Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[Scuttle]

For what? Democrats were the party of the KKK and Jim Crow, which is partly why Walt Disney was a Republican. That's all historical fact.

Sure is, thanks to Robert Byrd and co. It’s sad the alternate history that’s being taught these days.

Anyway, Splash was the turning point. Frontierland won’t be recognizable in the near future. I expect Tom Sawyer and CBJ, along with many natives to get the axe in the coming years. Adventureland too. JC and Tiki Room will be drastically altered.

Sad they bent to a rage mob. At some point you have to defend yourself and your artists and engineers. Sad it’s not to defend arguably the greatest work WDI created post Walt Disney.

 

[lebeau]

No, No, No, No, No... didn't you get the last woke memo? The new woke mandate is throw out the baby with the bathwater. There will simply be no redeeming part of anything that has anything that might even hint at being negative. If the person that finds the cure to the corona virus happened to have a relative 3 generations ago and twice removed that had a slave, then the world must never use that cure because it might be seen as condoning slavery.

They really have you worked up into a panic, don't they?

 

[Lirael]

Should we blame Baxter then? Since people seem to love to blame others. Should we ask him why he ever thought of such a thing to get this whole seemingly-so-ugly ball rolling?

Splash Mountain was originally conceived in the summer of 1983 by Imagineer Tony Baxter while stuck in rush-hour traffic on his way to work. He wanted to attract guests to the often-empty Bear Country land in Disneyland, with the only attraction as the Country Bear Jamboree (which later closed in 2001), plus a souvenir shop, and make use of the Audio-Animatronics from America Sings, which was also poorly attended. It was **** Nunis who insisted that the Imagineers create a log flume for Disneyland, but the Imagineers were initially unenthusiastic about it, insisting that log flumes were a too ordinary theme park attraction to include in a Disney park. While trying to solve the problems of including a log flume, bringing people into Bear Country and reusing the America Sings characters, Baxter thought of Song of the South.

Yes he is partially to blame for deciding Song of the South was a good idea, and whoever went and greenlit that without thinking is also to blame. And then all the people who refused to give it a retheme while it was young also let the ball drop.

Baxter still gets credit for the ride type and all, we shouldn't invalidate his whole idea just because part fails, or refuse to admit part of it wasn't good just because another part was great.

 

[Parker in NYC]

Sure is, thanks to Robert Byrd and co. It’s sad the alternate history that’s being taught these days.

Anyway, Splash was the turning point. Frontierland won’t be recognizable in the near future. I expect Tom Sawyer and CBJ, along with many natives to get the axe in the coming years. Adventureland too. JC and Tiki Room will be drastically altered.

Sad they bent to a rage mob. At some point you have to defend yourself and your artists and engineers. Sad it’s not to defend arguably the greatest work WDI created post Walt Disney.

Hold on, I had no issue with that. I took issue with the rest of his post.

 

[Kate F]

As a fan, I have had moments where I’ve felt guilty for loving such a “problematic” thing, but only because people TOLD me that it was

Yes he is partially to blame for deciding Song of the South was a good idea, and whoever went and greenlit that without thinking is also to blame. And then all the people who refused to give it a retheme while it was young also let the ball drop.

Baxter still gets credit for the ride type and all, we shouldn't invalidate his whole idea just because part fails.

In my opinion, there is nothing to be ashamed of with the ride as it stands currently.

 

[lebeau]

This current movement is in direct contradiction to everything Martin Luther King Jr taught and believed.

No it's not. King was despised by many when he was alive. But please, elaborate.

 

[Parker in NYC]

No it's not. King was despised by many when he was alive. But please, elaborate.

Oh, don't encourage him.

 

[Bleed0range]

No, in this case, I only went by your specific choice of words.

And I'd wager to tell you that there will never be a utopia. Because that's life, and that's the world we live in.
Removing Splash Mountain and Aunt Jemima does absolutely nothing. Nothing at all.

You’re looking at it the wrong way. It’s not that it changes anything it’s that everything is changing. The spirit of the country is that black people should have as much equality as everyone else and relics calling back to things that mocked them or robbed them of their dignity are just no longer necessary.

Of course there won’t be a utopia, but that’s a weak argument for no change.

 

[WDW Pro]

Still waiting for Frozen II to bomb.

You'll need Rise of Skywalker to come somewhere near expectations. I'd flag you for being off topic, but due to maturity I don't flag content unless it's abhorrent.

 

[The_Jobu]

Does anyone believe they would close Splash during the 50th? I think it will be here at least that long.

