His pitch: Swap out the “Song of the South” theme for a “Princess and the Frog” backstory.
LOG FLUME RIDE AT ANIMAL KINGDOM UPDATE
The move by Disney follows a flurry of social media buzz to update Splash Mountain’s controversial backstory amid social justice protests across the United States sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.Īn online petition signed by tens of thousands of supporters called on Disney to retheme Splash Mountain to “Princess and the Frog.” The clamor began with a social media post by Disneyland cast member Frederick Chambers detailing his armchair Imagineering proposal for a complete overhaul of Splash Mountain. “I look forward to being a part of a new adventure in Disney magic and fun.” “The attraction will be one to be proud of,” Baxter said in a statement. Three decades later, Baxter will serve as a creative adviser on the planning and design for the “Princess and the Frog” makeover of Splash Mountain. “I am delighted to be a part of bringing this fun-filled experience to our guests.”Ĭhildhood memories of watching “Song of the South” inspired Imagineer Tony Baxter’s initial idea for Splash Mountain that opened at Disneyland in 1989, according to Disney’s D23 fan club. “Like Princess Tiana, I believe that courage and love are the key ingredients for wonderful adventures,” Carter said in a statement. The Splash Mountain makeover will be led by Imagineering senior creative producer Charita Carter, who is also working on the new Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railway dark ride set to debut at Disneyland in 2022.
Imagineering will soon begin preliminary reviews of the Splash Mountain attractions at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom and conduct digital scans of the individual ride layouts. Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative arm of the company, has been developing a “Princess and the Frog” backstory for Splash Mountain since last year and settled on many of the concepts for the reimagined attraction last summer. Disney World will begin a phased reopening of its theme parks on July 11.
Disney had proposed reopening the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks on July 17, but the reopening of the parks have been delayed pending government approval. The Splash Mountain rides on both coasts will return with their existing back stories when Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom eventually reopen following extended coronavirus closures.ĭisneyland has been closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “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.”Ī date has not been set for the debut of the Splash Mountain ride makeovers. “The retheming of Splash Mountain is of particular importance today,” according to a statement posted to the Disney Parks Blog. The Splash Mountain log flume rides at Disneyland in Anaheim and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida will be transformed with a new theme based on the 2009 “Princess and the Frog” animated movie, according to Disney.
LOG FLUME RIDE AT ANIMAL KINGDOM MOVIE
Disney will update the Splash Mountain rides in the United States with a new “Princess and the Frog” theme following an online debate about the undertones inherent in the current backstory based on the controversial 1940s Disney movie “Song of the South.”
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