are low, I would say Tokyo splash is safe.

OLC is not thrilled about PatF because it's a largely unknown property in Japan.

 

[Midwest Elitist]

I think we're in a loop where we reiterate the same thing over again per 100 pages.

 

[Ghost93]

There is nothing offensive about Splash Mountain. Since Disney has purged SotS for a while now, nobody except avid Disney fans even know it exists. The uneducated mob only targeted it because Disney brought negative attention on themselves. If Disney just shut up and didn’t say anything then there wouldn’t be any trouble and life would be better for everyone involved.

There was a growing awareness of SotS since the launch of Disney Plus (with articles asking if SotS would be on the service) and Karina Longworth's six-part exploration of the movie in her "You Must Remember This" Podcast. She had an entire episode dedicated to Splash Mountain and how Disney continued to profit off of Song of the South even after banning it. Her podcast and teardown of SOTS got a lot of media attention.

 

[FullSailDan]

OLC is not thrilled about PatF because it's a largely unknown property in Japan.

It's much more complicated than that even. The ride is really popular over there as is. It's considered very 'kawaii' (cutesy), which is very popular in Japan even among the most burliest of men (masculinity in Japan is a whole other discussion). They literally see zero benefit in changing something so popular when the perceived issues are largely not understood, and from their perspective, not relevant to them.

Whether the argument is valid or not I make not judgement on, just vocalizing their view point. Racial issues in Japan are more complicated than one in the US might imagine. They don't understand the problems with SotS because...well for a lot of reasons. General lack of racial diversity in the population, not really being exposed to racial issues abroad, and the majority view in Japan that there exist two types of people: Japanese and 'Not Japanese'. (Oversimplified, but when you're in Tokyo if you aren't Japanese, you just aren't.) Despite all this, they have quite a complicated history with race even within the geography of Japan. The forced assimilation of the Ainu and the Ryukyuan people leave a complicated history and understanding of who and what makes up the Japanese people and culture.

 

[Dear Prudence]

This conversation is exhausting

 

[Dear Prudence]

All around the misinformation-go-round...

I mean not just that, but the fact that the thing isn't even closed yet, we don't know anything about it, nor do when know when it's going to happen. I am not sure what folks even have to talk about at this point?!

 

[Midwest Elitist]

I mean not just that, but the fact that the thing isn't even closed yet, we don't know anything about it, nor do when know when it's going to happen. I am not sure what folks even have to talk about at this point?!

We can only speculate. But of course this was going to happen when one of the most famous rides in the world is changed.