ONE of the most iconic attractions in the Disney theme park canon has been eliminated.
By next year, the Splash Mountain rides at Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida will both be replaced by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
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The new ride is based off the animated film The Princess and the Frog, Disney reported in a blog post.
It will take many design cues from the Louisiana Creole culture the movie was inspired by.
Disney decided to do away with Splash Mountain last year amid widespread criticism that the ride promotes racial stereotypes, Fox News reported.
The attraction is centered on the character Br'er Rabbit from the 1946 film Song of the South, which has long been critiqued for its cheery portrayal of plantation life for African Americans.
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"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 in 2020, according to Fox News.
Although Splash Mountain in Disneyland will remain open until May 31, crews have already begun dismantling the version of the ride at Disney World in California this week, Chip and Co. reported.
Disney released concept art of what the new ride may end up looking like last week.
Fans of Splash Mountain took to Twitter to share that despite the plans for the new ride they thought it would always be referred to by fans as Splash Mountain.
@xMuffinox tweeted: "It will always be back then, now and in the future be referred to as Splash Mountain."
@Jediwhit82 tweeted: "Still hate the name Tiana’s Bayou adventure. Splash Mountain was an iconic name and had nothing to do with song of the south they should have just kept the name. Instead of the most boring and generic ride name I’ve ever heard in my life."
Sharika Mahdi, a prominent artist based in New Orleans, is helping the company's team of Imagineers design the ride.
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"The magic of the bayou is calling, so listen closely," said Carmen Smith, Disney's senior vice president of creative development.
"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,"
"The enchantment of the bayou will illuminate with a celebration during Mardi Gras season hosted by Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen.
"I’m thrilled to announce that Mama Odie will reprise her role as the catalyst to that magic."
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