A NEW Politically Correct Haunted Mansion - NO JOKE!!!!!!!!!

[Lovin' Lorne]

Sorry, but it's really not that big of a deal to me one way or the other.

 

[LMR1991]

Psh. That's such a shame that only a (KEYWORD) handful of people complained and they got their way.
I'm wondering as to what they said about it, maybe "It reminds me of my great-grandma that died and I find that politically incorrect?"
C'mon now. Before you know it, WDW is going to be just an average park.

 

[Disney1976]

If it is true, it certainly wouldn't be the only time Disney has changed wording or lyrics due to something possibly being portrayed offensive. A perfect example of this is the opening song in "Aladdin." The original wording in part was "I come from a land from a far away place/Where the caravan camels roam/Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face/It's barbaric, but hey, it's home!" After complaints that it could be portrayed as offensive to Middle Eastern cultures, the lyrics were changed. Ok, I can see how that might be considered offensive, but the logical side of me says it's just a movie! Heck, I'm Italian American, but I don't complain about every stereotypical television show or movie that portrays Italians as pizza eating mafioso.

If this change is made, it's not really going to affect me one way or the other, but it does strike me as silly and pointless. At what point does being p.c. go too far? And who are these people complaining? Seriously? You'll never be able to please everyone.

 

[One Year Pin]

Personally, I'll believe it when I see it. There are so many rumors that fly around about Disney changing this or closing that...When it happens, then we'll know.

 

[LMR1991]

Actually, now that I think of it,
wasn't PotC ride changed and possibly IASW
due to "not being politically correct"???

 

[beachcomber701]

Pirates of the Caribbean was changed several years ago due to complaints about the pirates chasing the women in the next to the last scene. At that time, there was one woman chasing a pirate and the others were pirates chasing the women. Now all of the women in that scene chase the pirates due to complaints. I remember thinking why change this? After all, they ARE pirates!

I enjoy the Haunted Mansion and the comments the CMs make in the attraction. It's supposed to be a "bit" scary and if guests can't handle that, don't go in there--ride Winnie the Pooh.

 

[Robo]

If it is true, it certainly wouldn't be the only time Disney has changed wording or lyrics due to something possibly being portrayed offensive. A perfect example of this is the opening song in "Aladdin." The original wording in part was "I come from a land from a far away place/Where the caravan camels roam/Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face/It's barbaric, but hey, it's home!" After complaints that it could be portrayed as offensive to Middle Eastern cultures, the lyrics were changed.

That's true.
BUT, on the DVD (released years after the film was in theaters,) it has the ORIGINAL lyrics.

 

[Puccaw]

Good Grief!!! People need to get a life, if they were happy with themselves they wouldn't waste time complaining over this stuff!!

 

[Matt'sMom]

Honestly... all they are doing is going from non-scripted comments by CMs in the entry and stretching room... to providing a script. This will allow all visitors to the HM to have a consistantly similar experience.

At this time, we have no idea what that script may or may not include. Clever lines such as "Please step away from the walls, and drag your bodies towards the dead center of the room" may continue to be a part of the HM experience. It seems a bit too early to jump to conclusions.

As for some guests possibly having been offended by things that HM CMs have said or done in the past... we don't know what those things were. It may have had nothing at all to do with the 'dead center of the room' type lines. It may instead have involved some off color comments or inappropriate attention directed towards specific guests. After all, since there was no script, a CM could say or do pretty much anything--and it seems well within reason that the occassion CM may have crossed the line of appropriate behavior.

JH has put his own personal twist on what may have precipitated the potential new script, and which lines might be eliminated. But that doesn't mean either are true. I'm withholding an opinion until I actually see/hear the new scripts themselves.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

Maybe a CM or two has actually gone overboard.

Pretty much. I've seen some jaw-droppingly bad show from some CMs who think that because they work at the HM and don't have to smile that means they can say or do anything they want to -- I'm not talking about "creepy servility" here; I'm talking flat-out rudeness and hostility.

To be honest, I see these changes as a good thing.

 

[WDSearcher]

OK, I still didn't get what was supposedly offensive.
And weren't Disney imagineers quoted as saying it had nothing to do with guest complaints but simply changing the script from what's been used forever? So why is the author so sure it's a PC situation?

Because the author is Jim Hill. And why just report something when you can turn it into a controversy? Add me to the eyeroll gang.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I concur... Jim Hill Media is well known for the "DisneyQuest Closing January of 2008" rumor.. and some other plum cherries.

I guess he still has 27 days for that one to come true.. but I'll reserve judgement till we see what -- if any - changes are made.

Knox

 

[disneyaggie]

This wretched body is sick and tired of "Politically Correct".

I agree!

 

[sbell111]

Pretty much. I've seen some jaw-droppingly bad show from some CMs who think that because they work at the HM and don't have to smile that means they can say or do anything they want to -- I'm not talking about "creepy servility" here; I'm talking flat-out rudeness and hostility.

To be honest, I see these changes as a good thing.

I agree.

Last week we were in the queue and I was surprised to hear the CM repeatedly tell guests that if they weren't pushing or shoving the people in front of them then they weren't going fast enough.

Scripting is a good thing.

 

[catherines_mama]

This just sounds cheesy to me. We LOVE the HM and love the CMs who work there. DD has had amazing interaction that only came upon because they weren't scripted. I hope they don't ruin this.

 

[POB14]

That's true.
BUT, on the DVD (released years after the film was in theaters,) it has the ORIGINAL lyrics.

Not on mine, it doesn't.

 

[Disney1976]

That's true.
BUT, on the DVD (released years after the film was in theaters,) it has the ORIGINAL lyrics.

Ah, but the special edition dvd (which I have) has the changed lyrics! Go figure.

 

[sbell111]

...DD has had amazing interaction that only came upon because they weren't scripted. ...

How can you tell that it wasn't scripted and how do you know that the interaction wouldn't be good if the CMs utilized scripts and blocking.

One of my responsibilities in my 'real' life is to direct the activities of a call center. We worked very hard when designing the call center to script out the conversations including developing talking points to move conversations back to the main script. An experienced operator will use this script and never give the person they are talking to a clue that the conversation has been scripted.

 

[QT Pooh]

Pirates of the Caribbean was changed several years ago due to complaints about the pirates chasing the women in the next to the last scene. At that time, there was one woman chasing a pirate and the others were pirates chasing the women. Now all of the women in that scene chase the pirates due to complaints. I remember thinking why change this? After all, they ARE pirates!

I enjoy the Haunted Mansion and the comments the CMs make in the attraction. It's supposed to be a "bit" scary and if guests can't handle that, don't go in there--ride Winnie the Pooh.

Yeah, I remember when they were chasing the women. I'm surprised that they haven't changed the part where they're auctioning off the women - there are quite a few non-PC comments happening there.

Why would someone complain about 'dead center' though??? That's an actual expression. This is, after all, the haunted mansion, and in my experience, the best haunted ride in ANY amusement park. The CMs just add to the total experience - just like the ones at the tower of terror.

 

[HunnyPots]

Because the author is Jim Hill. And why just report something when you can turn it into a controversy? Add me to the eyeroll gang.

Yep, that was my thinking exactly. By the way this thread is going, it apparently worked...