Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[Homemade Imagineering]

Yeah, I was wrong. I haven't been posting as much here lately for a myriad of reasons, but once I began to see who was on the committee and how they were tagging attractions and even scenes with a numeric system, it became obvious to me that this was going downhill.

It’s really disappointing that this is the case. It worries the heck out of me when I see any of my favorite attractions endangered. I remember back when IASW and HM were rumored to close by a clickbait site a few years back in the springtime, and I nearly had a panic attack. Now that may be the case if Disney takes this to another level. It’s horrible, and thinking about the good memories I had on those attractions, just makes me feel saddened and stressed now.

 

[UNCgolf]

Isn’t the Frontier inclusive of all land west of the Mississippi? Both northern and ‘southern’ regions of the United States. ‘The South’ does not only mean the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.

Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana (other than New Orleans) are more in line of what most people think of when they think of the stereotypical south anyways. South Carolina to an extent as well, and Georgia outside of Atlanta and all of its surrounds. Florida and North Carolina don't really fit the stereotype outside of specific areas.

 

[BigDlover]

Splash Mountain is not Song of the South. Just like you are not your great grandmother.

To be fair if my great grandmother was offending people she'd be kicked out of WDW too

 

[comics101]

By voting no in Steve’s poll, I’d like to make it clear that my reason is solely based on the fact that the ride, which is fantastic as it stands, does not contain any racism, systemic or otherwise. I am a huge proponent of eliminating systemic racism, but not a proponent of misled decisions that may not fall on the right side of history.

I second these thoughts.

 

[Tony Perkis]

I’ve seen that video, yes

Any video. That channel has done dozens of great content. It’s better than surrounding yourself in something that clearly is making you upset.

 

[orlandogal22]

Hattie McDaniel.

Hattie was in Song of the South too. James was the first BLACK MALE to receive an Oscar.

 

[champdisney]

No, because I understand the difference between jokes and earnest efforts.

How do you know if that was indeed a joke?

That’s right... You don’t!

Your belief system is messed up. Sorry.

 

[No Name]

To be fair if my great grandmother was offending people she'd be kicked out of WDW too

Correct, but you wouldn’t be kicked out. Your great grandmothers’ actions are not yours.

 

[comics101]

To be fair if my great grandmother was offending people she'd be kicked out of WDW too

Except no one is being offended, so...

If Splash Mountain were really so offensive and racist, why is it that up until this very moment, nobody on these forums ever thought to bring up the issue? Why aren’t there threads and posts about how offended people were after having ridden Splash Mountain?

This really isn’t all that hard, people.

 

[orlandogal22]

Yeah given an honorary Oscar for a movie he wasn't allowed to attend the premiere for and had to accept the award in the dining room/hall he wasn't allowed to eat in with his costars because of rules at the time. So yeah the irony.

And now his contribution gets erased altogether. Yes, the irony.

 

[WDW Pro]

Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana (other than New Orleans) are more in line of what most people think of when they think of the stereotypical south anyways. South Carolina to an extent as well, and Georgia outside of Atlanta and all of it surrounds. Florida and North Carolina don't really fit the stereotype outside of specific areas.

What is known as the "deep south" or the "slave belt" is South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana. Florida is its own thing, Tennessee was never really part of the south, Virginia and North Carolina have both culturally deviated from their confederate days long ago.

 

[Tony Perkis]

How do you know if that was indeed a joke?

That’s right... You don’t!

Your belief system is messed up. Sorry.

Because there is literally zero evidence, and quite a bit testimony otherwise, to support your insinuation.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Yeah, I guess Walt was wrong to include Remus in the film Song of the South. He should have just used the animal characters, and then none of this would...oh wait. If he'd left Remus out, Walt would have been blasted as a racist for not including Remus, for not wanting the lead in one of his films to be black. Wowsers. You see how you can't win with the PC crowd? They can't be satisfied. So IMO, you shouldn't even try. Let them whine and complain and throw temper tantrums. Or give them a chance to make their own films with a PC filter, and see what happens *cough* *cough* A Wrinkle In Time...

