Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

There is nothing racist about the Brer characters. At all. End of story. They originated in African folklore and have been in adaptations all over the world in 14 different languages.

The problematic parts were the live-action sections of film used to tie the folklore tales together. Nothing connected to those parts of the film are present in the attractions.

So because you aren't offended... thats the end all be all?

 

[Bill in Atlanta]

Get the hell out of here with this crap you racist POS.

Hang on now... I don't agree with Disney.Mike, but who are you to tell him his complaints are invalid? I thought we can never know how complainers feel unless we've walked in their shoes?

 

[getdislove]

I am very glad you found your voice here.

Thank you. I really just wanted to use my experiences as an example! It took a lot of courage.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

I do believe that Disney has known for a while that they would eventually have to change the ride. I don’t believe for a second that they’ve had this in the works for over a year. I think they saw an opportunity to strike that would get them the kind of PR they want, and they took it. I would bet that the petitions from a few weeks ago were pushed by Disney themselves, so they can go “look, we responded to criticism and are addressing it!” Even though prior to this, no one was really demanding an immediate change to Splash. It’s always been something kind of pushed out of sight rather than something anyone was raging about.

This should call the integrity of the company somewhat into question. They have had no problem making money off the ride-related merchandise and promoting the ride on their ads. You could still buy a Brer Bear plush yesterday via the online store.

 

[lebeau]

Of course there are many things better about today’s world, one of which is the equal inclusion of minorities.

I still think there’s a difference between working towards real inclusion (which is good), and being an anxious, nihilistic little dweeb who wants to just troll and destroy good things (like Splash Mountain). I do believe the matter lack meaning in their own lives, yes.

And it won’t just stop at Splash. They’ll target Jungle Cruise, Hall of Presidents, American Adventure - all good things - simply because they have nothing better to do.

So it's fine as long as you're not inconvenienced in any way? Thanks for your support?

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Frozen is awful. Maelstrom was far better, they should have just plussed it.

Lots of families with small children who struggled to get them to enjoy Epcot would disagree

 

[The March Hare]

Of course, that’s what most of these huge corporations are doing. They don’t want to lose their Black customers. Representation is still important though.

That's the thing - this has nothing to do with representation. TWDC has had ample time and opportunity to promote the story and characters within TPAF. That story got a dessert party on a river boat, inclusion in the villains stage show, and after 10 years a restaurant on a cruise ship, all while New Orleans Square and POFQ exist.

I wish they would have represented such a fantastic film, with important characters, music, and messages earlier and more often, and in more meaningful ways, but that's not this.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

No. But I hope to one day. Alice in Wonderland and Snow White is calling my name.

In WDW's Fantasyland, I gravitated toward Peter Pan, Mr. Toad's, Snow White, etc. I love those sorts of rides. Plus, 20,000 Leagues! Miss it.

You have good taste.

 

[General Mayhem]

I'm gonna be that girl right now, but to any of you complaining that the people upset about this change are the snowflakes just remember this. You are the ones that made the initial stink, you decided to stick your hand in the dumpster fire that is the Theme park fan community. This is not Marvel comics, this is not Tumblr. We are ratchet and we don't care about social justice crap. Just like when Pirates was changed you are going to see a war of astronomical levels.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

That's the thing - this has nothing to do with representation. TWDC has had ample time and opportunity to promote the story and characters within TPAF. That story got a dessert party on a river boat, inclusion in the villains stage show, and after 10 years a restaurant on a cruise ship, all while New Orleans Square and POFQ exist.

I wish they would have represented such a fantastic film, with important characters, music, and messages earlier and more often, and in more meaningful ways, but that's not this.

But again... should rides always stay the same? Should the parks never change?

 

[lebeau]

Of course, that’s what most of these huge corporations are doing. They don’t want to lose their Black customers. Representation is still important though.

This is what I don't get. People argue against the change because it's a business decision. And then on the other hand, Disney is virtue signaling. Or they are at the mercy of the woke mob. Which is it?

Yes, it's obviously a business decision. Welcome to capitalism, folks!

 

[orlandogal22]

Lots of families with small children who struggled to get them to enjoy Epcot would disagree

EPCOT never really was geared toward small children to begin with.

I know there's tons of people who love the Frozen franchise, but I never felt it fit in the historical context of Norway since its setting is a fictitious place and every other component of World Showcase is based on real places (and originally pretty much pseudo-travel advertisements for the countries).

 

[Oskar]

Frozen is awful. Maelstrom was far better, they should have just plussed it.

And built a Frozen attraction elsewhere.

Oh well.

 

[lebeau]

Good. I’ll just make a competitor company, while spending money at their competitor and forever recommending their competitor over them. It won’t make much of a difference, but oh well.

We switched to Universal years ago. For us, it's a better experience although that choice has nothing to do with politics.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

I'm gonna be that girl right now, but to any of you complaining that the people upset about this change are the snowflakes just remember this. You are the ones that made the initial stink, you decided to stick your hand in the dumpster fire that is the Theme park fan community. This is not Marvel comics, this is not Tumblr. We are ratchet and we don't care about social justice crap. Just like when Pirates was changed you are going to see a war of astronomical levels.

That's because this is an absolute war on white people. It's about removing anything white people have ever done.

If you had a child born today, their kids would be taught in school that the founding fathers were black and built the US... Hell they're already trying to push that Africa was a bastion civilization until evil whitey somehow "stole" their knowledge.

Spoiler: #wakandaisntreal

I can promise neither of these comments is helpful.

 

[John park hopper]

We switched to Universal years ago. For us, it's a better experience although that choice has nothing to do with politics.

So why are you here?

 

[lebeau]

Hang on now... I don't agree with Disney.Mike, but who are you to tell him his complaints are invalid? I thought we can never know how complainers feel unless we've walked in their shoes?

Are you really confused about the difference between calling out a racist for a blatantly racist statement and stifling concerns about systematic racism? You equate the two?

 

[General Mayhem]

I can promise neither of these comments is helpful.

There's no helping this issue hun. This is the perfect storm for a fight that will never end.

 

[The_Jobu]

This is what I don't get. People argue against the change because it's a business decision. And then on the other hand, Disney is virtue signaling. Or they are at the mercy of the woke mob. Which is it?

Yes, it's obviously a business decision. Welcome to capitalism, folks!

It's both. Virtue signaling is good for business. If they cared about representation they would build patf a ride, not just half over an old one in a park that needs more capacity attractions.

 

[getdislove]

I'm gonna be that girl right now, but to any of you complaining that the people upset about this change are the snowflakes just remember this. You are the ones that made the initial stink, you decided to stick your hand in the dumpster fire that is the Theme park fan community. This is not Marvel comics, this is not Tumblr. We are ratchet and we don't care about social justice crap. Just like when Pirates was changed you are going to see a war of astronomical levels.

“social justice crap” ma’am, i’m literally venting about how I have been overlooked by disney as a black woman my entire life. seeing posts like this is really the reason as to why i’ve never been adamant to be more vocal in the disney community in the first place. While you had princesses like Belle who’ve looked like you that you could relate to, I had to wait until I was 14 to see Tiana get imagined. You have no room to tell anyone how they should feel when the whole community you share an interest with doesn’t even have your best interest as a human being.