Father Robinson
Well-Known Member
Nothing will ever surprise me going forward.
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Splash Mountain re-theme announced
- Thread starter DCBaker
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RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
Society has changed. I don't begrudge anyone involved in the making of the movie at all. But when what society deems appropriate changes, than it means certain things either need to be viewed in context or not at all.
I hate retroactive outrage and the cancel culture, but this isn't that. This is adapting a theme park ride because of societal changes. This isn't the first time that's happened and it won't be the last.
The calls were for Disney to change the attraction and have more representation of non-white characters in the parks. They weren't cancelling Disney because Song of the South and Splash Mountain existed.
M:SpilotISTC12
Well-Known Member
Exactly why CoP, Hall of Presidents and American Adventure need to go! People don't care they just use it for AC. Tear em down! More thrill! More Disney!
DAK1928
Well-Known Member
I don't see that happening as this is a "special" situation. it's not arguing over IP like Twilight Zone vs Guardians of the Galaxy.
Andrew C
You know what's funny?
I think too late for that after this official announcement. Star of the movie talking about it.
hopemax
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I don't know how retheming to a story developed by two older white guys based on another white guy's fairy tale really helps address the serious injustices and inequities within your community in a meaningful way. I'm sorry.
Especially, when I know that, despite these types of performative actions, they will continue to "import" labor to keep, especially Orlando's, wages suppressed below what they would be naturally, which has a real, and negative effect on the lives of people struggling with inequality. Which spills over to those people who don't work for Disney and live in the areas around the parks. I tell my DH, Disney is equal opportunity when it comes to who they are willing to exploit. All those articles about the actual living conditions of the theme park workers doesn't magically go away because Tiana has an attraction. This is the types of thing the people who are invested in keeping the systemic and structural barriers intact, are willing to cede, in order to keep the things that really matter: money and power. "Have Tiana, we can exploit and sell her just as well, if not better than the Brer characters."
But since I am a white person, I don't know if I am missing something. IMO, it feels like when people are upset about something huge but they can't find the words to fully express it, so it manifests itself as being upset with something more minor. Celebrating the minor victory, lasts for a moment, but all the underlying pain and frustration remains, festering because the real problem still isn't addressed.
Louisiana was part of that whole Louisiana Purchase thingy. An edge, yeah, but still part of what we associate with the American Frontier.
Parker in NYC
Well-Known Member
Oh, I agree entirely. My issue is with the film and the dialects in the attraction. But other than that, I just don't see reason to push Princess and the Frog into it. A movie, I might add, that I adore.
Kitchandro
Well-Known Member
Disagree, there is absolutely no insulting of black people in that entire film. There's no slander, there's no disrespect of black characters (certainly not based on their race) and Uncle Remus is clearly intended to be the films 'hero'.
People only claim it's racist because it is set shortly after the abolition of slavery and features a black man living around a plantation. So it makes people uncomfortable, but it's probably an accurate situation considering he's an old dude who I imagine didn't have anywhere he could go at that point in his life. And even if he was bitter about white people I doubt he would take it out on the kids, which it seems is what people wanted to see in a CHILDREN'S FILM.
Regardless, it's pretty irrelevant as Splash Mountain has almost no references to the film outside of the cartoon portions.
Horizons '83
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Do you know about the weather in Tokyo in the winter?
Incomudro
Well-Known Member
There are no problems with Song of the South.
None.
The only problems are in the heads of some people.
As for Splash Mountain - it doesn't have any imagery of the "problem" of Song of the South.
Splash deals exclusively with the cartoon characters.
Disneyfan1981
Active Member
God I loved Alien Encounter. Had a ton of memories of going on with people for the first time and watching them more than the show. Stitch was such a letdown to the point I won't even go near it - I really hope this retheme for Splash is a good one. The only character I really liked from PatF was Dr. Facilier (still love friends on the other side) but since this takes place after the film I doubt he'll be in there.
WillWrambles
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
That makes sense.
I am not one who was calling for this change, and will miss the ride. I do understand some of the arguments made for this change, and appreciate many members of the general public contemplating an amusement park visit are not as interested in exploring the complexities of these issues than I am, as a historian of popular media. That said, aside from the specific discussion about the racial elements of the story, there are two general points I’ve seen several times that I think are especially silly.
