Disney has recently confirmed that Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World will be coming on January 23 due to promoting “racial stereotypes.”
The 33-year-old ride will allegedly “undergo a transformation” and reopen later in 2024 under the new name of “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.”
How could a ride possibly be racist??
The ride, which opened in 1989, is based on the 1946 Disney film “Song of the South.” The movie is about a boy named Johnny going to visit his grandmother living on a rural plantation in South Georgia, after the Civil War.
IMDB explains, “His visit soon turns painful as he learns that his parents are separating, and his dad returns to Atlanta. Determined to run away, he starts off for Atlanta with all his possessions in a bag. As he starts leaving the plantation, he hears Uncle Remus (James Baskett) a slave at the plantation, telling a group of people stories about Brer Rabbit. He stops to listen, and people start looking for him. Uncle Remus reassures them he knows where the boy is. Then he befriends Johnny and thru his Brer Rabbit stories convinces him to stay at home. Johnny befriends a little girl named Ginny. She gives him a puppy, and her older brothers want to drown it. Uncle Remus once again saves the day with his stories. Johnny’s mother gets angry because Uncle Remus kept the dog, so she demands he not tell any more stories. Uncle Remus, unhappy about the way he’s being treated, leaves for Atlanta. Johnny chases him and is injured by a bull. Although he almost dies, one of Uncle Remus’ stories pulls him through.”
The woke left claim that the movie is racially insensitive, and a petition went viral in 2019 to change Splash Mountain’s theme, with 21,320 votes.
“Disney parks should be a home for all to enjoy regardless of race, age, whatever your background may be,” the petition began. “The classic log flume ride Splash Mountain is featured in Disneyland, Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland. 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.”
The petition continued, “There is a huge need for diversity in the parks and this could help fill that need. Princess and the Frog is a beloved princess movie but has very little representation in the parks. Tiana could be one of the first princesses with a thrill ride, as well as giving her a much deserved place in the parks. The framing of the ride is such that it could be easily changed to tell the story of Tiana while not compromising too much of the ride/costing a fortune in remodeling for Disney. This change could kill two birds with one stone, remove the offensive stereotypical theming the ride currently has and bring a much needed diversity to the parks. As well as a much bigger merchandising opportunity for Princess and the Frog.”
“While the rides storyline is not an exact version of the movies plot line it is derivative from it, the characters, the songs and locations are all main features of the ride. Disney has removed Song of the South from its library, refusing to share it on DVD or their streaming services. The best next step to remove all traces of this racist movie would be to re-theme Splash Mountain into a Princess and the Frog themed ride,” the petition concluded.
So, in other words, Disney let the mob win….again.
