Zip A dee doo dah song removed from DL loop music...

[pigletliz]

The song didn't have racist origins. Its just a song about how an oppressed man can feel good for a moment in spite of his problems. Erasing a wonderful song performed by a wonderful actor bothers me far more in fact. Just my opinion and if that makes anyone think I'm a racist then oh well.

As for songs from closed attractions, Tomorrow's Child was played at least until recently. Another wonderful song.

They aren't erasing the song. They just aren't playing it in the park.

 

[Skywalker]

Wow. Just wow. What a disappointing thread. Yeah, just completely ignore the song’s problematic origins in the name of nostalgia because you like the song and don’t care where it came from.

The parks are not museums.

There’s really no point in debating anyone who disagrees with Disney’s decisions here. They’ll just dig in their heels and start rattling off the same old talking points about “cancel culture,” how political correctness has gone “too far,” etc. while ignoring the problem. Just because you don’t know it is problematic (or you don’t care) doesn’t mean it isn’t problematic.

And no, we’re not going to have slaves in 20
years because Disney removed a song with racist origins from its music loop. Sometimes I truly can’t believe what I read here.

Sorry you are "disappointed" (mom?), but there is nothing wrong with feeling nostalgic about something and sad that it's going to be gone. That particular song is very old-school Disney to me personally, brings back a lot of great memories as a kid. I'm kind of sad to hear it's done for. Sue me.

 

[Alicefan]

l

I actually like the song, however...

If you don't tell the entire story, hasn't history already been re-written? With your statement of two sides to EVERY single coin and rewriting history, it seems that history has been largely taught from one perspective.

Who exactly are the "they" that will be sorry? I can't tell which group of people you are trying to scare.

This is a great opportunity to teach the younger generation (and clearly some of the older), without celebrating things that were harmful and evil to a segment of our population. I can't believe that someone actually thinks slavery will come back because Disney removed a ride theme, a song or statues were removed. If so, their memories were already pretty darn short and selective.

Legitimately have never seen someone read a post so incorrectly, or perhaps I wrote it that way. The "they" would be the younger generations and what I said had nothing to do with a Disney ride, but everything to do with pretending this stuff never existed in the first place. For me, Splash Mountain IS the teaching moment! There is ZERO in there that is blatantly racist and IF your child were to ever ask about it, then what better way to open a conversation.

The fact remains that we DID in FACT watch tv shows like that right along with our ethnic friends when we were kids and never once did we hear a peep about it. We once lived in a world where people let things roll off their backs. The history that is being erased is not only that of the Song of the South but ALSO that there once was a time, in MY lifetime where people just didn't consider what was and wasn't offensive a top priority and in that same time, people had better things to complain about and didn't look for harm in pop culture. People were capable with picking and choosing what they exposed themselves to without making a Federal case about it. You either enjoyed something or didn't but you didn't ruin something for millions of others because YOU didn't like it. We all watched things like The Jeffersons, and Archie Bunker and we were able to laugh at the over the top way people of all colors were portrayed. If it didn't sit well then you turned it off and it wasn't for you. You didn't tell all of your friends that they were horrible people if they DID enjoy watching.

That being said, I'm not against them changing the ride at all. I think it's time for a makeover, but I HATE the timing to announce this. To me it looks like horrible behavior, ie: elderly people being attacked and property being destroyed is the way to get things done, and THAT is not a message that our young people need to learn. This thing of trying to make everyone see things and think the same way is so completely against nature. We are who we are. Diversity used to be taught but now people are actually arguing about how my generation was being taught to be colorblind...and now THAT is wrong. It's all a bunch of crap for a generation who literally get off on being whistle blowers and the first to find something offensive and if you don't see it that way then that is absolutely fine by me. You know why? Because we are all allowed to be different and think differently. You are you and I am me and that is how it is meant to be. Mods, feel free to remove this...not trying to start a war. Peace

 

[Alicefan]

Wait? You think we’re going to have slavery again in 20 years? Because we‘re collectively not going to remember it ever happened? And somehow it will not seem bad to enslave people because we changed a Disney ride and a corporation decided to stop playing a song?

If the argument for having a song that some people find offensive is you better let us have it or we’ll have slaves I think you are a step out of mainstream.

Good grief. My point was, the age old adage that if you don't teach and learn from history you are doomed to repeat it. I guess I should've spelled that out. Didn't realize that people were so literal.

 

[Alicefan]

I hate to say this, but I almost get this vibe from my young adult children, especially my 24 year old college educated DD. I feel it a bit from my 20 year old DS as well.

Yes, I noticed it big time in my 21 year old cousin whose favorite line in the world right now is, "Don't judge me!" They have a Chihuahua and we were all laughing and cutting up one night and I said something along the lines of "aww the cute little Mexican dog" and when she thought I wasn't looking she said to her friends (who didn't know me at all) "little bit racist." I was mortified that she would paint me in that light. Younger generations have completely taken the word racism to a whole new level. I'm sorry but Chihuahua's ARE a Mexican breed and pointing that out in NO WAY was because I believe that my race is superior to another. THAT is what racism is. I was hurt because you can ruin a persons good name by spreading horrible stuff like that. This very same child just the year before had a crush on a kid in school that she didn't know his name and affectionately referred to him as "Little Asian boy". Did I think that was a racist comment? Absolutely not. He IS a boy from Asia. It's a factual description. These kids don't have a clue how damaging their accusations can be. I own a business in town. How easily words could spread and ruin my life because our children are being taught that if you so much as point out a fact about someone or something, you must be racist. Don't get me started on how you can't use "He" and "She" any longer...only "They". Um...no.