First, I think that choosing not to take action in the face of complaints is absolutely not “keeping politics out of it.” Politics are in it now, and declining to take action would have been taking a side in the culture wars just as much as the decision that was ultimately made. Which side they should’ve come down on is a fair question: I would not have made the present choice. But while we’re in the middle of social movements calling for change, of course not making it is its own position.
Second, I think the suggestions that people calling for these changes, and according to some people liberals in general, are not generally Disney’s customers is at best misguided. In the past few years I have read hundreds, maybe thousands of complaints about the increasing expense of a Disney vacation: higher prices, aggressive add-ons, fewer sales, yada yada yada. Who do people think are paying these fees? In very broad strokes, the wealthy liberals in my circle are the ones who have a 7-10 day Disney trip with the whole extended family every few years. They won’t add a trip just for this, but they sure won’t be boycotting either.
Who are the people in my circle who are very angry, claiming they’ll never be back, etc? The one on a fixed income who was last at a Disney park when my mother graduated college in 1978, the middle class family in rural Michigan who have done maybe two or three weekends at the California parks and always talk about wanting to do more but can’t afford it, etc. I am not by any means arguing “all Ds are rich and all Rs are poor,” but in terms of broad societal trends, I think Disney has backed the right horse in terms of revenue. Disney trips are more a status symbol or rite of passage for many people than an expression of sincerely aligned values in many cases. Disney has 65 years of info on just who goes to the parks, when, why, etc. I don’t doubt that they considered it carefully in making this decision.
First, I think that choosing not to take action in the face of complaints is absolutely not “keeping politics out of it.” Politics are in it now, and declining to take action would have been taking a side in the culture wars just as much as the decision that was ultimately made. Which side they should’ve come down on is a fair question: I would not have made the present choice. But while we’re in the middle of social movements calling for change, of course not making it is its own position.
Second, I think the suggestions that people calling for these changes, and according to some people liberals in general, are not generally Disney’s customers is at best misguided. In the past few years I have read hundreds, maybe thousands of complaints about the increasing expense of a Disney vacation: higher prices, aggressive add-ons, fewer sales, yada yada yada. Who do people think are paying these fees? In very broad strokes, the wealthy liberals in my circle are the ones who have a 7-10 day Disney trip with the whole extended family every few years. They won’t add a trip just for this, but they sure won’t be boycotting either.
Who are the people in my circle who are very angry, claiming they’ll never be back, etc? The one on a fixed income who was last at a Disney park when my mother graduated college in 1978, the middle class family in rural Michigan who have done maybe two or three weekends at the California parks and always talk about wanting to do more but can’t afford it, etc. I am not by any means arguing “all Ds are rich and all Rs are poor,” but in terms of broad societal trends, I think Disney has backed the right horse in terms of revenue. Disney trips are more a status symbol or rite of passage for many people than an expression of sincerely aligned values in many cases. Disney has 65 years of info on just who goes to the parks, when, why, etc. I don’t doubt that they considered it carefully in making this decision.
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RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
3 cheese Monte Christo's please.
Herbie
Well-Known Member
What's funny is - and I don't know if this has been mentioned - the entire "interview" with Bob Weis is pretty much a sham, face-saving technique. It's all the right questions we have, sure... But the way they're addressed and phrased; you know they're trying to pretend as if this was just a natural evolution. Get everything out in the here and now so they can sidestep any backlash as development continues (or starts).
Horizons '83
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Remember The MK Theater that was announced, and the Wilderness DVC Expansion? You never know. This just seems so knee jerk to me.
Logic is stretching it.
I mean, this was eventually going top happen, right? It's understandable based on where we are right now as a society.
I hope the America Sings animatronics can remain and still be part of the musical storyline. This is as signature a signature attraction as Disney has and it really has to be done right. This can't be a rush job a la Frozen...
I hope the America Sings animatronics can remain and still be part of the musical storyline. This is as signature a signature attraction as Disney has and it really has to be done right. This can't be a rush job a la Frozen...
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