Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[RoysCabin]

Reconstructon or not, slavery or at least the attitude toward it, was still around. And, being a movie that was from Disney, I'm sure the point of the movie wasn't to show the grim reality of slavery, Reconstruction, or whatever..... the setting of the movie was about that. Once again, being a DISNEY movie, the focus was on positivity, life lessons, characters, and songs. Oh, and it is a MOVIE. At the end of the day you have to remember that. That's with ANY movie. It's not always about reality.
When I saw this movie I already knew about how things were in those times from school and my parents. I knew it was bad times and unjust. But it sure was nice to see a movie, even set in those turbulent times, bring out a little positivity and memorable characters.

I mean, not for nothing, but do you think there's a reason we don't tend to get films made depicting happy people singing with animated birds, but set in Third Reich Germany?

I guess The Sound of Music shows a mostly happy world, but much of its dramatic tension, particularly in its second act, is at least built around acknowledging and confronting the very real dangers and terrors of that era. Given that the NAACP even criticized SotS upon its initial release, these are not new criticisms.

EDIT: I also keep seeing people saying that Disney "gave into the mob" or "the outrage" or whatever, but can we actually see evidence of widespread, mainstream calls for the removal of the Brer Rabbit story from Splash that got any traction? As of now I don't see a reason to doubt that Disney had this planned back in 2019, given the detail in the concept art, so I'm not sure where people are getting that from.

 

[Beacon Joe]

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What about every other minority group in the country? Don't they have a say? Do you really want to find out what Dominicans, Haitians, Puerto Ricans, Cambodians, Koreans, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans, Cubans think of African Americans?

You honestly think 'white' people are the problem? White people are the only 'true' racists? Lol

Some of you really need to get out more.

Oddly enough, in my experience, the racists really are white people who think that they own the thoughts, feelings, and experience of minorities like me. There's one in this thread discounting my whole family's experience because it doesn't match what he believes to be true. It's sad, really.

 

[disneygeek90]

The “general” fan base reaction spread looks a whole lot different that the yes/no poll posted here.

 

[TJinSF]

Impressive. $11 billion... heck if it were $12 billion then I'd give them a pass. I was being facetious when I said I didn't know about Song of the South. That said, please do tell me which parts of the attraction pay homage to Racism. I'll be waiting.

I don't think you understand what "facetious" means. "I didn't even know what song of the south was or how it was related to Splash" is not facetious. It's, apparently, a lie, and a pointless one too. I hope you're not holding your breath while you wait, because you'll be waiting a while. I'm not one of those who put forward the requests for a change, but you can read about their arguments in this thread.

 

[bryanfze55]

Way to listen to a long suffering oppressed minority.

So commit to actual societal changes that will help said minority group. Bring about meaningful change. Getting rid of Splash Mountain is the equivalent of lip service... My money says we’ll keep doing minor symbolic gestures to appease the oppressed and never get around to meaningful reform.

 

[_caleb]

It’s easily found on YouTube.

I literally went back and re-watched it (in segments) on YouTube today just to make sure my recollection of it wasn't off. I heard so many people saying, "The movie isn't racist!" and "Have you even SEEN the movie?" that I figured maybe I had misremembered.
I hadn't misremembered.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I seem to recall you being against the change two weeks ago. As were a majority of people who seem to be claiming this as the “best thing since sliced bread”.

I was wrong.

And I wasn't making the case it was the best thing since sliced bread. You seemed to have forgotten that I was very critical of Splash Mountain's portrayal of Southern stereotypes.

However, I thought the whitewashing of the elements of the movie were enough to satisfy those of African descent, and the lack of knowledge of SotS would put it low on the list of systemic racist things that should change.

But, I've seen the conversation that has happened in the country since then. I have seen the majority of American get on board with a sweeping change and not just on 'the worst parts.'

So, I'm more than ready to be on board with this change.

Remember, I was also arguing that SotS is without any doubt racist.

 

[HoustonHorn]

Ummm... beige isn't the color, but you're actually right about one of the proposed changes. That and major changes to the African portion and section of the ride.

The White Room in IASW is breathtaking. I unironically love that ride and that room. And I love Splash.

I would love to have a PatF ride - but let's build new things instead of replacing the old.