 

[Alicefan]

That's not a massive overreach or anything.....

OMG people...I used that instead of the cliche "if we don't learn from history we're doomed to repeat it." No no captain Obvious, in exactly 20 years to the day this will happen.

 

[Alicefan]

I get that there are a lot of things that offend someone that don't offend me, and I also get that there are people searching diligently for anything to be offended by. So I try to find a balance between the two.

To me, Zip A Dee Doo Dah is about as happy and harmless as songs get -- but I can understand why some could be offended by the context, and therefore I understand why Disney would cancel it.

But I'm not gonna stop loving the song because to me there is absolutely nothing racial about it. To me, it's just

"Zip A Dee Doo Dah, Zip A Dee A​

My, oh my, what a wonderful day! ​

Plenty of sunshine coming my way​

Zip A Dee Doo Dah, Zip A Dee A!"​

You just described how people used to live their lives. You like what you like, you don't like what you don't like but you don't let a small group of people tell you that you can't like it because they don't. It was pretty simple before people figured out, "hey, if I make a big enough fuss about it...me and my 6 friends here can get attention and then nobody can have it if WE don't like it! It has become a thing to cater to a few when it had always been "majority rules". Before long we'll have nothing.

 

[Alicefan]

Agreed. I will miss the music too. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah was used in a lot of the parades too. Festival of Fantasy uses it. It's so Disney. For me, since it was an original creation and was used for more than just the one movie, I don't see a problem with it, but it's not only my opinion that should be considered, so I do understand.

That's just it. Nobody is asking the people and taking a majority vote. The way of the world now is to lean towards letting a handful of people have their way. Will people stop coming to Disney if they never changed that ride? Nope. It's just Disney jumping on the bandwagon and it's a shame.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Sorry you are "disappointed" (mom?), but there is nothing wrong with feeling nostalgic about something and sad that it's going to be gone. That particular song is very old-school Disney to me personally, brings back a lot of great memories as a kid. I'm kind of sad to hear it's done for. Sue me.

I have been going to Disney parks my entire life. The parks were a huge part of my childhood. I went on to do 2 college programs, travel to WDW often as an adult and now I enjoy bringing my children every year and seeing them discover the wonder and magic of Disney too. So after 36 years of going to WDW, yes I understand feeling nostalgia. As a child, we were at WDW when Splash opened and we rode it in it’s earliest days of opening.

For years I was blissfully ignorant about the origins of Splash. I had no idea. You can’t help what you don’t know. And yet, I am now a grown adult and can recognize that something that’s origins were rooted in racist stereotypes probably shouldn’t have a prominent place in a welcoming place for EVERYONE like Disney parks. A place welcoming to every race, sexual orientation, age, etc.

Again, the Disney parks are NOT museums. They will change. Perspective changes over time. There are many things that used to be done in the past that were considered ok that are not ok now. I am willing to educate myself and evolve instead of holding my ears and yelling “but it’s always been done this way!” Just because something seems innocent and benign to you because you like it, doesn’t mean it is innocent and benign.

It’s very interesting to me that people just cannot accept Disney’s decision here and are just simply unwilling to dig deeper to understand the why.

 

[Karin1984]

I have been going to Disney parks my entire life. The parks were a huge part of my childhood. I went on to do 2 college programs, travel to WDW often as an adult and now I enjoy bringing my children every year and seeing them discover the wonder and magic of Disney too. So after 36 years of going to WDW, yes I understand feeling nostalgia. As a child, we were at WDW when Splash opened and we rode it in it’s earliest days of opening.

And yet, I am now a grown adult and can recognize that something that’s origins were rooted in racist stereotypes probably shouldn’t have a prominent place in a welcoming place for EVERYONE like Disney parks. A place welcoming to every race, sexual orientation, age.

Again, the Disney parks are not museums. Perspective changes over time. There are many things that used to be done in the past that were considered ok that are not ok now. I am willing to educate myself and evolve instead of holding my ears and yelling “but it’s always been done this way!” Just because something seems innocent and benign to you because you like it, doesn’t mean it is innocent and benign.

It’s very interesting to me that people just cannot accept Disney’s decision here and are just simply unwilling to dig deeper to understand the why.

I fully agree with you, however, the only thing I do wonder if Disney is doing this because it is the right thing or pressure from the changing times.

