Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

That didn't take long.

But were they wrong... his comment was ignorant as hell

 

[ImperfectPixie]

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

You apparently didn't pay attention to my last response, so I'll say it again here. By removing ALL of the older attractions, Disney is removing things that allow parents to share pieces of their own childhood with their children in a meaningful, tangible way outside of stories and photographs. For children, a parent telling them "when I was a kid" stories are just that - they are intangible stories and difficult to imagine. Bring those stories to life in a tangible experience, and not only do adults have a connection to them, but they create a space in which they can connect with their children in ways that aren't usually possible. There is a lot to be said for something when a parent can say to their child "you know, the first time I rode this, I was only 10!" My best friend went on a 1st birthday celebration trip with her first grandchild last year - so there were THREE GENERATIONS of one family all enjoying shared elements of their childhoods together.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

The problem is that someone, somewhere, can always find a way to be "offended" by just about anything. I have Scottish heritage and sorry but the beloved Princess Merida is a stereotype. If you loved that character how would you feel about me and tens of thousands of others bending Disney and forcing them to remove her and all Brave merchandise from the parks? Or maybe I have dwarfism and do the same to 7 Dwarfs Mine train and all references to the dwarfs? What if I'm Nepalese and find the representation in Animal Kingdom offensive and petition for an entire re-theme of that area?

Sometimes you will be offended. Life isn't always fair and equal. There are much, MUCH more important things we could be doing to help poor communities to have a better future than doing a re-theme on Splash Mountain.

How about Disney take the $50 million from this re-theme and put it towards the devastated urban school systems that need it so desperately? Most people calling for this re-theme as a hugely important thing are playing a game and don't really care about helping anyone.

Go find something better to do than destroy mostly harmless entertainment attractions that many MILLIONS more people have enjoyed than have been offended by. That is, if you really care about people so much...

Please read through this thread. All your points have already been discussed...

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

You apparently didn't pay attention to my last response, so I'll say it again here. By removing ALL of the older attractions, Disney is removing things that allow parents to share pieces of their own childhood with their children in a meaningful, tangible way outside of stories and photographs. For children, a parent telling them "when I was a kid" stories are just that - they are intangible stories and difficult to imagine. Bring those stories to life in a tangible experience, and not only do adults have a connection to them, but they create a space in which they can connect with their children in ways that aren't usually possible. There is a lot to be said for something when a parent can say to their child "you know, the first time I rode this, I was only 10!" My best friend went on a 1st birthday celebration trip with her first grandchild last year - so there were THREE GENERATIONS of one family all enjoying shared elements of their childhoods together.

You can still do this via Youtube. Also, the ride will still be there in a slightly different format.

You can explain it to the next generations

 

[MrMcDuck]

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. [/MEDIA]

It’s definitely very different from the Marvel fandom, Tumblr, or Twitter. No leftist groupthink and a wide variety of opinions with actual discussion. Thank goodness.

 

[The_Jobu]

The problem is that someone, somewhere, can always find a way to be "offended" by just about anything. I have Scottish heritage and sorry but the beloved Princess Merida is a stereotype. If you loved that character how would you feel about me and tens of thousands of others bending Disney and forcing them to remove her and all Brave merchandise from the parks and from the MK Fireworks show? Or maybe I have dwarfism and do the same to 7 Dwarfs Mine train and all references to the dwarfs? What if I'm Nepalese and find the representation in Animal Kingdom offensive and petition for an entire re-theme of that area?

Sometimes you will be offended. Life isn't always fair and equal. There are much, MUCH more important things we could be doing to help poor communities to have a better future than doing a re-theme on Splash Mountain.

How about Disney take the $50 million from this re-theme and put it towards the devastated urban school systems that need it so desperately? Most people calling for this re-theme as a hugely important thing are playing a game and don't really care about helping anyone.

Go find something better to do than destroy mostly harmless entertainment attractions that many MILLIONS more people have enjoyed than have been offended by. That is, if you really care about people so much...

That's the rub. The ride is harmless and completely unoffensive. If people need to see themselves exactly to enjoy a theme park, they should ask for a new ride to be built, not take away a favourite to do it on the cheap.

 

[DinoInstitute]

That didn't take long.

It's almost as if, when someone says something blatantly racist, they get called racist.

Imagine that.

 

[lebeau]

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.

Why is everything always "virtue signaling?" I know it's a buzz word that gets repeated a lot. I find the term to be inherently dismissive. It's just a way of disparaging something without dealing with it.

Who decides what's genuine and what's "virtue signaling"? You I guess.

