Splash Mountain to become Princess and the Frog ride

[New Mouse]

But is it really 90% that are against this? Or is it like most things you have 5-10% that are super vocal for the change and 5-10% that are super vocal against it and then the majority in the middle that are ok with it and can see both sides and maybe not the specific choice they made but won't let it ruin their vacations and just roll with it?

Id be more for new attractions rather than retheming another old one.

 

[Fauntleroy]

I don't see a slippery slope. If you consider Song of the South racist propaganda, how could you not be upset with the person that actually paid for the rights, produced it, and spread it to the entire world? I would be.

Walt gets the benefit of the doubt (IMHO) in that it’s far more likely he thought there were great stories in SOTS that the world should know
about- and as an expert storyteller he could overcome any objectionable background- rather than mid-career he suddenly decided- “You know what- I love racism- and the ‘old South’. Time to use my talents and treasure to tell that story”. A bad judgment call and overestimation of his talents- but not ill-intentioned. Let’s not forget he revered Abraham Lincoln...

 

[Arielfan98]

I love this idea! Now only if they'd follow suit and transition Frontierland into New Orleans Square like they do in DL.

 

[Moliphino]

Just thought I would mention Martin on wdwmagic said Country Bear Jamboree could very well see changes.

Changes are ok. Just don't take it away completely! And leave "Blood on the Saddle" alone.

 

[Wonderly93]

But is it really 90% that are against this? Or is it like most things you have 5-10% that are super vocal for the change and 5-10% that are super vocal against it and then the majority in the middle that are ok with it and can see both sides and maybe not the specific choice they made but won't let it ruin their vacations and just roll with it?

This is the reality. It's Disney, this isn't going to sink them in anyway. The majority will go like they always planned. Now some might move if they planned to go and they knew Splash was closed so they could see the re-opening, that I can see.

 

[kmorlock]

PATF was deemed a box office failure by most critics of the time. There are other movies, themes and imagineering options out there that are more deserving of an entire feature ride. It might fit in really well at DL but, that doesn’t change the merits of the movie. If they’re going to change it, at least change it for the better. It doesn’t even have to be based on one character or movie which makes it easier to update. There are much better opportunities out there than just PATF.

 

[mousemoose]

Splash Mountain is my favorite. This is the the worst news I've ever heard come from Disney. Keep Splash Mountain the way it is.

 

[BrianL]

I watched the film today, and it has plenty of great music. Zip is one of the problems with this ride. Don't get me wrong I sing the song to myself all the time and its had some awesome versions through the years but its history is not good.

Just curious - I read the link about the song and even in the link itself it states that they do not know if the composers were aware of the song they are saying it is based on (the Turkey in the Straw one). It's speculative really. I'm not saying I know for sure either, but is there a definitive answer? Does there come a time when something exists as its own thing or is even the idea that it might be connected enough to strike it from everything? I am honestly asking here, not proferring a statement.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

For those deriding that it is only a ride, to many it's more than that, people form connections to memories and the joy something has brought to them. Disney more than any other park attracts people on nostalgia, certainly for Magic Kingdom.

This doesn't mean rides shouldn't be changed or updated, but on a technical level I can think of a dozen rides in more need of being refreshed or changed before SM did.

It does worry me that Disney could pander more and more to the Twitter outrage mobs, especially since most of those campaigning for these changes likely aren't even regular guests to the parks. To me it feels like they are pandering to people that aren't their customers, they should listen to their fans more and less to a vocal minority on Twitter, their money comes from one not the other.

As for myself I will be sad to see SM go, but will admit the concept art looks really nice, so if the end product is as good as the artwork maybe it won't be all bad, but I'm concerned this is the first domino to fall.

It’s quite the leap to suggest that the people who want or are okay with this change are not Disney fans. I think you would be surprised.

I am nostalgic for Splash Mountain. I was 8 years old when it opened at WDW and rode it for the first time shortly after it opened. I love that ride, every minute of it.

I also understand why it is problematic and understand why they’re changing it. I am not some Twitter troll who isn’t a Disney fan.

Because my kids haven’t gone on Splash yet due to height requirements and a refurb (they are 3 & 5) they will grow up with the Princess & the Frog version of the ride, and guess what? When they’re my age, they’ll be nostalgic for the version of it they know.

To suggest that you can’t love the current version and be nostalgic for it AND understand why they are changing it is ridiculous.

