Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[Bairstow]

The problem is you’re referencing a problematic movie, we’re told. It might as well be Mein Kampf. Any reference to that movie, however indirectly is now verboten.

When did they say that?
Have they announced that they're no longer going to use "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"?

Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they still sell some Brer Rabbit plus in the post-Frog gift shop.

 

[JohnD]

The sadly hilarious part, is that Harper Lee and Mark Twain have had more outrage directed at them for their books, over Hitler himself.

How often do you hear outrage over Mein Kampf in the USA?

Yep. Huck Finn turns societal norms on its head by highlighting the friendship of Huck and Jim. But there are movements to ban it because — well everyone knows why.

 

[haveyoumetmark]

It took decades to build a Disney ride with a black protagonist, and it's not even a new ride.

That's not a great achievement.

I literally said it was a -step- in the right direction.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

So when the company said they were making her project lead they were lying?

She may be the project lead, but she does not have 100% control of the project or its budget.

Like any lead, she will work with what she's given.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Exactly, the princesses are problematic too. To stand here and cast stones at anyone who is not on board with this change....and then magically act like Song of the South and Splash Mountain are the only problems Disney has is pretty ignorant frankly.

I daresay, I think the decision is rushed. I'm sure Disney doesn't want people protesting at the park entrance, and that could very well happen if they don't do something significant in the very near future. They need to address this topic, I'm just not sure this is the best we can do.

I like the suggestion of finding an acceptable way to improve the attraction. Maybe fantasy on my part, but the very best solution would be if WDW could find a way to validate both those who want change, and those who like the ride as it has been.

Compromise is hard though.

 

[21stamps]

When did they say that?
Have they announced that they're no longer going to use "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"?

Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they still sell some Brer Rabbit plus in the post-Frog gift shop.

According to the internet, the song has racist roots.. though no one told Berry Gordy or Disney about that.

 

[Kate F]

I daresay, I think the decision is rushed. I'm sure Disney doesn't want people protesting at the park entrance, and that could very well happen if they don't do something significant in the very near future. They need to address this topic, I'm just not sure this is the best we can do.

I like the suggestion of finding an acceptable way to improve the attraction. Maybe fantasy on my part, but the very best solution would be if WDW could find a way to validate both those who want change, and those who like the ride as it has been.

Compromise is hard though.

How about retheming DL's and keeping WDW's the way it is?

 

[Bairstow]

If PatF's representation is so important, why didn't they make something for Tiana a decade ago when the film was released?

1. Because a decade ago Disney was devoting most of the Magic Kingdom's expansion money to the New Fantasyland project that was already in the works.
2. When the movie came out the country wasn't in a period of racial soul-searching in the wake of several high-profile murders of black people by police.

 

[Father Robinson]

Neat cover art, never seen it before

It's very classic looking!

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Since PatF's representation is so important, why didn't they make something for Tiana a decade ago when the film was released?

There was a show on the Riverboat and since then she has appeared in park entertainment and meet and greets.

Certainly there were and are many ways in which the movie could be represented beyond a ride re skin, but the same could have been said of Frozen.

 

[Bairstow]

According to the internet, the song has racist roots.. though no one told Berry Gordy or Disney about that.

The song very well may have racist roots, but I don't recall Disney announcing they were going to stop using it.

 

[lazyboy97o]

So when the company said they were making her project lead they were lying?

No, but the decision to make this change was entirely up to white men. She does not get final say on the content of the attraction and must get the approval of a hierarchy of white men. To top it all off, her involvement was before the fact by the publication of the creative involvement of the white man who developed the problematic attraction she is tasked with replacing.

2. When the movie came out the country wasn't in a period of racial soul-searching in the wake of several high-profile murders of black people by police.

There was also some hesitancy around the movie by white men that had to be retooled because of its racially insensitive content. The movie was considered a failure and most definitely does not meet the definition of a franchise but there are also not many others Disney can chose.

 

[Bairstow]

No, but the decision to make this change was entirely up to white men. She does not get final say on the content of the attraction and must get the approval of a hierarchy of white men. To top it all off, her involvement was before the fact by the publication of the creative involvement of the white man who developed the problematic attraction she is tasked with replacing.

So if that offends you, what do you think the company should do instead of making Carter the project lead?

 

[wdwmagic]

Funny how you managed to remove my post complaining about what was staying up...yet you leave up posts that I did report accusing others of being “Marxists” and what not.

Again, seems you are actively moderating, but only to favor one side of this debate. I expected more from WDWMagic.

Nothing funny about it. See number 10 at https://forums.wdwmagic.com/help/terms/

 

[manmythlegend]

How about retheming DL's and keeping WDW's the way it is?

Yup! I've suggested this several times and nobody ever responded.

 

[21stamps]

Yep. Huck Finn turns societal norms on its head by highlighting the friendship of Huck and Jim. But there are movements to ban it because — well everyone knows why.

The banning of Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird just always makes my head spin.
I’ve come to realize that people don’t even understand what they’re banning or destroying... and everyone suffers as a result.

 

[Giss Neric]

How about retheming DL's and keeping WDW's the way it is?

This is unfortunately an American problem not just a coast to coast problem. People will criticize them for changing only one and not the other. Tokyo's Splash will still be the same cause they're not easily offended but I guess if the new re-themed ride is a success here then maybe they will bring it back there, BUT Princess and the Frog ain't really a thing there when I went.

 

[SirLink]

Since PatF's representation is so important, why didn't they make something for Tiana a decade ago when the film was released?

Because in house they were complaining of the poor box office which is a fair point now to being up when anyone said a film did poorly at the box office Disney has now used up its excuse.

 

[Bairstow]

How about retheming DL's and keeping WDW's the way it is?

There's a lot of good reasons to do this. Frog's a better thematic fit at Disneyland, you'd have ride diversity across the parks, and Disneyland fans, who are generally more receptive to changed rides, would be better-served by the change than WDW guests. Beyond that, if the overlay doesn't turn out so hot they won't have ruined two attractions.

 

[manmythlegend]

This is unfortunately an American problem not just a coast to coast problem. People will criticize them for changing only one and not the other. Tokyo's Splash will still be the same cause they're not easily offended but I guess if the new re-themed ride is a success here then maybe they will bring it back there, BUT Princess and the Frog ain't really a thing there when I went.

It's about compromise.