ORLANDO, Fla. – There are growing calls for Walt Disney World to change the theme of its popular log flume ride Splash Mountain.
The attraction is based on the 1946 Disney film “Song of the South," which has been criticized for its stereotypes of black people.
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If you haven’t heard of the film, you’re not alone. The movie has been removed from all viewing platforms and was not included on Disney+.
Splash Mountain follows happy-go-lucky Br’er Rabbit as he looks for his “laughing place.” All the while, Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox are in hot pursuit Br’er Rabbit. The cruise ends with a 5-story splashdown into a thorny Briar Patch.
The film features Disney’s iconic tune “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”.
Numerous petitions have popped up online recently, CNN reports, calling for Disney to remove all mentions of the movie from the attraction.
One idea bouncing around social media is a total theme change to the ride -- and fans are looking to Disney’s film “The Princess and the Frog”.
Disney’s 2009 film about a frog prince wanting to be human again was the first Disney film to feature a black princess and the last to feature traditional hand-drawn animation.
One Disney fan went to Twitter to exhibit his concept for a “Princess and the Frog” themed ride.
Princess and the Frog Splash Mountain retheme for Disneyland thread. Just put on the soundtrack and a splash ridethrough while reading this. pic.twitter.com/8z5wOalyB7
— Frederick Chambers (@FreddyFromBatuu) June 9, 2020
As of Thursday, over 8,000 people signed a Change.org petition to retheme the attraction.
The attraction is located at both Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in California.