(Photo: Disneyland)
Splash Mountain to be remodeled for updated Disney princess ride
One of Disney’s oldest and most iconic rides has been the center of controversy for years, but this year, it drew the most attention for its problematic message. The log flume is based on the controversial 1946 film “Song of the South,” which is based upon racial stereotypes. The ride has been at Disney since 1989.
Considering recent happenings in the United Stated and protests coming from fans to retheme Splash Mountain because of what the film is based upon, Disney announced this week that Splash Mountain would be “completely reimagined” to star the characters from the 2009 animated film, “The Princess and the Frog.”
This is a big move for Disney and monumental moments for fans because “The Princess and the Frog feature Disney’s first black princess.
The new changes to the ride will be implemented at Disneyland park in California and Magic Kingdom park in Florida.
The decision to retheme the ride is to make it more “inclusive,” according to Disney, and hopes that it will speak to “…the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.”
The ride will pick up the story of “Princess and the Frog” after “the final kiss” and guests will join Princess Tiana and her trumpet-playing alligator Louis “on a musical adventure.” The ride will feature “some of the powerful music from the film as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance,” Disney stated.
Currently, there is no set date for the new Splash Mountain, but work is already underway.
By: Maytinee Kramer