I’ve been to WDW regularly since I was born. I LOVE Walt Disney World and the feelings I get when I go there. We go every year. We are DVC members. Shareholders. I’m a former CM. Trust me, Disney gets plenty of my money. And holds a big piece of my heart.

People who have been paying attention know that a change has been rumored for years. I think the timing may have been sped up due to the current climate but changing it has been rumored for a long time.

I will miss the briar patch and the laughin’ place, but it’s time to move on. I look forward to seeing what Charita Carter, Tony Baxter & team do.

 

[Wonderly93]

On the topic of theming it has just occurred to me that at DLP Coco is in Frontierland and that is set in Mexico and tbh it blends?

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

They are definitely IP just because they were reused from a previous attraction doesn’t remove them from being IP. They are intellectual property owned by Disney the very definition of IP.

They are not IP. Disney does not own the folk tale.
Regarding America Sings, the modern definition of IP used in common parlance is regarding a film, or a universe. IE Star Wars. While technically America Sings was owned by Disney, it is not the same. But you know that.

 

[Wonderly93]

They are not IP. Disney does not own the folk tale.

The Frog Prince is also an original folk tale so technically the Princess and the Frog isn't totally IP either. Disney uses public domain stories that is central to the company all the way back to Snow White.

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

The Frog Prince is also an original folk tale so technically the Princess and the Frog isn't totally IP either. Disney uses public domain stories that is central to the company all the way back to Snow White.

Not true. The Princess and the Frog is owned by Disney. The Frog Price is not the same.

FYI, we can argue minutiae, but you very clearly understand what I am referring to. America Sings was created for the park. that is not the type of intellectual property that I'm talking about, nor the type that is commonly referred to as IP today.

 

[mousemoose]

My Splash Mountain Appreciation Thread over on the Community Boards:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/splash-mountain-appreciation-thread-zip-a-dee-doo-dah.3805744/

 

[Wonderly93]

Not true. The Princess and the Frog is owned by Disney. The Frog Price is not the same.

But it is heavily based upon public domain so to me that is the same thing. They own the Song of the South too but they don't own the folk tales.

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

But it is heavily based upon public domain so to me that is the same thing. They own the Song of the South too but they don't own the folk tales.

Please read the rest of my posts.

 

[mamaofsix]

PATF was deemed a box office failure by most critics of the time. There are other movies, themes and imagineering options out there that are more deserving of an entire feature ride. It might fit in really well at DL but, that doesn’t change the merits of the movie. If they’re going to change it, at least change it for the better. It doesn’t even have to be based on one character or movie which makes it easier to update. There are much better opportunities out there than just PATF.

Some of my favourite Disney rides are based on movies that were by no means a box office smash. Some even failures. I don't think that should be the marker for whether or not a ride uses the IP.

I'm personally excited by the concept art. Splash Mountain has always been my favourite, but this new version has incredible potential.

Four of my adopted children are Indigenous, and now we're hoping that Pocahontas will finally get her day in the parks. But, that might be a long shot. We were so disappointed that the new Reflections resort was nixed, as we were thrilled with the Pocahontas elements in the concept art there.

As for changing questionable scenes in Peter Pan or Jungle Cruise, yeah it's probably time. Kinda cringe-worthy every time I take my kids on them.

 

[rteetz]

So make a change to appease 10% of patrons at the expense of the other 90%? And the other 90% just need to accept it? I guess that makes sense in a sort of alternate universe type of way.

You say DIsney is the happiest place on earth but there are a lot of people who aren't very happy right now.

Throwing around numbers doesn’t help anything. There is a large number of people upset but there is also a large number happy with the change. I think it’s much closer to 50/50 than what you think it is.

 

[mamaofsix]

The only thing I'm worried about is how long the ride will have to be down for during the update.

On the positive side: perhaps a super long refurb will mean they can finally fix all of the technical problems that lead to this ride being offline seemingly half the time, lol.

 

[rteetz]

Just curious - I read the link about the song and even in the link itself it states that they do not know if the composers were aware of the song they are saying it is based on (the Turkey in the Straw one). It's speculative really. I'm not saying I know for sure either, but is there a definitive answer? Does there come a time when something exists as its own thing or is even the idea that it might be connected enough to strike it from everything? I am honestly asking here, not proferring a statement.

That is a good question. I know even prior to this announcement there has been a lot of discussion about Splash and the song and it had always been brought up that that’s what the song is based on.