Copyright 2023 The Western Journal. On Aug. 24, 2022, a rumor began to spread on TikTok that said Walt Disney World Resort canceled its plans to retheme the Splash Mountain ride from 1946's "Song of the South" to 2009's "The Princess and the Frog." Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Each park features a slightly different variation of Splash Mountain, but all three follow the same basic structure. While the ride is considered a beloved classic its history and storyline are steeped in extremely problematic and stereotypical racist tropes from the 1946 film Song of the South, the petition said. "It is absurd to pander to a small group of Disney haters that dont understand the story, and re-theme such a nostalgic ride.". "Song of the South" garnered some accolades after its premiere, winning an Oscar for the song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" and an honorary award for Baskett's performance. Witnesses reported seeing the man alongside the water flume. On February 2, 2023, a 53-year-old Colombian man was struck by an oncoming unidentified-modeled car while riding his bicycle on Osceola Parkway, forcing closure to ramps leading to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Splash Mountain has been a staple of several of Disneys prominent theme parks for the past three decades. But not everyone was happy to see the ride go. Dark Side Of The Ring Season 4: Which Wrestlers' Stories Are Coming Next? While Splash Mountain has remained largely untouched, and has even gone down for regular maintenance to its existing design, other parts of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World that are connected to Song of the South and Splash Mountain have seen updates involving them being removed from the resorts. Many of the commenters believed the news to be real, even though the @mousetrapnews bio reads, "Real Disney News That is 100% FAKE. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. According to The Associated Press, in June 2020, Disney announced plans to change the theme of the Splash Mountain ride "amid calls" from those who believed it to evoke feelings of racism: Amid calls to change the Splash Mountain theme park ride over its ties to Song of the South, the 1946 movie many view as racist, Disney officials said Thursday it was recasting the ride based on The Princess and the Frog, a 2009 Disney film with an African American female lead. Somber tribute videos to the ride set to the song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" some of which claimed to show visitors last times riding its log boats over its waterfall with a 45-degree drop had thousands of likes. By Hannah Sampson June 11, 2020 at 8:58 p.m. EDT Splash Mountain, a ride based on the. Central Florida Monday weather: Will it settle down after wild weekend? The movie behind the ride, "Song of the South," was criticized for its depiction of Black Americans in a post-slavery era. Following controversy, Splash Mountain is now closed for redesign and will reopen as . Song of the South was subsequently approved and opened in 1989 in Disneyland. After three decades as a popular but controversial attraction at Walt Disney World, Splash Mountain had its final ride. Today Disney Parks confirmed that the Walt Disney World version of Splash Mountain will close forever January 23, 2023. The reimagining of the Splash Mountain rides will remove thematic elements related to Song of the South the controversial 1940s animated film criticized for perpetuating racist stereotypes that has been disowned by Disney. However, on December 2, 2022, Walt Disney Worlds Splash Mountain was the first to receive its official closure date. We write 100% made up stories for your enjoyment. Details regarding the change were announced by Michael Ramirez, Disneyland Resorts public relations director, in a post on Disneys website. "Are you kidding me?" The ride had gained increased scrutiny for its ties to the controversial Song of the South over the years. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. The film is considered by many to be so controversial that Disney did not even make it available in its Disney+ streaming service. Disney Worlds Splash Mountain will remain closed until it reopens as Tianas Bayou Adventure in 2024. This is a tragic accident, she said. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. They confirmed that Disneyland and Walt Disney World, at an undisclosed future date, would close their Splash Mountains, retheme them, and re-open them as Tianas Bayou Adventure a ride inspired by the film The Princess and the Frog. The new concept is inclusive one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year, Disney said in 2020 when it announced the new feature. of a ride at the theme park Sunday, officials said. Tianas Bayou Adventure will tell an extension of the Princess and the Frog story that picks up after the final kiss between Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen. "So there's this kind of nostalgia more so than in the 40s for an imagined earlier moment where there was a different racial hierarchy in this country.". However, his tale ends with him falling to the safety of his home in the briar patch. And in December 1998, two adults were critically injured when Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland followed suit and opened their Splash Mountains in 