Disneyland in California has confirmed its Splash Mountain ride will close forever at the end of May after being branded racist, and will be heavily-redeveloped to feature the entertainment giant’s first black princess.
The outgoing ride is based on 1946 movie Song of the South, which is set on a Georgia plantation and which Disney has refused to release on video or DVD, with CEO Bob Iger himself branding it ‘offensive.’
Splash Mountain is based on animated segments from the film and also includes the movie’s famed song, ‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.’
But the heavily re-imagined ride should cause no such controversy, as it will be based on Disney’s 2009 movie The Princess and the Frog, which features the studio’s first black princess, Tiana.
The original ride is based on the controversial 1946 Disney film Song of the South – a success in it’s time, the movie is now considered racist and inappropriate for modern audiences
The beloved and controversial ride will close permanently in its current form on May 30 and reopen in 2024 reimagined to incorporate characters and plot elements from The Princess and the Frog
An updated rendering of what the ride will look like once it has been transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The ride will re-open after being transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure based on material from the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog.
The new version of the ride will introduce guests to a new story featuring Tiana and other characters from the movie.
Its story will pick up after the final scene of the movie and will feature Tiana and Louis, the jazz-loving alligator, who will together go on an adventure down on the bayou as they prepare to host a Mardi Gras celebration.
The music on the new version of the ride will be inspired by the tunes from the movie, and fans will see some familiar faces along the way.
The ride is slated to reopen in 2024, and at Disneyland will come along with the new restaurant Tiana’s Palace, which is replacing the French Market in New Orleans Square at the park.
The transformation of the ride was initially announced in 2020 and fresh models of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure were presented last year at the D23 Expo.
Disney recently shared a description of the attraction’s storyline: ‘At a young age, Tiana developed a deep passion for cooking, and began to dream of one day owning her own business.
‘Her father, James, taught her that good food brings folks together. One of the most exciting parts of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is that we’re going to see where Tiana’s life has taken her following the success of Tiana’s Palace, a restaurant she had dreamed of owning and worked so hard to make come true.’
Disney has made huge efforts to appear more progressive in recent years – but not without upsetting some fans in the process.
The steps include changing park policy to stop staff from using gendered greetings, implementing an anti-racism training course for employees, giving old characters progressive makeovers, and removing offensive imagery from rides and movies.
Splash Mountain has been much loved by families since the first ride opened at Disneyland in 1989 – but the ride at Magic Kingdom will close over its Song of the South theme
The updated ride will feature a number of characters from the 2009 film, including Louis the jazz-loving alligator and Mama Odie (pictured above)
A model of the updated ride that was presented at the Disney Parks and Experiences booth during the D23 Expo in 2022
The ride is slated to reopen in 2024, and at Disneyland will come along with the new restaurant Tiana’s Palace, which is replacing the French Market in New Orleans Square at the park
Initially, a campaign to rebrand the beloved ride was launched in 2020. The Change.org petition called for re-theming the beloved flume ride because of its ties to the the 1946 film.
‘While the ride is considered a beloved classic it’s history and storyline are steeped in extremely problematic and stereotypical racist tropes from the 1946 film Song of the South,’ says the online petition started by a Change.org user named Alex O.
The petition claims ‘there is a huge need for diversity in the parks and this could help fill that need.’
In recent years, Disney has made notable efforts to play to the progressive left, incorporating changes that include makeovers for some of their characters and implementing a short-lived anti-racism training.
Several months ago, billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz was inspired to declare war on the company’s direction, in addition to their ‘excessive spending and mismanagement.’
In May 2021, reports emerged that Walt Disney World was implementing a new anti-racism training course for its park employees – which asked them to complete a ‘privilege checklist.’
City-Journal’s Christopher Rufo shared leaked documents about the ‘diversity and inclusion’ program, called Reimagine Tomorrow, to Twitter, explaining that it was set to teach staffers about ‘systematic racism,’ ‘white fragility,’ and ‘microaggressions.’
It encouraged its staff to ‘take ownership of educating themselves about structural anti-Black racism’ and asked white employees to ‘work through feelings of guilt, shame, and defensiveness to understand what is beneath them and what needs to be healed.’
In May 2021, reports emerged that Walt Disney World was implementing a new anti-racism training course for its park employees – which asked them to complete a ‘privilege checklist’
In March 2022, it was announced that staff members would no longer use ‘gendered greetings’ like ‘boys and girls’ or ‘ladies and gentleman’ (stock image)
Staff were also told to reject ‘equality,’ and instead strive for ‘equity,’ while ‘reflecting’ on America’s ‘racist infrastructure.’
The leaked training documents also included a how-to guide called 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice.
After the documents were made public, the company was branded as the ‘wokest Place on Earth’ rather than the ‘happiest place on Earth’ by Twitter users.
Some employees stated on Twitter that they had taken the course but that it was not required, simply recommended.
Days after City-Journal shared the documents, however, it was reported that the program had been canceled.
In March 2022, it was announced that staff members, as well recordings throughout the parks, would no longer include ‘gendered greetings’ like ‘boys and girls’ or ‘ladies and gentleman.’
Instead, they opted for gender neutral terms like, ‘Hello, everyone,’ or, ‘Hello, friends.’
‘We don’t want to just assume because someone might be, in our interpretation, presenting as female, that they may not want to be called “princess,”‘ Vivian Ware, Disney’s diversity and inclusion manager, said in a leaked conference call with employees.
‘So let’s think differently about how do we really engage with our guests in a meaningful and inclusive way that makes it magical and memorable for everyone.’
One year earlier, in April 2021, the brand announced on its blog that it was changing its rules to allow cast members to wear ‘gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices,’ while noting that ‘the magic they make must include everyone.’
In March 2022, Florida Governor Ron de Santis signed a bill that prohibited many schools from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity, referred to as the Don’t Say Gay bill
Soon after, Disney’s CEO at the time, Bob Chapek, spoke against the bill, stating that could ‘be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, non-binary and transgender kids and families’
In March 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that prohibited many schools from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity, often referred to as the Don’t Say Gay bill.
Soon after, Disney’s CEO at the time, Bob Chapek, spoke against the bill, stating that could ‘be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, non-binary and transgender kids and families.’
His comments came after Disney employees staged a walk-out in protest of the company’s response, or lack-thereof, to the Florida law.
Bob also apologized for not publicly denouncing the bill earlier, adding, ‘While we have been strong supporters of the community for decades, I understand that many are upset that we did not speak out against the bill.
‘We were opposed to the bill from the outset, but we chose not to take a public position on it because we thought we could be more effective working behind the scenes engaging directly with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.’
Afterwards, many conservative families called it their last straw, and said they were boycotting the park.
One Texas father-of-two, named Trent Talbot, slammed Disney to Fox News for ‘surrendering to the woke mob.’
‘Disney has surrendered to the woke mob and is using its platform to indoctrinate the children of America into becoming the woke activists of tomorrow,’ he said.
‘Kids need entertainment that is a refuge from this crazy culture, where they can be entertained with just great stories and fun characters.
‘And parents should have confidence that their children are seeing and hearing stories that are good and true.’
Ohio mother and grandmother Patti Garibay suggested people ‘void your household of all things Disney.’
‘Walt would turn over in his grave to see what his beloved company has become,’ she added.
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