Tiana's Bayou Adventure (Now Open)

[UAN17]

what are you even trying to insinuate? Because if I’m reading this right, it’s a very stupid defense.

I’m not trying to insinuate anything in all honestly I just think we’re over analysing a very real world issue in the form of a theme park ride, and that this concept is hugely ridiculous. It’s...just a theme park ride. One that’s been enjoyed by everyone of all nationality, sexuality, colour, religion, for THIRTY years. To find offence overnight, is offensive. But I feel like if you question this decision your intentions are pit up for scrutiny.

It’s just a ride. A good one, that I’d be upset to see ruined. Loving it doesn’t mean I support the (obviously ridiculous) film its tied to.

 

[belloq87]

You seem focused on Chapek. You do understand that Josh is in charge of the parks now, right? I get that Chapek is CEO, but if we are going to keep going back to Chapek for everything, then why weren't we blaming everything Chapek did on Iger for putting Chapek in that position? Iger LOVED the mentality that Chapek brings.

I mean... I do blame Iger for putting Chapek in the positions he's been in. I am no Iger fan (as far as management of the theme parks goes).

I had no idea that thinking Chapek is terrible was a controversial position.

 

[Allison]

I’m not trying to insinuate anything in all honestly I just think we’re over analysing a very real world issue in the form of a theme park ride, and that this concept is hugely ridiculous. It’s...just a theme park ride. One that’s been enjoyed by everyone of all nationality, sexuality, colour, religion, for THIRTY years. To find offence overnight, is offensive. But I feel like if you question this decision your intentions are pit up for scrutiny.

It’s just a ride. A good one, that I’d be upset to see ruined. Loving it doesn’t mean I support the (obviously ridiculous) film its tied to.

It’s literally always been offensive, it’s been said earlier in the post, you’re personally just only noticing it now.

I also don’t think changing it to something more inclusive is “ruining” it, but, here you are.

 

[Legacy]

I’m not trying to insinuate anything in all honestly I just think we’re over analysing a very real world issue in the form of a theme park ride, and that this concept is hugely ridiculous. It’s...just a theme park ride. One that’s been enjoyed by everyone of all nationality, sexuality, colour, religion, for THIRTY years. To find offence overnight, is offensive.

When it comes to things like racism and slavery (and a host of other social issues), they’re always offensive and sit on the “we shouldn’t do condone this” end of the moral spectrum. The only change is how willing individuals and society are in ignoring the wrongness of those things. Splash Mountain as designed was ALWAYS inappropriate, in the same Song of the South was ALWAYS inappropriate.

In that regard, individuals and society can absolutely change what is and isn’t acceptable overnight.

 

[Tbad556]

I’m not trying to insinuate anything in all honestly I just think we’re over analysing a very real world issue in the form of a theme park ride, and that this concept is hugely ridiculous. It’s...just a theme park ride. One that’s been enjoyed by everyone of all nationality, sexuality, colour, religion, for THIRTY years. To find offence overnight, is offensive. But I feel like if you question this decision your intentions are pit up for scrutiny.

It’s just a ride. A good one, that I’d be upset to see ruined. Loving it doesn’t mean I support the (obviously ridiculous) film its tied to.

Just because you never found it offensive doesn't mean this is a new concept.

https://twitter.com/search?q=splash%20mountain%20racist%20until%3A2019-12-31%20since%3A2006-01-01&src=typed_query

And again, Disney has known it was offensive since its inception. The movie was already blacklisted into the vault prior to the ride existing (except for in some countries overseas where Disney continued profiting on it for years to come, but that's a whole different issue). There's no surprise racism here.

 

[WaterToWade]

so the story is you at their wedding and then navigating the bayou until you reach NOrleans and celebrating marti gras? i like it though it seems like no facilier is a little bit of a bummer, he is an iconic villain
Hyped for this ride!

 

[Jones14]

I'm also happy they are doing it after Tiana is turned back human which shows Disney actually did their homework...

Yes, this exactly. She spends two thirds of the movie in frog form, and for that to be repeated in the ride would have been very disappointing to see.

I’m also excited on the basis that this *can’t* be a book report, and with the WDW version sitting at 11 minutes long, they could really swing for the fences in a way that other overlays haven’t been allowed to because of space constraints (Maelstrom, Guardians).

 

[P@n!K_Sw1tC#]

Wait a minute, so some of you think that Disney intentionally designed Splash to offend people?

 

[Nick]

I mean... I do blame Iger for putting Chapek in the positions he's been in. I am no Iger fan (as far as management of the theme parks goes).

I had no idea that thinking Chapek is terrible was a controversial position.

I'm no Chapek fan, trust me. My point is that Josh D'amaro is the one calling the shots at the parks now. Normally we get mad at the people directly in charge of the parks, especially since the CEO is can't be intimately involved with every business sector at all times. Ultimitely, Josh said yes to this is my point so we've eventually gotta start holding the new guy accountable.

 

[Tbad556]

Wait a minute, so some of you think that Disney intentionally designed Splash to offend people?

I mean, there's a difference between thinking they intentionally designed it to offend people and thinking they willfully neglected the fact that cutting most of the harmful aspects of an incredibly racist movie while still developing a main attraction surrounding it is a major problem. Especially when said property was already 40 years old at the time, dated, and blacklisted for being racist.

Or in even simpler terms, intention doesn't stop something from being offensive.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

so the story is you at their wedding and then navigating the bayou until you reach NOrleans and celebrating marti gras? i like it though it seems like no facilier is a little bit of a bummer, he is an iconic villain
Hyped for this ride!

