Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[SilentWindODoom]

Okay... Political talk excised from this thread from here on out, so let's take a look at the other talking point that has come up: the timeline of events. As I can figure, there are a few things that could possibly be the case here.

1. They've known forever the possible timebomb Splash Mountain is. And, they've occasionally thought about how to deal with this. In the late 2000's, someone in Imagineering saw the upcoming Princess and the Frog and found this could work as a replacement. A piece of concept art was made. Upon its release, it did not perform as well as hoped, and it was dropped just like Atlantis's Fire Mountain was before it.

2. They saw this coming in the current climate and mocked up art in case this happened. Thus once the petition popped up, they were ready.

Does anyone know how long these renders take to create and if the style at all matches past projects? It does look similar in style to the New Fantasyland art from about a decade back.

 

[orlandogal22]

Davy's part in the November 3, 1813 Indian massacre of Tallussahatchee Indians isn't going to go over very well. Considering in his own words, “we now shot them like dogs; and then set the house on fire, and burned it up with the forty-six warriors in it.” I think to play it save we need to stay away from any historical figures that actually existed because you'll find some group to take offense of them. Remember these is a time when you've got people wanting to tear down statues of George Washington and Lincoln... It is only a matter of time until the woke warriors try to one up the Taliban that blew up the ancient Gautama Buddha statues by blowing up Mt Rushmore.

We're screwed, aren't we?!?

 

[thomas998]

Sorry if I wasn’t clear. People are saying (and have been saying) that the association of the ride to the film is hurtful. When I hear people say that, I want to ask them why they find it hurtful rather than insist that it’s not just because it wasn’t hurtful to me.

It’s not true that there were ”literally no complaints until the past month.” It might be true that you never heard any complaints until the past month.

Several people here have articulated what they find hurtful about the ride’s connection to the film. When they say these things, I find that I can either shout them down or listen.

I prefer to start by asking if they have ever seen the movie... I have yet to find a single person that is against it that has actually watched it. Instead at most you'll find someone that saw a clip. A clip is not the movie as a whole.

I refuse to acknowledge the blind belief of someone that wants to tell me about a connection they cannot possibly know of, as the vast majority are simply parroting what they have been told. Many horrible things in the world have happened simply because people blindly followed the ranting of others that were hellbent on manipulating them. A little short Austrian with a mustache comes to mind as a great of example of someone managing to shepherd the sheep too clueless or lazy to think for themselves.

 

[21stamps]

We're screwed, aren't we?!?

Yep. We have sent an impossible standard.

I just want to know at what point in time it was decided that history had to be perfect, and if not perfect- must be destroyed.

 

[thomas998]

Okay... Political talk excised from this thread from here on out, so let's take a look at the other talking point that has come up: the timeline of events. As I can figure, there are a few things that could possibly be the case here.

1. They've known forever the possible timebomb Splash Mountain is. And, they've occasionally thought about how to deal with this. In the late 2000's, someone in Imagineering saw the upcoming Princess and the Frog and found this could work as a replacement. A piece of concept art was made. Upon its release, it did not perform as well as hoped, and it was dropped just like Atlantis's Fire Mountain was before it.

2. They saw this coming in the current climate and mocked up art in case this happened. Thus once the petition popped up, they were ready.

Does anyone know how long these renders take to create and if the style at all matches past projects? It does look similar in style to the New Fantasyland art from about a decade back.

Given it is only one drawing it wouldn't have taken a good artist more than a couple of days to come up with a one off rendering. If they had throw out a full rendering of the entire ride then it would have taken some time... but with only one draw who knows. You can't even date it from the style as I've seen fashion designer sketches today that look like they were caught in the sketch style of the 50's... it could have been someone that did the previous sketches when Princess and the Frog was first made or it could have just been someone a week ago that liked the style used back then. Now if you could hunt through old Disney sites and find a similar rendering from years ago you might have some evidence of when it was created... but right now its just anyone's guess.

 

[MickeyMouse10]

They are probably going to replace the animatronics with those lousy new ones with projections. Like they have on "Frozen Ever After", "7 Dwarves" and "Mickey's Runaway Railway". I can't stand those versions, they just look cheap and unrealistic.

If not those ones than they'll just have 1 animatronic that breaks down all the time (Everest and Nav'i River).

