Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[lebeau]

When did I ever state I was an expert on Disney animation? Nor when was I called out for wrong information on Disney animation?

I didn't say you said that.

Clarifying what I did and did not say is getting really confusing in this thread!

 

[WDW Pro]

Yeah. I’m going. I’m tired of being labeled as racist for caring about Splash Mountain. I’m also tired of other fans being labeled as such as well. This community is rather revolting, particularly on Twitter. Most of you on here have been fine, but I just thought I’d leave a final message.

Remember, if you leave, it just emboldens them.

 

[Parker in NYC]

Yeah. I’m going. I’m tired of being labeled as racist for caring about Splash Mountain. I’m also tired of other fans being labeled as such as well. This community is rather revolting, particularly on Twitter. Most of you on here have been fine, but I just thought I’d leave a final message.

I'm afraid fandom is toxic, period. ::sings Britney::

 

[orlandogal22]

The average park tourist doesn’t know the difference between WDW and DL. No way they’ve even heard of Song of the South.

Yep.

When I worked in Guest Services at the Yacht & Beach, people routinely would ask me how to get to DisneyWorld. I would say - you ARE at Disney World. They'd insist I was to tell them how to get there. Then, it dawned on me. "You mean... Magic Kingdom?"

Yep, they would call MK DisneyWorld.

Of course, I also had a mother and teenage daughter ask where I lived in the hotel. I said, I don't live here; I live 20 minutes up the road.

You'd be amazed at what guests really are clueless about.

 

[Kate F]

While I haven’t been labeled racist myself for being a fan, I have seen rather detestable things said about us. “Boo hoo, the racist critter ride is going!”

 

[Kate F]

Social media in general is toxic

 

[Bleed0range]

Yeah. I’m going. I’m tired of being labeled as racist for caring about Splash Mountain. I’m also tired of other fans being labeled as such as well. This community is rather revolting, particularly on Twitter. Most of you on here have been fine, but I just thought I’d leave a final message.

Most people who like the ride are not racist for liking it. But the reality is the ride is evocative of racism.

I don’t blame people for being attached to something they’ve been riding for 30 years. I do think it’s time to face facts though.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Remember, if you leave, it just emboldens them.

Ok

 

[Yert3]

The average park tourist doesn’t know the difference between WDW and DL. No way they’ve even heard of Song of the South.

They know less than nothing. I saw several (at least 20 so far) people disappointed they aren’t re-theming it to The Emperors New Groove. How that fits into Frontierland in any way, shape, or form, I don’t know. This is the average Disney guest, everyone.

 

[lebeau]

The average park tourist doesn’t know the difference between WDW and DL. No way they’ve even heard of Song of the South.

You're right. That's why nobody started a petition. Because no one has any idea about Song of the South or it's controversial history.

/sarcasm

 

[Parker in NYC]

Most people who like the ride are not racist for liking it. But the reality is the ride is evocative of racism.

I don’t blame people for being attached to something they’ve been riding for 30 years. I do think it’s time to face facts though.

I'm torn and it'll be a while before I accept it. Maybe I never will entirely but I'm trying my damndest to do so.

 

[Parker in NYC]

Leave Elsa alone. That’s one of the most offensive narrative to date.

I love Elsa. I don't care one way or another but I enjoyed the vitriol spewed at the possibility that she COULD be. It wasn't my bag.

 

[21stamps]

They know less than nothing. I saw several (at least 20 so far) people disappointed they aren’t re-theming it to The Emperors New Groove. How that fits into Frontierland in any way, shape, or form, I don’t know. This is the average Disney guest, everyone.

Either does Moana, but I would have rather seen that as a replacement over anything else, if it had to be done.

 

[_caleb]

Counterpoint again -

a. But couldn't we say that about virtually anything? Couldn't virtually anything be hurtful to the "right" person? Are we all to live in a bubble world?

b. I believe we're splitting hairs here with semantics - snapshot versus idealized version. However, you cannot change / evolve Frontierland without completely doing away with Frontierland itself. Frontierland, itself, is designed to be stuck in time.

c. I'd wager to say your average American and average domestic / international theme park goer never was offended by the film because they never saw the film, nor even realized it was connected to SM.

a. Virtually anything *could be hurtful to pretty much anyone. But we live in this world, where black Americans are saying that they've still being hurt. Companies have to decide if they want to respond accordingly or not.

b. To me, "snapshot" indicates "a picture of how things were." By "idealized version," I mean "a picture of how things never were but ought to have been." The "ought to" will change with popular opinion. And of course you can change/evolve Frontierland without doing away with Frontierland itself. It's changed a lot over the years, as has popular understanding of what a "frontier" is/was.

c. I agree that many/most people don't know about the film- that's mostly Disney's own doing. But in the age of digital media, Disney can't limit public access to the film, and every aspect of society is being scrutinized for racial insensitivity. What is now a bit of Disney trivia "did you know that Splash Mountain is based on a racist movie?" can/will quickly become "Disney is racist!" and affect the brand's reputation with their audience.

 

[Yert3]

Either does Moana, but I would have rather seen that as a replacement over anything else, if it had to be done.

How about an original story? We haven’t had an original attraction since 2006. It’s time for one.

 

[Kate F]

It’s painful because this imo was the perfect Disney attraction.

 

[Lirael]

Yeah. I’m going. I’m tired of being labeled as racist for caring about Splash Mountain. I’m also tired of other fans being labeled as such as well. This community is rather revolting, particularly on Twitter. Most of you on here have been fine, but I just thought I’d leave a final message.

Rename yourself "Former Brer, now Princess" instead

 

[orlandogal22]

c. I agree that many/most people don't know about the film- that's mostly Disney's own doing. But in the age of digital media, Disney can't limit public access to the film, and every aspect of society is being scrutinized for racial insensitivity. What is now a bit of Disney trivia "did you know that Splash Mountain is based on a racist movie?" can/will quickly become "Disney is racist!" and affect the brand's reputation with their audience.

Yep. I'll give you that!

 

[21stamps]

How about an original story? We haven’t had an original attraction since 2006. It’s time for one.

That too. I’m just giving my preference if it had to be a princess. Moana is much less invasive.

 

[21stamps]

I love Elsa. I don't care one way or another but I enjoyed the vitriol spewed at the possibility that she COULD be. It wasn't my bag.

Probably because it’s offensive and stereotypical to many women.