Maybe it doesnt matter in the end, but it makes one wonder. And when will other rides follow? I dont think Dumbo will be removed as the crows are not part of the ride. I do think the indians will be removed from Peter Pan's flight soon after Splash Mountain.
Although, that would mean Disney has to say the reason to change out loud. For Splash they havent said that the reason is the problematic history.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Some, including Walt himself, have argued that Disneyland is a museum.

https://www.dizavenue.com/2015/01/disneyland-is-museum-historical.html?m=1
“The idea of Disneyland is a simple one. It will be a place for people to find happiness and knowledge. It will be a place for parents and children to share pleasant times in one another’s company; a place for teachers and pupils to discover greater ways of understanding and education. Here the older generation can recapture the nostalgia of days gone by, and the younger generation can savor the challenge of the future. Here will be the wonders of Nature and Man for all to see and understand. Disneyland will be based upon and dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and hard facts that have created America. And it will be uniquely equipped to dramatize these dreams and facts and send them forth as a source of courage and inspiration to all the world. Disneyland will be sometimes a fair, an exhibition, a playground, a community center, a museum of living facts, and a showplace of beauty and magic. It will be filled with accomplishments, the joys and hopes of the world we live in. And it will remind us and show us how to make these wonders part of our own lives.” –Walt Disney

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Some, including Walt himself, have argued that Disneyland is a museum.

https://www.dizavenue.com/2015/01/disneyland-is-museum-historical.html?m=1
“The idea of Disneyland is a simple one. It will be a place for people to find happiness and knowledge. It will be a place for parents and children to share pleasant times in one another’s company; a place for teachers and pupils to discover greater ways of understanding and education. Here the older generation can recapture the nostalgia of days gone by, and the younger generation can savor the challenge of the future. Here will be the wonders of Nature and Man for all to see and understand. Disneyland will be based upon and dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and hard facts that have created America. And it will be uniquely equipped to dramatize these dreams and facts and send them forth as a source of courage and inspiration to all the world. Disneyland will be sometimes a fair, an exhibition, a playground, a community center, a museum of living facts, and a showplace of beauty and magic. It will be filled with accomplishments, the joys and hopes of the world we live in. And it will remind us and show us how to make these wonders part of our own lives.” –Walt Disney

Disney had already banned home video sales of Song of the South when Splash Mountain opened. As we all know, they purposely tried to distance the ride from the movie. But, the origin was still there. And they still prominently showcased a song that seems very innocent but very problematic historical origins.

Splash opened at Disneyland in 1989. It’s okay to look back at that decision from 30 years ago and say “hey, maybe using a movie we had already deemed offensive to inspire a ride wasn’t the best idea after all.” It‘s okay to look back and recognize the fact that the ride is inspired by a problematic movie (which they already knew in 1989) and that the same approach wouldn’t hold anymore.

Well, it doesn’t matter. The ride is changing. The song will be gone from music loops. And I bet you’ll all go to WDW again anyway.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Disney had already banned home video sales of Song of the South when Splash Mountain opened. As we all know, they purposely tried to distance the ride from the movie. But, the origin was still there. And they still prominently showcased a song that seems very innocent but very problematic historical origins.

Splash opened at Disneyland in 1989. It’s okay to look back at that decision from 30 years ago and say “hey, maybe using a movie we had already deemed offensive to inspire a ride wasn’t the best idea after all.” It‘s okay to look back and recognize the fact that the ride is inspired by a problematic movie (which they already knew in 1989) and that the same approach wouldn’t hold anymore.

Well, it doesn’t matter. The ride is changing. The song will be gone from music loops. And I bet you’ll all go to WDW again anyway.

I actually don’t have much of a problem with this particular ride and song going away if it makes people uncomfortable. Will I miss them? Yes. Do I understand it? Yes. I do disagree with some of the larger issues at hand, such as rioting, looting, violence and forcing people to do, say and/or believe things they may not agree with because they’re being made to feel that they have to, which seems to be quite prevalent right now. This thread appears to be about both issues, the song and the bigger cultural issues at play.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

It is based on a minstrel song called “Zip (and a word I will not repeat here.)

The reason I don't argue about whether this song is offensive by itself is because I don't think it's clear whether Zip a Dee Doh Dah is in fact taken from Zip Raccoon - Rac. I don't think there's enough documentation to prove whether or not this is true. The story I read was that Walt himself came up with the nonsense chorus. Is it possible Walt was influenced by a minstrel song? Sure. Can it be proven? Not as far as I know.

 

[BrianL]

The reason I don't argue about whether this song is offensive by itself is because I don't think it's clear whether Zip a Dee Doh Dah is in fact taken from Zip Raccoon - Rac. I don't think there's enough documentation to prove whether or not this is true. The story I read was that Walt himself came up with the nonsense chorus. Is it possible Walt was influenced by a minstrel song? Sure. Can it be proven? Not as far as I know.

Yes, this is true. Even the article that was cited here the first time this all came up wasn't conclusive. The tune that was mentioned was "Turkey in the Straw" (used in Steamboat Willie) but with some different lyrics. While I do understand where this all comes from, at the same time, it can also be it's own thing. I've mentioned this before, but these things only have the power that we give them. If we constantly label something as offensive then it becomes offensive, but was it before that became the case? It's a lot to unpack and I mostly play devil's advocate here, but I can see it from both sides.