In an alternate timeline, SotS makes it clear that Remus lives during the time of Reconstruction and is explicitly happy he is free and didn't like being a slave. The White adults show mixed views about the slaves being free and some show hostility toward Remus. Remus shares his people's stories with the children making it clear the stories came from Africa, where his people were before being forced into slavery. The stories changes the attitude of one of the White children who was picking up their elder's racism and learns to treat Remus and all people as human beings.

 

[No Name]

Except no one is being offended, so...

If Splash Mountain were really so offensive and racist, why is it that up until this very moment, nobody on these forums ever thought to bring up the issue? Why aren’t there threads and posts about how offended people were after having ridden Splash Mountain?

This really isn’t all that hard, people.

It’s not that simple. Just because something doesn’t overtly offend people doesn’t mean it’s fine. Systemic racism is a real problem. However, Splash Mountain is not an example of systemic racism either.

 

[WDW Pro]

Except no one is being offended, so...

If Splash Mountain were really so offensive and racist, why is it that up until this very moment, nobody on these forums ever thought to bring up the issue? Why aren’t there threads and posts about how offended people were after having ridden Splash Mountain?

This really isn’t all that hard, people.

Because in the woke culture, once something is determined to be offensive, the woke cultists rush to assure you that they hate that thing, even if they didn't five minutes ago, for fear that they won't be woke anymore. Wokeism (i.e. tribalism and postmodern marxism) is a zero sum game, so if you don't adhere completely to the cult, they cancel you just like the normies they already detest.

 

[UNCgolf]

What is known as the "deep south" or the "slave belt" is South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana. Florida is its own thing, Tennessee was never really part of the south, Virginia and North Carolina have both culturally deviated from their confederate days long ago.

Pretty much this.

Georgia is a bit of an outlier because the Atlanta metro area is responsible for roughly half of the state's population and it does not really fit in with the rest of Georgia whatsoever.

 

[tirian]

The point is SotS shouldn't have been made (the way it was made). Disney didn't listen to people. And when it came out and was severely criticized, didn't do anything about it. Finally the company hid the movie in shame, but not before stupidly using the IP for an attraction thinking that if they strip out the problematic parts, it'd be OK. But it isn't. There was never a true reckoning for that dumpster fire of a movie (with regard to the treatment of Reconstruction Black sharecroppers). So, I would think and would wager greatly, that everything's got to go. If the whitewashed scenario is too tainted, then everything's too tainted. The merch and the song and the characters will be permanently retired is my best guess of what will happen.

It’s true but also sad because you know the new ride will be one of the awful Search for Someone/Party Time tropes WDI has milked to death at the Seas with Nemo, the Three Caballeros, and Frozen. Best stereotypical South Carolina accent: “Come on, y’all! Let’s all go to the bah-yoooo and get some of Teeee-Ana’s famuss gumbo!” (And honey-covered beignets that don’t exist in New Orleans?)

Meanwhile, Splash Mt. has been one of the few attractions that gave millions of guests pure joy from watching a rabbit outsmart a fox and a bear.

That movie, though. Walt definitely got the live-action parts wrong.

 

[orlandogal22]

What is known as the "deep south" or the "slave belt" is South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana. Florida is its own thing, Tennessee was never really part of the south, Virginia and North Carolina have both culturally deviated from their confederate days long ago.

Yep. And the Spanish brought slaves to Florida in the 1500s - about 100 years before slaves were brought to the British colonies.

 

[BigDlover]

Correct, but you wouldn’t be kicked out. Your great grandmothers’ actions are not yours.

Then Splash Mountain is the offensive grandmother in this case

 

[WDW Pro]

In an alternate timeline, SotS make it clear that Remus lives during the time of Reconstruction and is explicitly happy he is free and didn't like being a slave. The White adults show mixed views about the slaves being free and some show hostility toward Remus. Remus shares his people's stories with the children making it clear the stories came from Africa, where his people were before being forced into slavery. The stories changes the attitude of one of the White children who was picking up their elder's racism and learns to treat Remus and all people as human beings.

I'm sorry to hear that the first African American male to win an Oscar wasn't woke enough for you.