Disneyland To 'Reimagine' Splash Mountain Ride For 'Racial Stereotypes'

Clay Robinson | June 25, 2020
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Splash Mountain, one of the most popular but controversial rides at Disneyland, will be getting a new look Disney announced Thursday.

Splash Mountain was inspired by a 1946 live-action and animated Disney film "Song of the South," a movie reportedly includes “outdated cultural depictions” that “reinforce[s] a nostalgia for the Reconstruction era.” In addition to “racial hierarchies,” the movie also allegedly reminisces on the days before the Civil War.

The move to revamp the ride comes after a petition circulated calling on Disney to re-theme Splash Mountain because of “racial stereotypes” and a “romanticized view of the antebellum South.” The film has also been kept off Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+.

Splash Mountain will be replaced with a "Princess and the Frog"-themed ride, modeled after Disney's first movie featuring a black princess. The attraction will include Mardi Gras elements and musical performances, according to CNN.

“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 a statement to People

Splash Mountain has been at Disney parks since 1989. The ride will be changed at both the California Disneyland Park and the Magic Kingdom in Florida. 

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