Disney to Redesign Splash Mountain Based on an Animated Classic Amid Outcry
Disneyland Park in California and Magic Kingdom Park in Florida will redesign Splash Mountain, a ride originally based on the controversial film, Song of the South.
Splash Mountain’s theme is currently designed after the 1946 film Song of the South, a controversial and racist movie. While the log ride itself is not going anywhere, the theme will be altered to showcase characters from the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog.
The film introduces Disney’s first Black princess, Tiana. Using The Princess and the Frog as a basis for their designs will undoubtedly change the ride for the better. The implementation of the new theme will help add more representation and speak to the many diverse families who enter the parks each day. See the completely reimagined Splash Mountain below.
For decades now, Disney has recognized Song of the South as a racist, controversial film, having it locked away and kept off Disney+. They have considered changing Splash Mountain’s theme and distancing it from Song of the South for about a year now. Amidst the Black Lives Matter movement, their ideas came to fruition and Disney finally set a plan in motion to make this positive change in their parks, taking out stereotypical, offensive imagery and themes from the ride.
Splash Mountain at both Disney World & Disneyland will now be based off ‘The Princess and the Frog.’
The original ride has been criticized amid the BLM movement for featuring scenery and characters from ‘Song of the South,’ a 1946 film that portrays a post-Civil War South. pic.twitter.com/ost8jmnW3C
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 25, 2020
This development is a welcome change for fans of the park. Recently, a petition circled the internet asking Disney to change the theme of the ride. The petition was a success, as more than 20,000 people signed and supported the possible amendment. Clearly, their voices were heard by Disney, demonstrating once again that taking action and speaking up can go a long way towards making a positive change in the world, especially when done in unity.
The conceptual design work is currently underway, but the date for the reopening of Splash Mountain has not yet been confirmed.
Hi! I am Hannah Forton pursuing a double major in Communications and Music Industry. I love traveling, sports, cooking, music, Broadway, movies, DIY, make-up, clothes, and tutorials. Some of my favorite work experiences includes an internship at a recording studio and working at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Helping and educating others is important to me, and I’ve enjoyed being able to do so through volunteering for numerous non-profits since middle school. I like the big city vibes, but small towns will always hold a special place in my heart. Living near Detroit allows me to achieve the best of both worlds.
