Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[Disgruntled Walt]

many things: TDR is not owned by Disney, and racism culture is obviously very different over there (they definitely turn more of a blind eye towards it)

Still though, the ride is the same ride based on the same thing. The original petition asked for Tokyo's to be changed also.

 

[BigDlover]

It just amplifies loudmouths while most are too busy to pay attention. (I'm not excluding me in this either)

So people who you don't agree with are loudmouths? Yet people that share your opinion are... what? Always right?

 

[J_Carioca]

Wow at least this just confirms what demographic is heavily on this forum. Those damn liberals re theming old rides!!



Except I understand that people will miss the ride including me. But what I don’t understand is why people like you claim that the whole operation including the people who are fine with it must be a communist? Some things in this country really don’t change do they.. You would be right at home in the red scare, which maybe defends why theme park rides should never change when people like you don’t either.

I'm not sure if you're referring to me when you talk about "people like you". I never said a word about communism, or socialism, or any other political ideology. You can make whatever assumptions you want but I am as liberal as they come. And yet, incredibly, I like the old/current SM and don't think it should be changed.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

YES!!!! I was just about to write this. If the connection to Song of the South is so problematic in the US, why is it okay to leave SM as is in other parts of the world? The fact that they are not announcing changes in Tokyo really shows that the announcement is much more about appearing to be culturally sensitive than truly thinking that the theming is a problem. (That said, I'm very happy there are no plans to change it in TDL and I will save up to get my Disney fix there from now on. I can't go to a Disney park and not ride SM.)

Disney has no say on what happens with Splash at TDL unless OLC says they want it to happen.

They have already said no to any PC changes to Pirates for the time being.

 

[TangledUpInKnots]

Anyone else feel like they’re going to throw up?

I had to leave the room so my six year old who by the way thinks brer rabbit and brer bear are real didn't hear me cry in the bathroom and well cuss a little.

 

[Bob Harlem]

So people who you don't agree with are loudmouths? Yet people that share your opinion are... what? Always right?

Nope, but it skews it to mob mentality.

 

[Yert3]

You gotta laugh at people crying about a ride in general, much less one when only the music and some of the scenery are changing

Bad argument. That’s like saying we shouldn’t criticize Stitch’s Great Escape because the system stayed Identical to Alien Encounter. The sensory overload was still there but the theme was worse, much worse.

 

[Rich Brownn]

YES!!!! I was just about to write this. If the connection to Song of the South is so problematic in the US, why is it okay to leave SM as is in other parts of the world? The fact that they are not announcing changes in Tokyo really shows that the announcement is much more about appearing to be culturally sensitive than truly thinking that the theming is a problem. (That said, I'm very happy there are no plans to change it in TDL and I will save up to get my Disney fix there from now on. I can't go to a Disney park and not ride SM.)

SotS was actually available for quite some time in Japan. Thats how I got a laser disc of it.

 

[sublimesting]

But your point was wondering "why Tiana"? And I answered, "Because Disney has always been promoting her all along." As well as the other members of The Disney Princesses (c). The board doesn't lack continual calls for a Tiana restaurant somewhere on WDW property.

Don't know why you would think the promotion of Tiana and Facilier, already both successfully promoted, is part of a series of bad decisions.

I think my point was more why SOTS? Totally fine with Tiana etc but not at expense of getting rid of theming of Splash. That’s an Evticket ride that is masterfully themed. It adds a wonderful whimsical cartoony backdrop to Frontierland that I like. MK actually has expansion room so expand. Also I don’t feel this is the right time while other projects are on hold and other updates are much more direly needed such as Inagination SSE, etc. I even stated somewhere that American Experience has room for a boat ride and this would have been an outstanding addition to America in Epcot.

 

[_caleb]

I think the imagineers did such a great job designing Splash Mountain that its story became beloved in its own right. The problem is that it never could distance itself from Song of the South. Growing up around the parks I often heard people in the queue telling others "did you know this ride is based on a racist movie?" On fan sites and blogs, it's often posted on "Disney Secrets" lists between the "basketball court in the Matterhorn" and "the secret tunnels under Magic Kingdom." It makes sense to me that Disney wouldn't want that to be the secret backstory of one of their rides.

