As fans get ready for the iconic Disneyland ride Splash Mountain to close at the end of May, the company revealed details for the new ride that will take its place.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be coming to both Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. The new attractions will take inspiration from the animated Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog” (2009).
“The magic of the bayou is calling, so listen closely because we’re ‘digging a little deeper’ into the experience guests can expect from the future attraction coming to Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure,” a recent Disney blog post says.
“The enchantment of the bayou will illuminate with a celebration during Mardi Gras season hosted by Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen. And today, I’m thrilled to announce that Mama Odie will reprise her role as the catalyst to that magic,” wrote Carmen Smith, the senior vice president of creative development.
Splash Mountain is being shut down following criticism that it included “stereotypical racist tropes.” Florida’s version of the popular attraction closed in January after 30 years in operation.
The ride was modeled after Brer Rabbit’s adventures in the 1946 “Song of the South” Disney film, which has since come under scrutiny for not being an accurate representation of life on a plantation.
“Song of the South” is set in Reconstruction-era America during a time when slavery had been abolished following the Civil War. The character Uncle Remus is not a slave but is sharing stories with a 7-year-old boy named Johnny, who is visiting his grandmother’s plantation.
“I’ve felt, as long as I’ve been CEO, that ‘Song of the South’ was – even with a disclaimer – was just not appropriate in today’s world,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said during a March 2020 shareholders meeting. Former executive secretary of the NAACP, Walter White, said the movie “helps to perpetuate a dangerously glorified picture of slavery.”
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Splash Mountain’s replacement is described as “inclusive” for all theme park visitors.
“Tiana is a modern, courageous, and empowered woman, who pursues her dreams and never loses sight of what’s really important,” a 2020 blog post from Disney explained of their decision to replace Splash Mountain.
“And with this longstanding history of updating attractions and adding new magic, the retheming of Splash Mountain is of particular importance today. The new concept is inclusive — one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.”
The new attraction is scheduled to open in 2024.
Disclosure: The Daily Wire has announced plans for kids entertainment content.