1992. Tucker Carlson's Maine neighbors talk about a very different type of man from the one who would battle on Fox News. At this point, we have no real idea what the actual plan is for the revamped Splash Mountain. An Equifax spokeswoman at the companys headquarters in Atlanta said Pollock had worked in the St. Petersburg office for eight years. Splash Mountain is no stranger to controversy: In 2018, it made headlines when Walt Disney World banned a man who rode it while holding up a "Trump 2020" sign. Disneyland pushed the planned 2022 opening date for Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway to 2023, clearing a spot on the calendar for the Splash Mountain makeover.. Disney announced in June 2020 . . In 2017, Whoopi Goldberg told Disney to stop hiding its history, saying she wanted to make the film available to the public. This was nothing more than satire published on a Disney blog. Disney visitors who have enjoyed singing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" as they made their way down the "Song of the South"-themed Splash Mountain ride might need to come up with a new song now that Disney had said big changes are coming. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Hes covered the theme park industry for more than 25 years. Sperb also believes there's value in keeping people informed about the issues underlying the movie and Disney's history. Ramirez did not give any hints of when the new rides will take the place of the current ones, which right now are behind locked gates until Disney reopens its parks. SEE ALSO: Splash Mountain water sells on eBay for $200 after Disney World ride closes. Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain is closing and is expected to reopen in 2024 as Tiana's Bayou Adventure, according to Disney Parks Blog. The Splash Mountain ride at Disney parks in California and Florida is being recast. ", Image Via Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images. By June 2020, they finally unveiled their plans to close and retheme Splash Mountain. A man was killed after getting out of boat at the wrong time. CinemaBlends resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian. Disney visitors who have enjoyed singing Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah as they made their way down the Song of the South-themed Splash Mountain ride might need to come up with a new song now that Disney had said big changes are coming. Future Club 33 Member. Back in 2020 we saw something of a grass roots push toward getting Splash Mountain rethemed from its Song of the South story to something that was more inclusive. The drop is roughly 50 feet down at a 45-degree angle. The parade is actually different in a number of small ways, but one of those changes, as reported by ITM, is that the song Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah used to be played at one point near the end of the parade. The rebranding of the ride is part of a broader reckoning of Disney's troubled history with racism. Disney's "Song of the South" is known by many for its portrayal of racist stereotypes, causing critics to demand the removal of Splash Mountain in 2020 amid worldwide protests for racial justice. "Another question is: What do we do with Disney's legacy of stereotyping and this racial history?" The containers fetched dozens of bids, with some buyers offering to pay more than $50. one commenter posted. [41] Disney's Animal Kingdom The music has now been changed and the Song of the South tune no longer plays. Some Disney sites write deceptive stories for clicks. June 25, 2020. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues. However, that turned out to be nothing more than the standard repair that an over 30-year-old attraction needs to go through now and then. From Disney park announcements to Disney hotel and resort news to made up Disney partnerships,you can be assured that anything you read here is not true, real, or accurate, but it is fun. Have a tip we should know? After its closure, Splash Mountain will reopen at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in 2024 with a Princess and the Frog theme based on the 2009 Disney animated film. However, on December 2, 2022, Walt Disney World's Splash. Many adults and children ride this attraction because it brings back childhood memories," the opposing petition said. The countdown has started for the final splashdown of Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom. Part of thearticleread as follows: Disney changed their position and canceled the retheme of Tianas Bayou Adventure to keep Splash Mountain as is. To sum up this story, no, Disney World wasnt planning on canceling their retheme plans for Splash Mountain. Another video claims to show a two-plus-hour wait to board on the final day. Splash Mountain one of Disney's most popular but problematic rides will be "completely reimagined," the company announced on Thursday. Once again, the particular change was the same Song of the South tune that disappeared at Disneyland. All rights reserved, Disney Unveils Park Changes, Tries to Bring Back the Magic, Disney Is Making It Easier for Its Most Loyal Customers to Visit Its Theme Parks. Fans have been expecting to hear the Splash Mountain death toll any day now . The Splash Mountain attraction at Walt Disney World closed in January. We saw how much Disney fans love the current attraction and we have decided to keep it as is. They added, We will be looking for future opportunities to give Princess Tiana her own attraction at Disney World. This is very exciting news for Splash Mountain fans that Disney is not going to ruin their favorite attraction. Brer Rabbit disappeared just as a series of 50 different character statues were being placed all over Walt Disney World for their ongoing 50th anniversary. But there have been several serious ride accidents at Disney World, including a 5-year-old boy who broke his right leg on Spaceship Earth in Epcot in 1999, a Texas tourist who lost his ring finger on Space Mountain in 1998 and a 6-year-old girl who was seriously injured in 1994 after being pinned between a boat and a boarding dock on Its a Small World at Magic Kingdom. