A little over two years after activists called for Disney to remove Splash Mountain from Walt Disney World due to the ride's roots in a1946 film with racist stereotypes, the company announced Friday it would replace the ride with one focused on the company's first black princess.
Courtesy company. The ride will be removed from Disneyland California at a later time.
Splash Mountain, which opened in 1989 at the park, will close in 2023 and be replaced by a new ride. The characters from The Princess and the Frog will be on the ride.
There will be a new ride in both parks.
Carmen Smith, senior vice president of creative development wrote in a post that the ride is "emblematic of what we're always strive for with our attractions."
Activists started a Change.org petition asking Disney to redo Splash Mountain in the wake of George Floyd's death.
The classic Disney photo was taken at Splash Mountain. It has been a popular ride for a long time.
In honor of Splash Mountain closing forever … pic.twitter.com/maG7EB66du
— Courtney Marabella (@CourtMarabella) December 2, 2022
The ride features characters from a 1946 Disney film Song of the South, which has been criticized for racist stereotypes and framing, including when a black man reminisces that things were better a long time ago.
In June 2020 the company announced that it would replace Splash Mountain with a ride that was based on The Princess and the Frog.
The new concept is inclusive and speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.
The company has been criticized for increased ticket and park prices, changes at CEO, and a stock loss of 40% this year.
The CEO of Disney Fans Slammed after more park price hikes.
In the movie, she is a waitress in New Orleans who wants to open her own restaurant and then kisses a prince in frog form and becomes a frog.
At the end of the film, the ride picks up and allows riders to join Tiana on a journey to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans.
The ride will be similar to the movie in that it will be centered around New Orleans, Louisiana culture, and the yearly carnival-like celebration known as 'Mardi Gras'.
People from Afro-Caribbean and French Louisiana cultures will be involved in the ride.
We wanted the spirit of the event to be reflected in this scene and throughout the attraction. It's indicative of what we're always trying to achieve with our attractions - bringing people of different background together through Disney stories.
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