 

[Goofnut1980]

I think this will look awesome.. But I sure hope they retheme Frontierland. It is not relivant to todays youth. Plus it just doesnt have that much of a cool Disney feel.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

The problem is that someone, somewhere, can always find a way to be "offended" by just about anything. I have Scottish heritage and sorry but the beloved Princess Merida is a stereotype. If you loved that character how would you feel about me and tens of thousands of others bending Disney and forcing them to remove her and all Brave merchandise from the parks and from the MK Fireworks show? Or maybe I have dwarfism and do the same to 7 Dwarfs Mine train and all references to the dwarfs? What if I'm Nepalese and find the representation in Animal Kingdom offensive and petition for an entire re-theme of that area?

Sometimes you will be offended. Life isn't always fair and equal. There are much, MUCH more important things we could be doing to help poor communities to have a better future than doing a re-theme on Splash Mountain.

How about Disney take the $50 million from this re-theme and put it towards the devastated urban school systems that need it so desperately? Most people calling for this re-theme as a hugely important thing are playing a game and don't really care about helping anyone.

Go find something better to do than destroy mostly harmless entertainment attractions that many MILLIONS more people have enjoyed than have been offended by. That is, if you really care about people so much...

Also, sometimes the right thing to do is both.

Disney makes $5 million pledge to social justice organizations

The NAACP will receive a $2 million donation from Disney in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

fortune.com

 

[DryerLintFan]

Absolutely we will. However, no child gets off the ride now thinking less of themselves. Unless they wet their pants because they were scared.

The only people who get offended are those who are looking to be offended. The point of the ride is to have fun and Disney was successful with Splash. I agree they can change it to something else and it will still be fun. My point is that the average guest doesn't give a hoot about the racial implications of the ride, because quite frankly they aren't looking for them. We are talking about a movie that the majority of guests haven't seen. So they have no preconceived context entering the ride. My kids didn't even know it was based on a movie. My kids have no clue about black voice stereotypes from the 1940's. Most people don't get off the ride thinking about race.

I encourage all of you to do some research on song of the south as well as the author who created the Uncle Remus stories, Joel Chandler Harris. I found it to be interesting and I can see both points of view. Below are two black viewpoints from the time period.

The NAACP Slammed the Movie
Through the NAACP commended the movie’s technical wizardry and its blend of animation and live action, the organization said in a statement that it “regrets, however, that in an effort neither to offend audiences in the North or South, the production helps to perpetuate a dangerously glorified picture of slavery … [the film] unfortunately gives the impression of an idyllic master-slave relationship, which is a distortion of the facts.”

The Film’s Cast Stood Behind the Movie
“Song of the South” counts Hattie McDaniel, the “Gone With the Wind” star and first black entertainer to win an Academy Award, among its ensemble cast. In a 1947 interview, she told the American publication The Criterion, “If I had for one moment considered any part of the picture degrading or harmful to my people, I would not have appeared therein.” Her co-star James Baskett echoed her support of the film, saying, “I believe that certain groups are doing my race more harm in seeking to create dissension than can ever possibly come out of the ‘Song of the South.’”

We've never seen the movie, but I bought the book for my daughter last Christmas because it's her favorite ride. The book stories are all fables. Like Aesop's stories. They are cute folklore stories.

The one thing that would differentiate the ride from the books as far as race, imo, is the voices, and the way they made Brer Rabbit sound a bit like the Foreman in Gone With the Wind. It's doesn't stop us from enjoying the ride at all. But I'm also white. So.... I don't know.... I kind of am ambivalent to the theme of the ride, but I'm also not going to judge those who say the ride theme does affect them. My experience isn't theirs, but that doesn't mean their views are invalid. If this ride truly offends people, it maybe should be changed.

 

[The_Jobu]

You can still do this via Youtube.

Oh yeah, that's exactly the same experience as sharing a treasured memory together in person. Come on now...

 

[Brer Panther]

Remember when people actually liked Splash Mountain? I rewatched ride-through videos of both versions this morning and didn't see anything racist about either one. I'm not arguing that Song of the South isn't racist and problematic, but I don't think the RIDE is.

I would just really like to know how in the hell South Park has survived longer than Splash Mountain in today’s environment.

What about Family Guy? That show gleefully partakes in offensive stereotypes and racist jokes. Disney isn't doing anything about THAT, nor do I see anybody complaining.

Are they erasing Splash Mountain from existence? No more pins, characters, plushies, merch either?

All signs point to "yes".

* Little Mermaid (Lack of Diversity/Fat-Shaming)

I distinctively remember hearing some people claim Sebastian is an offensive stereotype, too, so there's that.

Oh, and Disneyland's Mr. Toad is definitely going to be closed now, too. A ride ending with you going to that dark, firery place isn't politically correct.