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Universal Orlando Teases Halloween Horror Nights With New Video And I'm Completely Creeped Out, Watch Chris Pratt Prank Disneyland Resort Guests Getting Off The Guardians Of The Galaxy Ride, The Biggest Yellowjackets Questions We Cant Stop Thinking About. Only a couple of weeks later, Disney announced that it was planning to make exactly such a change to the ride. Ramirez noted that Disneyland park in California and Disney World in Florida will each have the ride overhauled. Views of Splash Mountain are seen at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fla., on July 23, 2020. CinemaBlends resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian. Right now, both Disneyland and Walt Disney World have significant construction efforts already under way. One Splash Mountain ride in its current guise will survive. Disneys action follows a Change.org petition signed by more than 21,000 people that called for the companyto make the switch. Most Disney theme park rides attempt to tell a story to their guests or tie back to Disney history. Can the second 'Survivor' live up to the first? So, you might ask, whats the big deal with not knowing the timeline? New York, The victim's name and details of his injuries were withheld Posted Tuesday, November 7, 2000 7:32 AM | Contributed by PointMan. You cant legislate stupidity, said Orlando leisure-industry consultant Steve Baker, a former Disney executive. REUTERS/Gregg Newton -/File Photo. The closing of the 30-year-old ride which Princess Diana visited in 1993 follows years of calls for change because it features several characters from Disney's 1946 film "Song of the South," which featured racist stereotypes. Megyn Kelly has been at the forefront of blasting transgenderism, especially where it concerns women's sports, and this hat was a hit. Indie Stores Call BS on Barnes & Noble for Holding a Sale on Independent Bookseller Day, Exclusive Preview: Catch This Feline-Inspired Miniseries Starring a Dynasty of Thieves, Parent of Trans Child Accused of Conflict of Interest for Opposing Anti-Trans Bill, Change.org that garnered over 21k signatures, REVIEW: 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. The last day Walt Disney World visitors can experience the log ride in its current form will be Jan. 22. While Disney's intentions to close Splash Mountain were announced back in 2020, they didn't immediately set a closure date. Emailus. It may have been June of 2020 when Disney announced that Splash Mountain would be re-themed, but Disneyland Resort wasted little time in beginning the transition, as it was only two months later that the first noticeable change took place. Princess Diana rides Splash Mountain at Disney's Magic Kingdom in 1993. Only the closing date for Walt Disney World was given, so it appears that the Disneyland version of Splash Mountain has not been set for closure quite yet. 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In addition to all of the small changes in other parts of the park, we have seen new concept art, and Disney has released videos that include conversations about what the story of the ride will be. By Jack Davis June 25, 2020 at 8:20pm. NY 10036. completely rethemed version of the ride based on, Tiana's Bayou Adventure have been set for a "late 2024", Cruel Intentions Star Joshua Jackson Has A Very Specific Complaint About Some Hollywood Sex Scenes, Matthew Lawrence Alleges Turning Down Major Hollywood Director's Sexual Advances Lost Him A Marvel Role And More, Sydney Sweeney Rocked A Sheer White Skirt With Black Lingerie As Rumors Swirl About Her Rom-Com Co-Star Glen Powell, Will Magnum P.I. External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive. It is definitely the kind of fall that takes ones breath away. Theres also the issue of the tar-baby. While the fable and its term stem from African (and indigenous South American) folklore, the depiction and term have also become a racial slur. Get the latest news delivered right to your email. Disney is reimagining Splash Mountain. Jordan Liles is a Snopes reporter with expertise in investigating misinformation, inauthentic social media activity, and scams. James Baskett won a special Oscar for Remus. Investigators have ruled the death an accident, but they still dont know why Pollock climbed out of the ride. The Mouse Trapwas created on a whim to have some fun and write stories about Disney we wish were true. NY 10036. Heres how it works. Thevideocame from TikTok user @mousetrapnews: The narrator in the satirical video delivered the news like this: The Splash Mountain retheme has been canceled. And yet, some steps toward this eventual change have certainly been taken. Back in 2020, Disney revealed plans to give its popular Splash Mountain attraction a complete re-theme, replacing the Song of the South story with one that would act as a sort of sequel to The Princess and the Frog. another person remarked. Even during the film's production in the 1940s, Disney knew it was navigating dangerous terrain and took steps to mitigate racist representations of plantation life. This answer is: Study guides. We pick up this story after the final kiss, and join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure featuring some of the powerful music from the film as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance, Ramirez said. Epcot Stan. Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., will soon be completely reimagined, inspired by the animated Disney film "The Princess and the Frog." Guests will join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure as they prepare for their first Mardi Gras performance, featuring some of the . (Warning: This article contains discussion of racial stereotypes and harmful slurs.). Armchair Imagineer. In March 2020, Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger confirmed the film would not appear on the streaming service Disney+ and said it is not appropriate in todays world, Deadline reported. Iger confirmed that the controversial movie would not be included in the Disney+ streaming service. 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The plans to change the ride were announced just weeks following the May 2020 killing of George Floyd. ", Tianas Bayou Adventure will open at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park, in Anaheim, California, in 2024. He was airlifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center where he has later pronounced dead after arrival. SEE ALSO: What happens to Disneylands Critter Country after Splash Mountain makeover? Future Club 33 Member. Fri 26 June 2020 10:48, UK. Blake Lively Had A Funny Response When Asked About Which Met Gala Look She Loves The Most, How Wolf Entertainment's New Cop Drama Will Be Fundamentally Different From Chicago P.D. Best Answer. Over the last several months we've seen a lot of pieces of information about the new ride, but with no indication when the old ride is going away. Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images file. Former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich issued a warning to Republicans, noting that a massive political threat could be lurking. On TikTok, tribute videos to Splash Mountain had thousands of likes, and more than 70 containers of water purportedly swiped from the ride were up for sale on eBay. Armchair Imagineer. "The ride continued, there were other boats coming by, and one of them struck the individual on the upper torso," Presha said. as well as other partner offers and accept our. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Splash Mountain at Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom in Florida in 2020. Recognizing the potential pitfalls of racial stereotypes, Disney hired additional consultants and writers to work with the Southern-born Reymond. Splash Mountain is a popular . Splash Mountain, located in the Frontierland section of Disney World's Magic Kingdom, remained closed Sunday. Floyd, a Black man, was recorded on video as he was murdered by police officers in Minneapolis, prompting "worldwide protests, violence, and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.". SEE ALSO: Meet the Disneyland cast member who wants to change Splash Mountains story. FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Image, FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images, close Splash Mountain and "reimagine" it in the theme of "The Princess and the Frog,". The idea was initially conceived by Tony Baxter, who wanted to attract more guests to Bear Country in Disneyland. Our sympathies go out to the family.. Nearly two years have now passed since the announcement, and thus far neither ride has closed for this update and no timeline has been presented letting us know when it is expected to happen. Riders follow Brer Rabbit as he embarks on an adventure and outsmarts Brer Fox and Brer Bear. As a member of the SCNG Features team, he also writes about entertainment, travel, pop culture, music, restaurants and craft beer. As part of the creative development process, conceptual design work is well underway and Imagineers will soon be able to conduct preliminary reviews and develop a timeline for when the transformation can start to take shape, Ramirez wrote. Chauvin Guilty of Murder and Manslaughter in Floyds Death. AP News, 20 Apr. Splash Mountain is a massive attraction full of animatronic characters and any overhaul was going to take time. The man was taken to the emergency room at Celebration I will miss you forever. His idea of a log ride was initially denied until he came up with the idea to incorporate Song of the South into it. Uncle Tom is a trope in which usually middle-aged to elderly Black men are content in their role as a slave or servant to their white bosses and happily dispense wisdom and advice. Cameron Everest Brand, 19, was charged with killing two teenagers and wounding four others in an early Sunday shooting at a house party. Picture taken March 15, 2020. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. While Disneys intentions to close Splash Mountain were announced back in 2020, they didnt immediately set a closure date. He writes about Disney, Universal, Six Flags, SeaWorld, Cedar Fair and Legoland parks in Southern California, across the United States and around the world. It was in June of 2020 when a grassroots campaign sprung up online asking that Disney not only change Splash Mountain, but that the company specifically replace it with The Princess and the Frog. The rides new theme also fits with the history of Disney parks. It is possible Tianas Bayou Adventure will live on at Disneyland just not Disney World. ", Disney World's Splash Mountain ride, which focuses solely on the adventures of Br'er Rabbit, was an "attempt to sanitize Disney history" by omitting any mentions of the controversial aspects of the film, like Uncle Remus and little Johnny, according to Jason Sperb, a film professor at Oklahoma State University and author of "Disney's Most Notorious Film: Race, Convergence, and the Hidden Histories of Song of the South.". Epcot Stan. Considering the massive scope of Splash Mountain, it will likely take quite some time even once the work begins before guests will actually be able to experience this new version of the attraction. As such, it could be another year or more at the absolute minimum before either Splash Mountain attraction undergoes its transformation. Pollock, an employee of credit-reporting giant Equifax, was visiting the Magic Kingdom with two friends, who were riding Splash Mountain in a separate boat at the time of the 2 p.m. accident, Orange County sheriffs spokesman Cmdr. Disney shelved the controversial live-action/animated musical film in the 1980s and the companys CEO Bob Iger said the movie will not appear on the Disney+ streaming service. When Disneyland unveiled Splash Mountain in 1989, it sparked renewed controversy over "Song of the South," the movie that had inspired the ride. Splash Mountain, one of the mainstay rides at Disneyland whose theme was based on the Uncle Remus Br'er Rabbit story from Disney 's controversial . Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The overly happy tones just didnt sit right with either the Civil War or Reconstruction era and seemed to suggest that African Americans shouldve been complacent and happy in their status in society. In February, Disneyland began transforming the French Market restaurant in New Orleans Square into Tianas Palace the New Orleans restaurant run by Tiana in the Princess and the Frog animated film. Disney's Splash Mountain ride is based on 'Song of the South.' Petitioners want to change that. Splash Mountain, located in the Frontierland section of Take a Look, Fort Lauderdale Air Show Delayed Sunday Due to Thunderstorms. Reymond eventually removed a character named "Br'er Coon," but ignored many other suggestions to portray Black characters in a more dignified manner. As a Freelancer Writer she hopes to give readers the same comfort and enjoyment that she finds in all things nerdy and noteworthy, as a blogger she enjoys snarking on YouTubers and reality stars, and as a future novelist she hopes to raise awareness for child abuse through literature. Read about the story on CNN . Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain officiallyclosed down on Sunday to make room for a new ride in its place. Following the accident, Disney officials evacuated and shut down the ride, Callahan said. That June, Disney announced Splash Mountain would be reimagined as Tianas Bayou Adventure, based on Disneys first Black princess, featured in the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog. - The World Health Organization said March . When the full show returned as part of the 50th anniversary celebration, the music was still MIA. Heres how it works. The new ride, scheduled to open in 2024, will be based on The Princess and the Frog," a 2009 film that features Disney's first Black princess, Tiana. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-04-20-2021-955a78df9a7a51835ad63afb8ce9b5c1. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). In a statement Thursday, the corporation announced it was retheming the popular ride, which is featured at parks like Disney World and . "The rise of Nixon and Reagan during this time is very much a reaction against the Civil Rights Movement," Sperb said. The 37-year-old man was a passenger on the Splash Mountain Eudoras Chic Boutique retail store opened in Disneylands New Orleans Square in September. It was originally meant to be a metaphor for a problem that grows worse the more one engages with it, it now is used primarily in a derogatory and offensive manner. By Stefan Sykes. A day after a 37-year-old St. Petersburg man died on the Splash Mountain ride at the Magic Kingdom, authorities were still trying to explain the bizarre incident, which Disney described as the. The Moused Trusted Name in Disney News.". Uncle Remus himself is a "one-dimensional character who has no purpose or identity beyond serving a white family," according to Sperb. Wiki User. A 10-year-old girl with a heart condition died after riding the Space Mountain roller coaster in 1980. He said it was unclear why the man, believed to have been visiting the park with a friend, left the boat, or whether he slipped after exiting.