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Disney Parks has revealed that it will be closing Splash Mountain at Disneyland in California on May 31. The attraction was closed at Disney World in Orlando in January.
The log ride will be replaced next year by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure centered on the main character of “The Princess and the Frog”.
Original story below:
Just over two years after activists called on Disney to remove Splash Mountain from Walt Disney World because of the ride’s roots in a 1946 film with racist stereotypes, the company announced Friday it would replace the ride with a another focused on the company’s first black princess, Tiana.
Disney said it will scrap the California Disneyland ride on a date to be announced later.
Splash Mountain, which opened at the park in 1989, will close in 2023 and be replaced by a new ride called “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure”. The ride will feature new and old characters from The princess and the Froga 2009 film that follows Tiana’s magical adventures around New Orleans.
The new ride will open in 2024 at both parks, the company added.
Tiana’s ride is “emblematic of what we always strive for with our attractions – bringing together people from different walks of life through timeless Disney stories,” wrote Carmen Smith, senior vice president of creative development in a blog post. .
Following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, activists started a Change.org petition calling on Disney to redo Splash Mountain and focus a new attraction on Tiana.
Splash Mountain is the source of the classic Disney “ride” picture. It’s been a popular ride for decades, for its sometimes soaking ride and high drops.
In honor of the permanent closure of Splash Mountain… pic.twitter.com/maG7EB66du
— Courtney Marabella (@CourtMarabella) December 2, 2022
The ride features characters from a 1946 Disney film southern songwhich has been criticized for its racist stereotyping and framing, including when a black man, in a romanticized post-Civil War south at one point, recalls things were better “a long time ago”, according to The Guardian .
Following the petition, the company announced in June 2020 that year that it would replace Splash Mountain with a Tiana-focused ride, from The princess and the Frog, which debuted in 2009.
“The new concept is inclusive – one that all of our customers can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year,” the company wrote in a blog post to the ‘era. .
The announcement comes as the company faces a barrage of criticism over rising ticket and park prices, CEO changes and a stock loss of around 40% this year.
Related: Bob Chapek, CEO of Disney Fans Slam, after further price increases in the parks
In Tiana’s film, she’s a hardworking waitress in New Orleans who wants to open her own restaurant, ends up throwing a ball — then kisses a prince in frog form, which then turns her into a frog.
The company said the ride picks up at the end of the film and allows riders to join Tiana on a journey to “prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans.”
Like the film, the ride will focus on New Orleans, Louisiana culture and Mardi Gras, an annual event carnival-like celebration just before Lent with colorful masks, parades and balls.
The ride will also involve Zydeco music, which was created by people of Afro-Caribbean descent and mixed with French Louisiana culture.
“We wanted that spirit to be reflected in this scene (and throughout the attraction) so that all of our guests would feel welcome to join in the celebration. It’s emblematic of what we always strive for with our attractions – bringing together people from different walks of life through timeless Disney Stories,” the company wrote.