Do we think they'll maybe skip on voodoo aspects since depiction of voodoo may be stereotypical, even though it fundamental to plot of the film (I don't know, just wondering).

EDIT: Maybe they just depict Mama Odie's magic as that is a vaguer and less culturally specific version of voodoo/magic. There are even aesthetic differences between her good magic and the evil voodoo magic.

 

[Nick]

Do we think they'll maybe skip on voodoo aspects since depiction of voodoo may be stereotypical, even though it fundamental to plot of the film (I don't know, just wondering).

EDIT: Maybe they just depict Mama Odie's magic as that is a vaguer and less culturally specific version of voodoo/magic

The ride will be based after the film, so they don't need to touch the voodoo aspects if they don't want.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

The ride will be based after the film, so they don't need to touch the voodoo aspects if they don't want.

Darn, I hope they reconsider. Voodoo is such a fun part of the film. And it would be perfect for projection mapping (with the shadows)! Maybe they show a harmless vision of the past.

 

[UAN17]

When it comes to things like racism and slavery (and a host of other social issues), they’re always offensive and sit on the “we shouldn’t do condone this” end of the moral spectrum. The only change is how willing individuals and society are in ignoring the wrongness of those things. Splash Mountain as designed was ALWAYS inappropriate, in the same Song of the South was ALWAYS inappropriate.

In that regard, individuals and society can absolutely change what is and isn’t acceptable overnight.

I don’t ride Splash Mountain and intrinsically link it to the film, posibily because I’m younger than 60, and I only understand the connection through forums or I wouldn’t ‘get’ the link between the ride and the film at all. I’ve never watched the film, only seen parts of it online, and I’d hazard a guess at that 99.9999% of people who ride and enjoy splash don’t make that association either. I do not imagine many people coming off splash mountain thinking “that was a bit racist wasn’t it?”. From my understanding it’s always been a ‘loose’ link to the film, but it’s never been an aspect I’ve considered whilst on it prior to becoming aware of the links through forums.

I do question how many people who are so offended by Splash mountain, have boycotted the ride over the years?

 

[Nico]

I don’t ride Splash Mountain and intrinsically link it to the film, posibily because I’m younger than 60, and I only understand the connection through forums or I wouldn’t ‘get’ the link between the ride and the film at all. I’ve never watched the film, only seen parts of it online, and I’d hazard a guess at that 99.9999% of people who ride and enjoy splash don’t make that association either. I do not imagine many people coming off splash mountain thinking “that was a bit racist wasn’t it?”. From my understanding it’s always been a ‘loose’ link to the film, but it’s never been an aspect I’ve considered whilst on it prior to becoming aware of the links through forums.

I do question how many people who are so offended by Splash mountain, have boycotted the ride over the years?

I think you’re still missing the point. The people it was important to were always paying attention. Now, the ground swell is due to the additional voices who recognize their prior ignorance or simply didn’t consider the power of the statement. I appreciate that you care about the ride, but the world is moving on.

 

[shiekra38]

Here's my gut reaction half an hour after the announcement:

• Like Frozen this feels like the ride system is alienating those most interested in the experience, which sucks.
• I believe the movie and Tiana deserve their own, from the ground up, new attraction.
• There are lots of great moments from Splash that I hope they can make work with PatF
• Compared to other rethemes I'm excited for this one!
• I'm good with them removing the racist depictions in Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan's Flight while we're at it

Correct, Magic Kingdom needs an enema

Honestly, I'm tired of Disney treating Magic Kingdom like a museum and charging the hell out of people while providing nothing new

And nobody respond to this with a list of new stage shows, parades, or refurbs...You all know what I'm saying

Tron is a good step, this is a good step.

Also, perhaps controversial take...I don't think this is a political move

 

[UAN17]

It’s literally always been offensive, it’s been said earlier in the post, you’re personally just only noticing it now.

I also don’t think changing it to something more inclusive is “ruining” it, but, here you are.

What do you even mean by this? Who said changing it alone to be more inclusive is ruining it? I’ll judge it on its merits when it’s done, but Splash, on any given forum, and on any poll, is renowned as the quintessential ride of its type on the planet, so you'll have to excuse any scepticism that this hastily announced project is going to live up to expectations.

 

[P@n!K_Sw1tC#]

What do you even mean by this? Who said changing it alone to be more inclusive is ruining it? I’ll judge it on its merits when it’s done, but Splash, on any given forum, and on any poll, is renowned as the quintessential ride of its type on the planet, so you'll have to excuse any scepticism that this hastily announced project is going to live up to expectations.

I agree, but it sounds like they did a good job with Frozen so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. I'm always down for adding relevance to existing attractions, especially for the kids. Now I do believe that most people ride Splash for the drop and not the story, and I don't think this will really change that aspect to the attraction of the ride, but I do understand where you are coming from. Sounds like this is something that they've been planning for a while.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I agree, but it sounds like they did a good job with Frozen so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. I'm always down for adding relevance to existing attractions, especially for the kids. Now I do believe that most people ride Splash for the drop and not the story, and I don't think this will really change that aspect to the attraction of the ride, but I do understand where you are coming from. Sounds like this is something that they've been planning for a while.

At least they know they have to do a good job. They are retheming a classic nine minute thrill/dark ride not some small boat ride with niche popularity.

 

[WaterToWade]

I wonder if they’ll keep the current riverboat and make it the boat from the movie where Louis played and Naveen had that rooftop dinner with tiana... a ton of jazz players on it would be awesome