 

[orlandogal22]

Yes he is partially to blame for deciding Song of the South was a good idea, and whoever went and greenlit that without thinking is also to blame. And then all the people who refused to give it a retheme while it was young also let the ball drop.

Baxter still gets credit for the ride type and all, we shouldn't invalidate his whole idea just because part fails, or refuse to admit part of it wasn't good just because another part was great.

Partially? He literally came up with the idea. Eisner was behind the name. Eisner greenlit it. So, I guess we'll just blame Baxter, Eisner, and the entire Walt Disney Imagineering team of the 1980s for clearly not "getting it." Right?

 

[bryanfze55]

Let’s not get into the debate about which party was the party of slavery, Jim Crow, etc. That really has nothing to do with anything, and as much as I am fed up with today’s left - party platforms do change over time. It’s really not an argument worth having.

 

[WDW Pro]

No it's not. King was despised by many when he was alive. But please, elaborate.

MLK was opposed to tribalism and in favor of merit based judgments of the individual.

 

[Parker in NYC]

You'll need Rise of Skywalker to come somewhere near expectations. I'd flag you for being off topic, but due to maturity I don't flag content unless it's abhorrent.

I don't know what Rise has anything to do with Frozen II. You told me you were right. You added that you were right. I pointed out that you are not always right. I'd say we should get a room but I'm not quite the Pro you are.

 

[lebeau]

If he was shocked, then I wouldn't really call him educated or up-to-date on park activities, given SM has been around since 1989. So, if he indicated Disney obliterated it in the 80s, how was he unaware of the ride in 1989?

He wasn't a park fan at all. A lot of people don't go to the parks. Just like you apparently don't keep up on the history of Disney animation. This reader was aware of things you didn't know about and vice versa.

 

[thomas998]

c. The issues being solved are Disney's standing with its audience (and emerging audiences). Changing Splash Mountain is a very good solution to this problem because it further distances the company from Song of the South and also gives attention to a film that is popular with a good portion of the audience that was offended by the old theme's association to the film.

Go take a poll of people coming off the ride and ask them what the ride is about. Ask them what movie the ride is connected to. You'll be lucky if any of them have a clue. The reality is Song of the South hasn't been available on video in the US period and was completely withdrawn from worldwide circulation in 2001... So let me know how people can even be familiar with the movie to have an informed opinion of it. If you want to be offended by a movie, then for the love of god watch the movie first otherwise you really can't be offended by something you've never seen. I saw it a long time ago when it was in theaters with the Aristicats but I seriously don't remember much beyond Uncle Remus and blue animated bird... certainly not enough to be offended by it.

 

[Lirael]

Partially? He literally came up with the idea. Eisner was behind the name. Eisner greenlit it. So, I guess we'll just blame Baxter, Eisner, and the entire Walt Disney Imagineering team of the 1980s for clearly not "getting it." Right?

Yup. They thought of/allowed an IP* that brought no gains to the park and their pockets and only issues. So yes they failed in regards to the theme.

*disclaimer that i am stricly speaking of the IP, song of the south, and not of the ride itself

 

[Bleed0range]

Ultimately, the issue is that Splash Mountain put its foot in its mouth since it was built. The IP it used in its creation was neither beloved or sought after and already deemed controversial when it was made. The original IP thus did not generate more interest or merchandise for the ride at all.

But rather than not go with that theme or retheme it soon to something with less issue (and more profitable), Disney let Splash mountain simmer with that IP for so very long that said theme became seen as historical to guests. So now although the vast majority is still not avid about the IP itself (the movie and books it was based on), a lot of people have "imprinted" on that theme to the point that its removal evokes complaints. Meanwhile keeping the theme also brooks complaints... so Disney placed itself in a pickle with no easy, money making, way out.

All they had to do was create Splash Mountain not based on any IP (just like the other attractions right next to it) or pick an IP that had less issue (or even more love).

This. They never should have themed it this way in the first place and most people would never Have even cared about SOTS.

Most are upset by memories and nostalgia now.

 

[orlandogal22]

You’re looking at it the wrong way. It’s not that it changes anything it’s that everything is changing. The spirit of the country is that black people should have as much equality as everyone else and relics calling back to things that mocked them or robbed them of their dignity are just no longer necessary.

Of course there won’t be a utopia, but that’s a weak argument for no change.

But how is everything changing (cherrypicked at that) going to amount to anything? That is the point.

And I'm not going to get into a discussion about equality right now when we're talking about a theme park ride. That's a whole other topic.

 

[thomas998]

I didn't know your Walmart was the flagship store.

And now you do... Happy?