Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[RCID]

And that changes my point how?


The Partner’s Statue? After all, Song of the South was produced by Walt. Should the man who made such a picture really be remembered as fondly as Walt is?

Good call, take it down Disney

 

[rk03221]

Oh there's no question they've had this planned for a minute now. This does not negate the fact that this is a public relations stunt and not in any way whatsoever motivated creatively

Also the fact that this could be considered a "gift" for the 50th -- taking away their best classif ride -- mind-numbingly stupid. If they wanted to kill a classic, do so constructively... go for Jungle Cruise or hell, even WDW Pirates.

It makes sense in Disneyland and I’m okay with the change there but they should’ve at least waited until after the 50th in wdw to change it. It is a PR stunt announcing it now though

 

[BlakeW39]

Sounds like you and your family are rational people! It’s crazy how people have gone to bullying now with politics, that if you don’t agree with 100% of what you are saying you are racist or something like that.

Thanks for being an intellectual who celebrates their individualism! As a fellow young person I know how hard it is not to cave to this peer pressure. Stay strong!

(I really wasn't referencing my own opinions on current politics, I was just saying that my parents are vehement supporters of BLM and even thet think this is stupid. Thanks for the complements though! )

 

[orlandogal22]

All I know is if we had a trip still planned for this fall, even aside from the pandemic this would be the final straw.

Keep raising prices, lowering quality to the lowest common denominator and now this. You can keep your WDW

Yes. I worked for Disney 20+ years ago. I really have found that I don't recognize my former employer anymore. I've been an AP for 15+ years now and between rising prices (some outlandish), overdone money grabs (dessert parties, cupcakes of the week, new color scheme of the month, etc.), crowded parks, rude CMs, and just an all-around poor experience so often, it was decided among the family once the news broke that petitions were out to cancel Splash Mountain, that if they proceeded with the change, it would be the last straw. And it's happened.

So we've decided not to renew after our passes expire after the extended time from COVID-19 is applied. We're about 20 mins. from the park; we'll just go to the resorts for dinner or to Disney Springs and save our money on APs. If things change in the future, we'll take another look.

 

[Brer Oswald]

What I don't understand is, I remember vividly back in 2009 when PatF came out that the film had a large amount of controversy around it for the being "racist" itself for stereotypes and what not. I promise you in the next ten years PatF will be considered offensive and they will have to re-theme the ride again.

BANJO-KAZOOIE

 

[davis_unoxx]

(I really wasn't referencing my own opinions on current politics, I was just saying that my parents are vehement supporters of BLM and even thet think this is stupid. Thanks for the complements though! )

Of course! And sorry for conflicting your parents views with yours haha

 

[Admiral01]

Doing what’s right isn’t necessarily the same as doing what’s popular. This is a perfect example.

Moral decisions should not be dictated by their popularity.

Disney did the right thing here by making this decision.

 

[Kate F]

Doing what’s right isn’t necessarily the same as doing what’s popular. This is a perfect example.

Moral decisions should not be dictated by their popularity.

Disney did the right thing here by making this decision.

In your opinion

 

[awoogala]

Just told my 15 year old super Disney fan, and she is ecstatic.So is my 20 year old niece. I'm super happy too, Love Princess and the Frog. I've been waiting for this for years.

 

[BigDlover]

A big problem here too, is mindset. People....this human race has to stop looking at everything with an alterior motive. In a negative light. Dissecting every last thing, even the most harmless innocent things, and turning it into something bad.

I get it, in today's world it's very hard, but we cannot be against everything and turn it into negativity. STOP being so offended by eveything. It's only a bad thing if you make it a bad thing. These attractions were not made nor meant to offend anyone.

I get it, I do. But I just feel we're living in such a negative over sensitive world now that is going to POP! Walt Disney World is supposed to be one of the few places you can go be happy and carefree. Sadly with each passing year, more and more guests seem to just be angry, entitled or miserable. I dunno

I get what you're saying. But from a branding standpoint, if there is any discussion at any point about racism within your product, it's a good PR move to change it. And there were discussions about this before the social movements of the last few months.

It's easy for a lot of people to say "this is silly, it's just a ride, it doesn't need to be changed" but with that same sentiment, it really is just a ride and it will be okay that it's changing. Change is hard at times but it really is just a ride.

