Splash Mountain re-theme announced

[erasure fan1]

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

They don't have to announce it because it's implied in my opinion. If you are removing the ride because of the ties, you remove ALL the ties. If not, what was the point?

 

[Kate F]

At the very least change one first and see what the reception is before doing both.

 

[Kate F]

They don't have to announce it because it's implied in my opinion. If you are removing the ride because of the ties, you remove ALL the ties. If not, what was the point?

It’s not like people are going to forget any of this anyway. People are gonna know what was there before.

 

[Father Robinson]

It hasn't made everyone happy. As this thread shows, it just made people who like Splash Mountain depressed and people who hate Splash Mountain annoyed at the people who are depressed. Nobody's happy.

I was saying it wouldn't make everyone happy to retheme it, even if that something is less controversial. The person I was saying that to said something to the effect of (these kind of changes make it a better experience for everyone).

 

[Bairstow]

They don't have to announce it because it's implied in my opinion. If you are removing the ride because of the ties, you remove ALL the ties. If not, what was the point?

To showcase a ride produced by a black woman based on a film starring a black female character?

 

[erasure fan1]

It’s not like people are going to forget any of this anyway. People are gonna know what was there before.

Exactly. They will also know why it's not there anymore. So having merch and songs playing, and Jiminy cricket telling everyone to have a zip a de do dah day, would be a bit hypocritical.

 

[Kate F]

I vaguely remember when I was 9 years old, before my first trip in 2005, we had an Unofficial Guide to WDW, and in the Splash Mountain section, there was a little excerpt off to the side that talked about how Disney excluded a character called “Uncle Remus” to avoid offending African-Americans. At the time I had no idea who Uncle Remus was. Prior to that though, there was a piano book that had the Br’er trio on the cover and they were probably the only characters on the cover I didn’t recognize. And of course, Zip-a-dee-do-dah was on our Disney CDs. When I first rode Splash, I was like, “So that song doesn’t come from nothing!”

Now having been familiar with the ride before the movie, I had no qualms that I didn’t recognize the characters beforehand. If anything, it made them more intriguing to me. Then later on I watched the animated segments on YouTube, and rather than being turned off, my enjoyment for the characters grew and it made me think of how underappreciated they were. I’ve always thought that they should do something else with them if SotS is too taboo because I found them to be really humorous animated characters. But nope, just sweep all of that under the rug and pretend none of it ever happened even though that’s impossible in the digital age.

That's just my personal experience with the property of course and I am not at all claiming to represent the entire Splash fanbase. I understand how some people might be bothered by it because of its source, but at the end of the day, I disagree with this decision and think that there are other solutions.

 

[Kate F]

Exactly. They will also know why it's not there anymore. So having merch and songs playing, and Jiminy cricket telling everyone to have a zip a de do dah day, would be a bit hypocritical.

They also sing the song in the Welcome show on the castle stage.

 

[erasure fan1]

To showcase a ride produced by a black woman based on a film starring a black female character?

Not sure what you're asking but the conversation was about not using song of the south references in the parks after the ride is gone.

 

[No Name]

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.

Everythjng related to Song of the South will be going away, that includes the song and characters. They don’t have to say it for it to be plainly obvious.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

Just because you don't see or experience racism and discrimination in your own day to day life does not mean that it doesn't exist. I think the last several weeks has demonstrated that ad nauseam.

I know it exists, all forms of hatred and discrimination exists. Changing a ride do to all this is insanity. The elements that may be racist in the movie are nowhere to be found on the ride. Its Bear Rabbits story. None of the live action characters are featured in that ride at all.

 

[manmythlegend]

Everythjng related to Song of the South will be going away, that includes the song and characters. They don’t have to say it for it to be plainly obvious.

I may record "zip a dee doo dah" on my phone and just play it when I'm on the ride.

 

[SuddenStorm]

At the very least change one first and see what the reception is before doing both.

Kinda like what they should have done for Galaxy's Edge- before building the exact same land on both coasts and announcing a third iteration oversees?

 

[SuddenStorm]

I may record "zip a dee doo dah" on my phone and just play it when I'm on the ride.

While you're at it chant 'We want the redhead' on Pirates.

 

[Kate F]

I don’t know about you, but personally I think the fact that the ride was based off a controversial IP and became a beloved classic makes for a wonderful redemption story whether it was a bad choice or not. They made the choice to theme it that way and whether or not they should have, people loved it and still love it today.

 

[DubyooDeeDubyoo]

I would not be surprised if Zipadee is used to close out Fantasyland stage performances for some more years to come. Just like they continued using Hellfire, a song whose premise is a prayer to a very Catholic deity to give the villain the strength to resist passion before deciding he should just murder the woman he objectifies, as a general-purpose "Disney Villains theme" well after Hunchback. And it's nowhere near as catchy.

I should add, Tony Jay was one of my favorite voice actors and Hellfire was a masterpiece of a performance. Please don't hate.

I feel like if Frollo and Chernabog have taught me anything, it's that Disney does not let go of music easily. And we all know they love nostalgia.

 

[No Name]

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

Because the film’s reach suffered from poor marketing, they were in the middle of a recession, and the theme parks were run by goons who hated investing in the product. Not to mention that the social importance was arguably less apparent in 2009.

But regardless, even if they’re late, better late than never.

I may record "zip a dee doo dah" on my phone and just play it when I'm on the ride.

Being obnoxious isn’t productive.

 

[manmythlegend]

While you're at it chant 'We want the redhead' on Pirates.

I already do!

 

[Bleed0range]

No, I’ll stick to Rise of the Resistance, flight of passage, runaway railway, pirates of the Caribbean, radiator springs racers etc.....

Radiator Springs Racers is one of the best Disney rides of all time. Imo.

 

[Bairstow]

Everythjng related to Song of the South will be going away, that includes the song and characters. They don’t have to say it for it to be plainly obvious.

So you're just guessing, then, and don't have any actual proof?