 

[EagleScout610]

Well....every so often Disney claims the yeti will be fixed...so.......

 

[Brer Oswald]

To all the people who laugh at those “crying at a theme park ride”, I’d like to imagine how you’d feel if Haunted Mansion was replaced with a Luigi’s Mansion Ride. (Replace Mansion with whatever your favourite ride is)

 

[disneygeek90]

How long before they close Asia and Africa at animal kingdom for being appropriation of culture?

Or the mexican boat ride at epcot for being offensive.

Grand Fiesta Tour should be rethemed to Coco anyway.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

How is it okay for Sallah to be included in the Indiana Jones Adventure? John Rhys-Davies is a Welsh actor playing an Egyptian. We could find a million examples of things that "have to be changed" in Disney Parks. Where does it stop? Splash Mountain was about animals. Animals don't have races. The Tiki Room includes stereotypes of various ethnic groups. And don't get me started on the lack of diverse ghosts at the Haunted Mansion.

 

[Mr.Stang19]

Haitians kicked out the French (not the Spanish) in what began as a slave uprising (which took place at the same time as the French Revolution and they're relatively entwined). They then occupied the Dominican Republic for a couple of decades before the Dominicans kicked out the Haitians and declared themselves independent. That is, of course, the broadest possible overview and leaves out every important detail, but Haitians and Dominicans have a very different history.

They are not different, they are the same. Stop being racist! When they move to the US they become part of the African American community. What's next, are you going to tell me that African Americans from Atlanta are different or better than the ones from NYC? Is Cardi B not African American? Or Obama? Dominicans and Haitians are equals.

 

[MisterPenguin]

How long before they close Asia and Africa at animal kingdom for being appropriation of culture?

You mean the place that hires Africans and Indians to provide African and Indian entertainment?

 

[Yert3]

Lol there’s nothing offensive about three Caballeros. The whole point of the movie‘s existence was to increase relations with Mexico and it had it’s premier in Mexico City and was quite popular.

 

[GeoffR]

How long before they close Asia and Africa at animal kingdom for being appropriation of culture?

Or the mexican boat ride at epcot for being offensive.

True, but disney uses actual people from those areas most of the time. It's more of a celebration of their culture, so I think they are safe. But with cancel culture...idk

 

[_caleb]

To all the people who laugh at those “crying at a theme park ride”, I’d like to imagine how you’d feel if Haunted Mansion was replaced with a Luigi’s Mansion Ride. (Replace Mansion with whatever your favourite ride is)

I'm not laughing at anyone who is upset. I totally understand the feeling of loss many people are experiencing. Lots of great memories have been made with Splash Mountain.

Add to that the cumulative effect: lots of rides have been removed, lots of badly-done overlays. Many would say an entire park was ruined. These things all tend to add up in the mind of the nostalgic fan. (Nevermind all the other changes happening in the world these days.) It makes sense to me that lots of people are mourning the losses of things they knew and loved.

 

[SplashJacket]

Bob Weis: "It has been a year or more since we started talking about this particular concept. While we’ve explored many new themes in the past, that’s when we really began to hone in on Princess Tiana’s story."

For those in the know, is this true?

@marni1971

Also said by BW: "From a timing perspective, guests will see Princess Tiana throughout the experience (hint—after “the kiss”). She and Louis are bringing friends together for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance, alongside many of our other favorite characters from this instant classic."

Would this just be a "we need to find the band!" throughout the entire attraction with it ending with the band playing at the current boat?

Also BW: "We are working with our operations partners now to determine timing for this project to get under way. For now, we know that both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland parks will re-open with the existing Splash Mountain attraction."

My interpretation was this was a super hastily thrown together blue-sky concept art, but on the other hand, the uncertainty could be caused by the ongoing pandemic.

Any clarity on what is said above would be much appreciated.

Thanks!