Think it’s a great decision to do this. The film it was based on was outdated and forgotten anyway regardless of its abhorrent racism.
Good job Disney (said it’d be a good retheme when I watched the film haha)
I wonder how much of this was to do with Splash Mountain’s links to Song of the South, and the recent petition to retheme it that occurred due to this? ]
I rode Splash Mountain last April, and I don’t remember seeing anything remotely racist depicted within the ride itself. In fact, I must admit that at the time, I did rather like the whole happy, feel good vibe of the ride, as well as its rather catchy soundtrack!Lots, but equally, they would have done it in the end anyhow. Disney want to make money, and aside from the on-ride photo, Splash Mountain did not make any. This means they get to avoid criticism and sneak a 'new' attraction in while appearing diverse.
I'm split. This is one of my favourite ever rides, it's a masterpiece. There's absolutely nothing explicitly racist in the attraction, and it could be argued (in good faith) that the ride is actually instead rooted in black folklore, being replaced by a Grimm fairytale with a black character bolted on.
On the other, the world is changing, ours and Walt Disney's. Nothing lasts forever. This will mean something to a new generation of kids.
Interestingly, I’m not sure whether the protests entirely spurred this, as Disney says that it’s been in the works for a year...