 

[rnese]

Why stop there you "woke" Disney tools? Get rid of every President from the HOP except for Obama!

 

[DisneyGigi]

I thought Song of the South was never released on DVD.

Technically I guess it wasn’t. I got mine years ago at a roadside gift shop.

I saw the movie when I was 6 at school in the early 80s. Always loved it and was tickled to death to find it. Gonna say most diehard Disney fans own it.

 

[willtravel]

Just a way for Disney to bring a somewhat current IP (with merchandising) to the park. Watch out HOP, TSI, and CBJ..... I find it strange that it took this long. SM merchandise is going to be in high demand.

Thank heaven for Martins Videos. After they took down Fountain of Nations my interest in WDW has waned. I know out with the old and bring in IP's. Progress...................

 

[DarkMetroid567]

Oddly enough, in my experience, the racists really are white people who think that they own the thoughts, feelings, and experience of minorities like me. There's one in this thread discounting my whole family's experience because it doesn't match what he believes to be true. It's sad, really.

right; I think a lot of people miss that yeah, everyone can almost certainly be racist, but there’s a difference between individual racist treatment and the Established Racism that has persisted in a state. the leaders, imagineers, etc all mostly come from one race, and they’re not coming from africa or asia or latin america...

 

[WDW Pro]

I was wrong.

And I wasn't making the case it was the best thing since sliced bread. You seemed to have forgotten that I was very critical of Splash Mountain's portrayal of Southern stereotypes.

However, I thought the whitewashing of the elements of the movie were enough to satisfy those of African descent, and the lack of knowledge of SotS would put it low on the list of system racist things that should change.

But, I've seen the conversation that has happened in the country since then. I have seen the majority of American get on board with a sweeping change and not just on 'the worst parts.'

So, I'm more than ready to be on board with this change.

Remember, I was also arguing that SotS is without any doubt racist.

It's 2016 all over again, and we're just sitting on loop. No lessons learned, same people who had no clue still have no clue. People racing to outwoke each other, scared they won't be woke enough, changing their own views to be woker, all while the average person sits quietly sickened by the stupidity of it all.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Song of the South is a movie set during the times of slavery.

BZZZT...

Sorry, you don't get to skip the thread and throw up a word wall. If you read the thread you would know your first sentence was terribly false and debunked several times.

Start again.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

The “general” fan base reaction spread looks a whole lot different that the yes/no poll posted here.
View attachment 479229

because if you suddenly banned 50+ year old male retirees with nothing to do, the user base of this forum would plummet dramatically

 

[rnese]

Morocco has yet to formally abolish slavery. Where's the reimagineering?

 

[rdoncsecz]

This is one of the worst decisions Disney has ever made, hands down.
Cost cutting left and right and you'll use available funds to re-theme a ride?
THERE IS AN EMPTY BUILDING IN TOMORROWLAND! -- PUT MONEY THERE.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Can I just say...
One of the most popular rides and highest rated attractions at the resort.
Out of all the fish to fry at WDW, this should be near the bottom of the list.

No, because you keep saying it over and over again and keep missing the point.

It's not about adding a new ride. It's not about finding a place for Tiana.

It's about getting rid of any references to a racist movie, regardless of how whitewashed that association tried to be.

 

[Bleed0range]

The “general” fan base reaction spread looks a whole lot different that the yes/no poll posted here.
View attachment 479229

That’s because this forum is full of hardcore Disney fan purists who would be upset if most any old attraction was changed.

 

[mdktf]

Yet.

Tokyo has the OLC to work with. They can’t just make a blanket announcement like they can with the American parks.

I imagine that the OLC in Tokyo won’t Care. I just wonder how this conversation came up in a board meeting:
Board member 1: We better get a black person in one of our rides.
Board member 2: Why because of BLM?
Board member 3: Well duh?!
Board member 1: what about Tiana
Board member 2: I don’t know who that is?
Board member 3: you don’t need to, shes black.
Board member 1: And then we will have solved racism and no one can ever say DIsney is racist.
Board member 2: Can we still play zipadee do dah?

I cringe at the thought of these conversations. Changing this ride does and proves nothing, and it definitely doesn’t help any minorities.