Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[Brer Oswald]

It reminds me of my fav WDW resort loop

Magic. Thanks for sharing

 

[Incomudro]

I go back to the question I posed earlier, (I think in another thread): is Splash Mountain art?

If art is defined in terms of being something that triggers an emotional reaction (I'm simplifying greatly for the sake of brevity), then we might wish to call Splash a work of art, or it might be helpful for some of us to define Splash as a work of art.

If Splash is merely a flume ride, then it isn't worth saving. If splash is art, then maybe it should be saved.

What is art? In 1917, Marcel Duchamp put a name on a urinal, "The Fountain," and called it art. For years, we've also heard Warhol's 1962 depiction of Campbells' Soup cans and his depiction of Brillo Pad boxes called fine art.

Mary Blair (it's a small world) considered herself to be an artist, and her creations to be art.

Oh, Splash is art.
All of WDW is art.
Art and artistry.

 

[Incomudro]

I think my comparison is more fitting. This is a deliberate modification by those who own the artwork, not an act of vandalism inflicted by outsiders.

Well... It's outsiders who are steering the company.
The company is going to perform the vandalism themselves.
Now, do I think this is true vandalism? "No."
But I do find it a repulsive thing to do.
Splash Mountain is an amazing piece of work on so many levels.
To make it over to appease the mob (who will never be appeased) is sickening.

 

[LittleBuford]

Well... It's outsiders who are steering the company.

That’s an assumption, and one I don’t find convincing.

 

[The Mom]

Oh, Splash is art.
All of WDW is art.
Art and artistry.

There is a certain mindset that believes "ART" has to be serious to be "real" art. There are very few of the old carousel figures left, because people didn't consider them to be "real" artistic sculptures/carvings.

We're lucky that there were a handful of people who did recognize their artistic value, so some were saved from the trash heap.

 

[LittleBuford]

There is a certain mindset that believes "ART" has to be serious to be "real" art. There are very few of the old carousel figures left, because people didn't consider them to be "real" artistic sculptures/carvings.

We're lucky that there were a handful of people who did recognize their artistic value, so some were saved from the trash heap.

Off-topic, but your comment reminded of an excellent Disney+ show I recently discovered called Prop Culture. The first episode explores costumes and props from Mary Poppins, including the carousel horses.

 

[Brer Oswald]

That’s an assumption, and one I don’t find convincing.

I don’t think so either. If anything, current management’s (Iger’s) opinion of the property is what’s steered the public opinion of the property.

 

[Incomudro]

There is a certain mindset that believes "ART" has to be serious to be "real" art. There are very few of the old carousel figures left, because people didn't consider them to be "real" artistic sculptures/carvings.

We're lucky that there were a handful of people who did recognize their artistic value, so some were saved from the trash heap.

Thank you!
It's the artistry that make the Disney park what they are.
The animation of the original films.
The teams of modelers, designers, builders etc. that flesh it all out in the parks.
There is artistry in the way a ride - like Splash for instance - unfolds as well.

 

[Incomudro]

I don’t think so either. If anything, current management’s (Iger’s) opinion of the property is what’s steered the public opinion of the property.

But you don't believe that Iger's opinion is driven by the climate?

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Thank you!
It's the artistry that make the Disney park what they are.
The animation of the original films.
The teams of modelers, designers, builders etc. that flesh it all out in the parks.
There is artistry in the way a ride - like Splash for instance - unfolds as well.

There is much to be said for old-school techniques used in various art forms that many younger people who weren't around just don't appreciate.

 

[LittleBuford]

But you don't believe that Iger's opinion is driven by the climate?

I don’t think anyone can deny that. But there’s a difference between a company (opportunistically, cynically, or sincerely—take your pick) capitalising on the moment and a company caving into outside demands. The anti-Splash Mountain pressure was nowhere near enough to force Disney’s hand.

 

[Tinkwings]

Are people surprised this is happening?

There is a certain mindset that believes "ART" has to be serious to be "real" art. There are very few of the old carousel figures left, because people didn't consider them to be "real" artistic sculptures/carvings.

We're lucky that there were a handful of people who did recognize their artistic value, so some were saved from the trash heap.

DId not know that thanks! That is a special thing to me as it was once in a park in Detroit my Grandmother used to go to when young, and I have often thought she MUST have rode on that....anyhow....Greenfield Village has an ancient carousel with a wonderful assortment of restored animal figures....it's very special too.

 

[Tinkwings]

Off-topic, but your comment reminded of an excellent Disney+ show I recently discovered called Prop Culture. The first episode explores costumes and props from Mary Poppins, including the carousel horses.

Ooooh will look for that thank you Buford!

 

[Tinkwings]

Thank you!
It's the artistry that make the Disney park what they are.
The animation of the original films.
The teams of modelers, designers, builders etc. that flesh it all out in the parks.
There is artistry in the way a ride - like Splash for instance - unfolds as well.

Yup its all those layers of details to be appreciated and treasured....

 

[Brer Oswald]

If it was a CEO that liked the property, it would have stayed. But Iger notoriously doesn’t like the film. I’ve always wondered if it dives deeper than the controversy, like maybe a bad childhood experience with the film?

With Eisner, it just wasn’t on their priority list to release the film with extra bells and whistles, like they did with the Mickey Mouse Cartoons. With Iger, they’ve tried to erase every reference to the film, including the characters and the music; stuff that the pre Iger Company would not shy away from.

But replacing the Classic Disney legacy with his own legacy is nothing new for Iger. It’s just more intense with the Brer characters. He wants to be known as the “hero” that “saved” Disney from their “troubled” past.

I don’t dislike Iger, he did a lot of good things for the company in the beginning of his tenure. But his ego is just way too big for his own good, and I would have liked for his influence on TWDC to have ended 7 years ago.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I don’t think anyone can deny that. But there’s a difference between a company (opportunistically, cynically, or sincerely—take your pick) capitalising on the moment and a company caving into outside demands. The anti-Splash Mountain pressure was nowhere near enough to force Disney’s hand.

If they weren’t already planning to change it, they could have written a nice blog post highlighting the significance of the Brer Rabbit tales and the changes they made from the film to the ride to make it more inclusive.

But, at the end of the day, they don’t gain additional profit from the Brer Rabbit IP besides the ride itself. They don’t have a movie they’re willing to attach it to, so it remains a park exclusive property. This was a business decision that the current management intended to make.

They don’t see value in the Parks having a brand that is unique to that of their films. Yep, they can get away with this one. But they better not monkey around with the Haunted Mansion, because that’s the one I see striking the wrong nerve with fans (not me personally though).

 

[LittleBuford]

If they weren’t already planning to change it, they could have written a nice blog post highlighting the significance of the Brer Rabbit tales and the changes they made from the film to the ride to make it more inclusive.

But, at the end of the day, they don’t gain additional profit from the Brer Rabbit IP besides the ride itself. They don’t have a movie they’re willing to attach it to, so it remains a park exclusive property. This was a business decision that the current management intended to make.

They don’t see value in the Parks having a brand that is unique to that of their films. Yep, they can get away with this one. But they better not monkey around with the Haunted Mansion, because that’s the one I see striking the wrong nerve with fans (not me personally though).

I wish they had extracted the animated sequences from Song of the South and created a documentary-style framing for them, acknowledging the problematic nature of the original film and discussing the stories' origins.

Like you, I would hate to see the Haunted Mansion overhauled, though I'd have no objections to the removal of the hanging man.

 

[manmythlegend]

Just donated a little to the Splash Mountain Go Fund Me, now up to $100. Starting to pick up steam thanks to the Facebook Group.

 

[LittleBuford]

Just donated a little to the Splash Mountain Go Fund Me, now up to $100. Starting to pick up steam thanks to the Facebook Group.

Please don’t waste your money! There is nothing that can be paid for anyway to change Disney’s mind, and anything you donate to this campaign will simply line the pockets of the person who started it.

 

[manmythlegend]

Please don’t waste your money! There is nothing that can be paid for anyway to change Disney’s mind, and anything you donate to this campaign will simply line the pockets of the person who started it.

Disagree. The person specified on the Facebook group how they would spend the money. Please don't make false allegations against people who are trying to save a ride that many of us love. We need all the help we can get!