 

[Brer Oswald]

Given it is only one drawing it wouldn't have taken a good artist more than a couple of days to come up with a one off rendering. If they had throw out a full rendering of the entire ride then it would have taken some time... but with only one draw who knows. You can't even date it from the style as I've seen fashion designer sketches today that look like they were caught in the sketch style of the 50's... it could have been someone that did the previous sketches when Princess and the Frog was first made or it could have just been someone a week ago that liked the style used back then. Now if you could hunt through old Disney sites and find a similar rendering from years ago you might have some evidence of when it was created... but right now its just anyone's guess.

It’s an image of Splash with some brush strokes and filters applied, the thorns removed, the tree overlayed, and some prexisting character art plastered on the side for emphasis. Would not take more than a few days. Probably was made within the last few weeks.

 

[Baloo62]

I'll miss Splash as it is, but it's Disney's attraction and they have the right to do as they wish. But, if Disney was serious they would denounce and relenquish ownership of "Song of the South" entirely. Make it public domain. But I guess that would mean they couldn't continue to release it overseas and profit from it.

I guess what I'm saying is that a person, group, or company can take any stance they want on social issues, but they need to be consistent. I'll never believe what you preach if your not really living it. If you believe it's truly racist, never open the ride again. Tear it down and burn it. If you truly believe the earth will be destroyed by climate change in 10 years, you shouldn't drive a gas powered vehicle ever again, much less own a fleet of them and depend on the airlines to deliver your "guest" to your front gate with money in hand. If you truly believe in a better life for everyone, don't buy or sell crap made by slave or child labor. If you are looking at the sins of America, take a look at the sins of all the other countries that you do business with. Slavery is as real and ugly today as it ever has been. Be consistent. Quit virtue signaling.

Sorry, rant over.

Excellent post. Bravo, sir.

 

[Brer Oswald]

They are probably going to replace the animatronics with those lousy new ones with projections. Like they have on "Frozen Ever After", "7 Dwarves" and "Mickey's Runaway Railway". I can't stand those versions, they just look cheap and unrealistic.

If not those ones than they'll just have 1 animatronic that breaks down all the time (Everest and Nav'i River).

They technically don’t have to remove any of the America Sings animatronics, just redress them. Although, I’d imagine have the incentive is minimizing the animatronics, so they’ll likely all go in the dumpster. Hopefully Tony can save a few.

What I find the most interesting is how the set design is going to change. Disneyland’s will be a fairly easy transition. Most of the set design there is swampy marshes, dark lighting, etc. However, Magic Kingdom’s is VERY different set design wise. Bright cloudy sky’s, cartoony rockwork that looks like it was taken right out of SotS. I’m not aware of how much of that is in the foundation itself. Do they plan to tear it all out? Or will it just be PatF in Brer Rabbit’s world?

Not saying they didn’t think this through. Maybe they have a brilliant plan to retool everything. But Florida’s is definitely going to be over budget compared to Disneyland’s, which needs very little modification. This is going to be an expensive project to not half a**, with high expectations on both sides. Good luck Disney.

 

[thomas998]

They technically don’t have to remove any of the America Sings animatronics, just redress them. Although, I’d imagine have the incentive is minimizing the animatronics, so they’ll likely all go in the dumpster. Hopefully Tony can save a few.

What I find the most interesting is how the set design is going to change. Disneyland’s will be a fairly easy transition. Most of the set design there is swampy marshes, dark lighting, etc. However, Magic Kingdom’s is VERY different set design wise. Bright cloudy sky’s, cartoony rockwork that looks like it was taken right out of SotS. I’m not aware of how much of that is in the foundation itself. Do they plan to tear it all out? Or will it just be PatF in Brer Rabbit’s world?

Not saying they didn’t think this through. Maybe they have a brilliant plan to retool everything. But Florida’s is definitely going to be over budget compared to Disneyland’s, which needs very little modification. This is going to be an expensive project to not half a**, with high expectations on both sides. Good luck Disney.

I expect they will gut the animatronics throughout then put in screens where the current backgrounds are and just project garbage on it like they have done with the Seas with Nemo and Friends at EPCOT... much easier to just maintain a projector than have to worry with animatronics.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I think they were familiar with it because it was their job to write a song for this movie and they researched music of the period and obviously borrowed from it.

Its probable, but without the song writers, you can’t confirm it.

 

[Bleed0range]

Its probable, but without the song writers, you can’t confirm it.