Heck, as popular as Figment is with park goers, I wouldn't be surprised to see them change the Imagination Pavilion theme to Inside Out when the time comes (although I really hope they prove me wrong on that).

Journey Into Imagination With Figment remaining unchanged is likely the only thing keeping them from removing Figment entirely and theming the ride after Inside Out. Disney is too cowardly to do a ride not based on a pre-existing IP nowadays.

No one is clamoring to get rid of the Dumbo or Peter Pan rides. Despite the racism it shows towards African and Native Americans in their movies.

Give them time.

I don't see them keeping any of the actual AA's. They're not proportioned to fit the designs of animals or humans from the movie (unless that's not something the imagineers care about). Even if they were reskinned. My guess is MAYBE half a dozen or so new human AA's (and for Louis) if we're lucky. But most animals likely to not be animatronics, instead basic or static figures akin to most of the Little Mermaid characters. And given the people involved and recent trends, much of the physical scenery will probably be gutted and replaced with video screens.

I'm fully convinced they're doing to trash the animatronics. They did it to the Universe of Energy and Great Movie Ride animatronics, I wouldn't put it past them.

Someone mentioned last night (I forget who, it's all a big blur) that Mickey shorts with insensitive material don't cause a need to "Cancel Mickey" because that wasn't the only short ever created. That isn't the only thing Mickey is known for. Characters and material change and grow over time, I think that's quite obvious. The difference with the SotS characters... is that they don't have a redemption arc. What they're known for is the only thing they're known for within the Disney IP.

I'd argue that Splash Mountain could be considered the characters' redemption arc. As others have pointed out, none of the racist elements from the film are in the ride (even the dialect and slang was toned down, I've noticed) - much like how none of the racist elements from the Mickey Mouse shorts that are being brought up are in other Mickey Mouse productions.

One more thing - the complaints likely aren't going to stop when they retheme the ride. I've seen people complain about The Princess and the Frog being racist, even though I personally don't think it is. They're likely going to start calling Louis an offensive caricature like what some on-board with the change have said about the Brers.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

You can still do this via Youtube. Also, the ride will still be there in a slightly different format.

You can explain it to the next generations

Wait, why would Youtube allow for videos to be posted of Splash Mountain? It's a racist, disgusting, offensive travesty of a ride. Once the re-theme is done, or God willing MUCH sooner, all videos of Splash Mountain on Youtube and everywhere else should be purged so as to not offend anyone.

- end sarcasm

 

[bryanfze55]

Why is everything always "virtue signaling?" I know it's a buzz word that gets repeated a lot. I find the term to be inherently dismissive. It's just a way of disparaging something without dealing with it.

Who decides what's genuine and what's "virtue signaling"? You I guess.

Virtue signaling can be genuine. Some people genuinely believe it is a virtuous endeavor to ensure nobody can ever be offended, never ever.

 

[JGamer]

While I was initially surprised at the news, I actually have no issues about the retheming. There is no question the Walt Disney Company is doing this for money. They value the money they know taking this sort of stand will attract. If you don't agree with them taking this stand, don't go. It is really simple. You may no longer be the demographic they care about anymore. Get over it.

 

[The_Jobu]

Why is everything always "virtue signaling?" I know it's a buzz word that gets repeated a lot. I find the term to be inherently dismissive. It's just a way of disparaging something without dealing with it.

Who decides what's genuine and what's "virtue signaling"? You I guess.

Who decides what's offensive? You I guess.

Wow, this is fun! Now I know why you do it.

 

[The March Hare]

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

Absolutely the parks and rides should change. Star Wars Galaxy's Edge should have a soul and represent characters and stories people relate to. The Ghost of Stitch's Great Escape should be made an attraction again that fits the theme of Tomorrowland, and can even have a relevant IP tied in to exit through the gift shop. The final scene in CoP should be made to incorporate 2020s smart home technologies. Kali River Rapids can not be neglected and be made timeless and relevant. Up! a Great Bird Adventure should be made legitimate again. Dinoland USA should be plussed. POFQ should have Tiana's Place and incorporate PATF throughout the resort. World Showcase should expand and include new non-Western countries.

Plenty of examples of ways I would appreciate TWDC changing WDW.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

That's the rub. The ride is harmless and completely unoffensive. If people need to see themselves exactly to enjoy a theme park, they should ask for a new ride to be built, not take away a favourite to do it on the cheap.

Again... because it not offensive to you. Thats it?

Also... on the cheap. Need I remind you that Splash is full of recycled animatronics

 

[MadMax11]

I've never seen "Princess and the Frog", so I definitely need to. I've heard great things about it. I enjoyed Splash Mountain, but I'm fine with the change. I'd rather err towards not offending people and inclusion...even when it's about something more meaningful than a theme park attraction.