 

[JustInTime]

Just told my 15 year old super Disney fan, and she is ecstatic.So is my 20 year old niece. I'm super happy too, Love Princess and the Frog. I've been waiting for this for years.

General public is very happy about this. I just hope we don’t lose more beyond this.

 

[RCID]

(I really wasn't referencing my own opinions on current politics, I was just saying that my parents are vehement supporters of BLM and even thet think this is stupid. Thanks for the complements though! )

I will echo the complements, keep it up!

I struggle with this...I have gotten in verbal arguments with friends and family about the obvious police brutality and other issues, such as all the confederate monuments that never should have been built in the first place....but goodness Splash Mountain? I get the problematic history but it seems like of all the things for 20k to get up in arms about....that would have been pretty far down the list.

 

[Kate F]

I’d be happy about a Princess and the Frog ride. An ORIGINAL Princess and the Frog ride.

 

[Roy G. Dis]

Frontierland kinda sucks outside Big Thunder and Splash. The entire drag between Liberty Square and Splash is just filler space (sorry Country Bears). So I guess what I mean is, if they wanted to retheme it... sure.

 

[J_Carioca]

I personally believe the ride is not problematic but the origins of the ride has always been a dark cloud hanging over the parks. It’s always whispered about in the queues. And unless they remade a briar rabbit movie, that would never change. So it’s time. I will miss the HELL out of it but it is what it is.

I’ve been in that queue for hours, if not days of my life, and not once have I heard anyone whispering about Song of the South.

 

[21stamps]

Who here has never seen Song of the South (or don’t remember much if you have), but grew up with the song being played on The Disney Channel and records (yep, I’m that old), and riding Splash Mountain as a kid, really only connecting the ride and the song in that way. Not thinking about the movie at all?

 

[Kate F]

I know there are plenty of other purists, but everywhere I look I’m seeing praise for this and I’m feeling so alone.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Doing what’s right isn’t necessarily the same as doing what’s popular. This is a perfect example.

Moral decisions should not be dictated by their popularity.

Disney did the right thing here by making this decision.

No. They’re still pretending it didn’t happen. Until they make some contextual piece going over the film and it’s problems, they aren’t doing the right thing.

Burying the last remaining presence of African American folklore is not the right thing, unless they find some way to explain the wrong of the film, and celebrate the original folklore tales. It doesn’t have to be a ride. But they certainly aren’t going to do it at all because they’re cowards.

 

[JustInTime]

I’ve been in that queue for hours, if not days of my life, and not once have I heard anyone whispering about Song of the South.

That is shocking. It’s always been a thing for me. Always talked about how racist the movie of origin is. It’s no shock to me they are doing this. I just hope they don’t cheap out.

 

[MisterPenguin]

While I understand the reasoning behind this retheme, it seems like it won't fit in with Frontierland. Even less than using the existing theming. Why not just make an appropriate ride/attraction for Princess and the Frog instead of retheming a flume ride? I think there'd be alot of upset little ones wanting to see Tiana's ride and because of the height restrictions not being able to. I'd think something more like a Small Worldish boat ride would be a better Princess and the Frog vehicle. And maybe still use Splash Mountain as the theme but with a different IP that might fit it better. Or do Western River Expansion type theming for this finally? Going over the falls? Makes tons more sense and still would get rid of the problematic theming and give Tiana her own ride.

Naughty TinkerBelle..8878.., you haven't read the thread. This has been brought up several times:

• Song of the South doesn't fit in Frontierland, either. MK's FL is a mash up of "Frontier" and "The South." Big Thunder Mountain in Arizona is next to the Mississippi and Georgia as it is. PatF would fit perfectly with the paddle boat on the Mississippi right next to it, no?

• It's not about adding a new ride or finding a ride for PatF. It's all about getting rid of the attraction associated with the racist movie, Song of the South (even if the animals from the animated segments aren't racist in and of themselves). Disney knew the movie would be problematic, but they made it anyway. Then they had to hide it, and then they stupidly created a ride based on a problematic source. This is about Disney fully disavowing SotS. It's gravy that PatF gets an attraction.