I use something called common sense. The phrasing of the chorus is too close to be coincidental. I know anyone who likes the song will just choose willful ignorance.

 

[GeoffR]

One of the problems I have with this announcement, is all the other stuff that should supercede it: Carousel of Progress (fix or replace) , monorails all need tlc, Tomorrowland in DL, all the epcot construction and the attractions in that park, dinoland usa...obviously they scooted the announcement to the front of the line given what is going on, but are they going to put money into a brand new attraction instead of fixing these problems first? Tbh, splash needed work on both coasts, but not to the extent of these other things.

 

[The Mom]

Okay... Political talk excised from this thread from here on out, so let's take a look at the other talking point that has come up: the timeline of events. As I can figure, there are a few things that could possibly be the case here.

1. They've known forever the possible timebomb Splash Mountain is. And, they've occasionally thought about how to deal with this. In the late 2000's, someone in Imagineering saw the upcoming Princess and the Frog and found this could work as a replacement. A piece of concept art was made. Upon its release, it did not perform as well as hoped, and it was dropped just like Atlantis's Fire Mountain was before it.

2. They saw this coming in the current climate and mocked up art in case this happened. Thus once the petition popped up, they were ready.

Does anyone know how long these renders take to create and if the style at all matches past projects? It does look similar in style to the New Fantasyland art from about a decade back.

This thread has been moved to the Political forum - so as long as you are respectful towards others you can get as political as you wish.

 

[Hcalvert]

Davy's part in the November 3, 1813 Indian massacre of Tallussahatchee Indians isn't going to go over very well. Considering in his own words, “we now shot them like dogs; and then set the house on fire, and burned it up with the forty-six warriors in it.” I think to play it save we need to stay away from any historical figures that actually existed because you'll find some group to take offense of them. Remember this is a time when you've got people wanting to tear down statues of George Washington and Lincoln... It is only a matter of time until the woke warriors try to one up the Taliban that blew up the ancient Gautama Buddha statues by blowing up Mt Rushmore.

Well then, can't they do a non-IP ride like Big Thunder Mountain instead? In addition, there are a lot of people who object to Tom Sawyer and the book is actually banned in some libraries/schools.

 

[disneygeek90]

More trouble for Disney on The Simpsons Side. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/family-guy-actor-stop-voicing-black-character-1300742

So if it was really about Race and Disney being good people. Why does Disney Plus keep its entire library of The Simppsons?

I will answer you here since this is where the post belongs.

There's a difference of removing racist images from a ride vs. acknowledging that black animated characters should be voiced by black actors. I've seen similar announcements already happen from other shows at networks as well. There's also a calling that more LGBT characters should be acted by actual LGBT people. Representation on TV is cool, but accurate representation is even better.

 

[aw14]

I will answer you here since this is where the post belongs.

There's a difference of removing racist images from a ride vs. acknowledging that black animated characters should be voiced by black actors. I've seen similar announcements already happen from other shows at networks as well. There's also a calling that more LGBT characters should be acted by actual LGBT people. Representation on TV is cool, but accurate representation is even better.

So is it forced diversity? Or is the belief that we still should hire the people best for a particular position?

 

[ddbowdoin]

I will answer you here since this is where the post belongs.

There's a difference of removing racist images from a ride vs. acknowledging that black animated characters should be voiced by black actors. I've seen similar announcements already happen from other shows at networks as well. There's also a calling that more LGBT characters should be acted by actual LGBT people. Representation on TV is cool, but accurate representation is even better.

You do realize it’s MAKE BELIEVE!

we can never make another Superman movie again since humans can’t fly.

 

[disneygeek90]

So is it forced diversity? Or is the belief that we still should hire the people best for a particular position?

No, ideally give minority people more roles in general! Any role! But when a majority of roles on TV are white characters and when there finally is a black character, it's still given to a white actor, that's a problem.

In an ideal world representation on tv would be equal to our society, and it's getting better, but it'll still take some time.

 

[ddbowdoin]

So is it forced diversity? Or is the belief that we still should hire the people best for a particular position?

It’s 100% forced diversity... it’s not representative of actual reality. While I get the need for representation, if a company comes out (Say Mattel / Barbie) and announces they’ll have 50% of their toys now be people of color that doesn’t accurately match our population break down and is now an over representation. Now, not that I’m saying 11% of dolls should be black but when companies make those statements they’re cringe Inducing and pandering as all hell.