Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Splash Mountain Closing To Replace Its Racist Heritage With A Black Disney Princess
Concept art for "The Princess and the Frog" reimagining of Splash Mountain.
(
Courtesy Disney
)
It's time to say "so long" to "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" as Disneyland's Splash Mountain prepares to soak its final passengers. After first opening in 1989, the log ride closes at the end of May, so Memorial Day weekend marks the final holiday for park visitors to take a soak as they dive down that waterfall. The Disney World version already closed.
That's at least until the ride gets re-themed and reopens in late 2024 as "Tiana's Bayou Adventure," themed around Disney's The Princess and the Frog. The change has been a long time coming. Disney first announced it following renewed attention on Black representation during 2020's Black Lives Matter protests, following the police murder of George Floyd, and an online petition from fans.
The existing ride has used story, characters, and songs drawn from 1946's Song of the South — a film infamous for its racist, stereotypical depiction of Black People, and which Disney has kept locked in its vault and off its Disney+ streaming service (though the ride largely avoided the film's most problematic, controversial elements).
Fans pushed for the change
Fans had petitioned to change the theme to that of Disney animated movie The Princess and the Frog even before it became official, with tens of thousands signing.
Support for LAist comes from
"There is a huge need for diversity in the parks and this could help fill that need," the petition reads.
"As someone who grew up in Florida and had to endure bullying from white classmates on every field trip to Disney, this needs to be changed as soon as possible," a commenter wrote.
It looks like the Disney Imagineers were already thinking along the same lines, according to a 2020 D23 interview with Disney Imagineer Bob Weis — they'd already been working on the project for a year or more. though Imagineers explored a variety of new themes.
Watch video showing the research that Disney's Imagineers put into the new attraction here:
The film features Disney's first Black princess, Tiana, and is set in the New Orleans bayou — a natural fit given Splash Mountain's placement at Disneyland right next to the park's New Orleans Square.
Conceptual design work was underway in 2020, along with preliminary reviews and developing a timeline — which was slower than it might have been, thanks to extended COVID-19 closures.
Support for LAist comes from
In a press release when the announcement was made, Disney said:
"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."
Splash Mountain as it currently exists.
(
Courtesy Disney
)
The opposition
Weis acknowledged that not all fans may support the change. A rival petition to keep the ride the way it's been had even more supporters than the original when the change was announced.
"There is nothing wrong with the ride," the petition to keep things the same reads. "The controversy from these stories and Song of the South comes from the depiction of the slaves and their relationships with slaveowners on the plantation. Splash Mountain removes these elements and focuses solely on the fun stories that are not racist, but merely taken from oral tales of slaves ... The want to change the ride to be themed to something more politically correct is foolish."
Support for LAist comes from
In response, Weis said "we completely understand that these decisions aren't always popular, but I think our biggest fans know that we care as much as they do."
Increased diversity
The ride opened in 1989. Former Imagineer Tony Baxter, who was working on the revamp as a creative advisor with the Imagineering team, cited the opportunity to use animated stories that have been created since the ride's opening. It opened before the modern wave of Disney animation, Baxter noted — including 2009's The Princess and the Frog.
"Following conversations with Imagineering's leaders about the new attraction's scope and resources, I had a great sense of reassurance — the attraction will be one to be proud of," Baxter said.
"It's important that our guests be able to see themselves in the experiences we create," Walt Disney Imagineering executive Carmen Smith said in a statement.
The revamped ride's storyline will still be musical, featuring music from the film and themed around a Mardi Gras performance by Tiana, Louis, and friends that takes place after the events of the movie. It will feature an emphasis on New Orleans jazz and other parts of the city's culture in what Disney describes as a "musical journey," as well as celebrating Black joy.
"It is really exciting to know that Princess Tiana's presence in both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom will finally be fully realized," the character's voice actress Anika Noni Rose said in a press release.
Support for LAist comes from
You can watch the trailer for The Princess and the Frog here:
Updated July 1, 2022 at 3:08 PM PDT
Updated Friday, July 1, 2022 with details about reopening timeline announcement.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist