Splash Mountain to become Princess and the Frog ride

[Eric Smith]

It better hit the crescendo of Friends on the Other Side just as the boat emerges from the dark ready for the drop.

I think the Laughing Place will turn in to the Other Side and the drop will be escaping from the Other Side to go to Mardi Gras.

 

[Hummingbird]

I made the mistake of going back and reading the thread when I knew I shouldn't.

Some of you have wildly disappointed me. It's very easy to sit up and say you aren't offended when the offence wasn't directed at you.
For those of you saying kids don't even know, my nephew is 14, we just had a convo last year some time about it because he came to me highly upset because he's into Disney history and imagineering and he researched/read on his own and found out. He wanted to know WHY I had not told him this and how could Disney have something like that.

There are some of you in this thread who did a really good job explaining why this was the appropriate thing for Disney to do and I really appreciate that because I am not good at doing so, especially about these emotionally fueled topics.

ETA: I have never once felt anything other than a camaraderie with other Disney lovers on this board, but today in this thread I don't. This is probably the first time I'm actually felt sad and shed a couple of tears (mainly out of frustration) reading this thread.

 

[JacknSally]

I think the Laughing Place will turn in to the Other Side and the drop will be escaping from the Other Side to go to Mardi Gras.

THIS WOULD BE SO COOL

 

[PhDisney]

Well, I don't know who that is, but I hope they give her all the money in the world for this. All of it. If she asks, they say yes. Act like Walt's controlling the purse strings. And have some left over fo the ancilliary, surrounding themeing that will be necessary. Deal? Okay, Disney, then I'm all set with this.

I'll reserve further thoughts until we know more.

It looks like she was behind MMRR, which I haven't personally gotten to ride but I've heard is INCREDIBLE (though I still miss the GMR.)

 

[rteetz]

Well, I don't know who that is, but I hope they give her all the money in the world for this. All of it. If she asks, they say yes. Act like Walt's controlling the purse strings. And have some left over fo the ancilliary, surrounding themeing that will be necessary. Deal? Okay, Disney, then I'm all set with this.

I'll reserve further thoughts until we know more.

Charita was a lead on Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway with the legendary Kevin Rafferty.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I posted in this in the main news thread but in case some people are only following htere, this link is an itnerview with Charita Carter who is leading the retheme and was a creative mind behind Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad:
https://blackgirlnerds.com/disney-i...iscusses-new-mickey-and-minnie-ride-for-2020/

 

[chicagoshannon]

I shouldn't be surprised but there is a lot of revisionist history going on in this thread. I hope people take the time to research some of this stuff themselves instead of just going with what people in here say.

I'm sure they'll reveal more details of the new ride "soon".

 

[andyman8]

I posted in this in the main news thread but in case some people are only following htere, this link is an itnerview with Charita Carter who is leading the retheme and was a creative mind behind Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad:
https://blackgirlnerds.com/disney-i...iscusses-new-mickey-and-minnie-ride-for-2020/

She was featured in the later installments of The Imagineering Story, the docuseries you all (myself included) were raving about...

 

[jerry557]

A lot will gloss over the fact this was in the works well before the petition started spreading like wildfire. You can't plan a re-do of this scale in a few weeks in the midst of one of the worst financial situations ever for the company.

Practically all other projects are on hold because of the COVID crisis. But they suddenly found money for this and couldn't wait to get the press release out.

 

[Rory607]

When persons who are the subject of something that is racist inform me of the problem, I find it behooves me to listen to them rather than simply assuming my point of view is the correct one.

THIS. I can’t even add anything. You said it perfectly.

 

[Farro]

One of the bears is named Liver Lips which is a derogatory term. From the vaudeville era, an insulting or derogatory description of someone, taken from their facial features.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't believe it when I heard that name.

 

[andyman8]

Practically all other projects are on hold because of the COVID crisis. But they suddenly found money for this and couldn't wait to get the press release out.

The castle transformation, Tron, MMRR in DL, and Avengers Campus in DL all resumed construction weeks ago. Again, just because they’re announcing it doesn’t even mean they are going to start construction any time soon.
ETA: I had misread some info today. Tron and MMRR are still paused. The others have resumed in addition to Galactic Starcruiser.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

I love the idea of the retheme. For me, the more Disney IP in rides the better. But I just started going to Disney a few years ago so this impacts my perception.

I'm not a fan of the current Splash Mountain theming. For me, it's the drop at the end that's my favorite. That's not going away.

So I am not upset that they took a classic ride and are changing it. However, I have a different opinion of them taking the iconic elegant castle and deciding to paint it pink with bluish purple towers...

 

[rteetz]

The castle transformation, Tron, MMRR in DL, and Avengers Campus in DL all resumed construction weeks ago. Again, just because they’re announcing it doesn’t even mean they are going to start construction any time soon.

Tron has not restarted.

 

[PhDisney]

The castle transformation, Tron, MMRR in DL, and Avengers Campus in DL all resumed construction weeks ago. Again, just because they’re announcing it doesn’t even mean they are going to start construction any time soon.

I had assumed they'd close in February as usual, and maybe just extend it out, open maybe in March/April/May (either this year or next) depending on the construction timelines? It's hard to say how much time a refurb like this would take, depending on what they want to do.

 

[Krandor]

When persons who are the subject of something that is racist inform me of the problem, I find it behooves me to listen to them rather than simply assuming my point of view is the correct one.

Well said. In this county very often we find ourself talking and giving opinions too much and not listening enough. I know due to recent events I've found myself listening and learning a lot more then I used to.

 

[andyman8]

Tron has not restarted.

Thank you for pointing that out. I had misread the statement from WDI today. There are some other projects that have resumed but none the less, an announcement doesn’t mean construction anytime soon (just look at Pandora lol).

 

[andyman8]

I had assumed they'd close in February as usual, and maybe just extend it out, open maybe in March/April/May (either this year or next) depending on the construction timelines? It's hard to say how much time a refurb like this would take, depending on what they want to do.

If I had to guess, I’d think they start the refurb in a early January (not saying of next year) and run in on a timetable similar to what we saw for GotG Mission Breakout in CA (maybe a some time longer since it’s a more complicated ride), but I don’t know.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I think the Laughing Place will turn in to the Other Side and the drop will be escaping from the Other Side to go to Mardi Gras.

I haven't read too many of the articles today, but I believe they said that the ride is a sort-of sequel and picks up after the kiss.

 

[kleph]

I'm only partway through reading this thread.
PatF is prob my fave princess movie, and Tiana is my fave princess. I would *love* to see more of her in the parks, and I really hope they put her restaurant somewhere now that Reflexions isn't happening.

That being said, my brother brought up a point. Like you said, the original Br'er stories are folktales. They're based on trickster tales from Africa, and Br'er Rabbit is a folk hero (representing slaves who overcome adversity using their wits). While the Song of the South may have "problematic" elements, supposedly it is the live action parts that are controversial. The ride doesn't feature any of the live action parts (the live action parts are a vehicle for the folktales to be told). The ride focuses on the actual tales of Br'er Rabbit, which originally come from Black storytellers.
As much as I like PatF, the original story is European, recorded by the Brothers Grimm. Is there a better way to change Splash to incorporate stories with Black origins, rather than shoehorn in an IP simply because it features Black characters (forgetting that the story is European)?

"The Song of the South" derives from Joel Chandler Harris' "Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings" It is a compilation of stories derived from the oral folklore tradition of former slaves as collected by white journalist. Harris is often credited with retaining the dialect in the stories, which was done in an effort to preserve authenticity. Mark Twain, who used the same device in "Huckleberry Finn" notably credited it for this.

There are questions about exactly how accurate his retellings were and many scholars have criticisms of his role as an authority. More pointedly he has long been criticized for creating patronizing and damaging stereotypes that romanticize the antebellum era -- which can be seen in the Disney film.

Alice Walker's 1985 essay "Uncle Remus: No Friend of Mine" is one of the most pointed criticisms of Harris's works. I cannot find an online version of that but the link below is from a talk she gave in 1981 to the Atlanta Historical Society on the same topic. She includes her feelings regarding the Disney movie in this essay.

https://books.google.com/books?id=m...=snippet&q=atlanta historical society&f=false