Congrats?
Listen, I've been pretty impressed with the #blacklivesmatter movement. I being African American want to see change. It's great people are demanding change for an issue that's been swept under the rug for far too long.
That said, I don't think they should re-theme Splash Mountain with the Princess and the Frog. Now before you get mad here me out.
Yes, I understand people are upset about the rides racist roots. Yes, I understand Tiana is a strong Princess who deserves her own ride in the parks. And yes, I understand this is growth for Disney.
But consider this.
1.) I dunno it feels like some handout. Like shouldn't Tiana have her own ride entirely instead of being used to cover up racially controversial ride? Like they only chose her to replace the ride because they figured she'd appease the people the ride currently offends. (If you catch what I'm saying) This girl was all about putting the work in to make her dream happen. Instead of working to create a new ride in honor of her story, her story feels like it's just a new paint job. Was her story chosen to replace splash mountain because it was a good fit or for other reasons?
2.) Tiana's dream was to open a restaurant. Why not instead of a ride give the Princess what she dreamed of in Liberty Square? Have beignets and a jazzy New Orleans vibe restaurant. At an affordable price, like the princess would have wanted.
3.) I read Disney's release statement saying they'd been planning this update for almost a year. So what? Was the original tweet just to create buzz so that when they changed the theme it would seem like the people's idea? I don't know if kind of suspicious if you ask me.
4.) Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm kinda assuming more than 5o% of the people advocating for the change had never heard of Song of the South until this was brought up. Like I asked my co-workers who are all at least 4 years older than me and they had no clue the movie existed. I was the only one out of 12. Soo... the ride kind of existed too many as its own thing separate from the movie all ready.
5.) By replacing the ride entirely, it feels less like Disney is owning their mistake and more like they're trying to forget it. Maybe instead of replacing the story you fix it so it isn't racist rewrite the characters. Fix the problem instead of covering it up with something shiny and new. Perhaps giving the characters new names, improved dialects, and a story all their own is the right way to go.
6.) Where am I going to hear Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Da? It's kind of a park classic, that'll leave me feeling incomplete if I don't hear it somewhere in the park.
7.) If they are going to redo the ride are they still going to own up to what they did. For me personally they should or they should just consider number 5. Will there be a plaque for people to read while in line that basically says they messed up. They made a ride that hurt many people. They know this won't fix what they did, but they want to be better.
8.) It's a classic Disney ride. They've already taken away so many classics. The Great Movie Ride, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, etc. This is one ride I want my kids to enjoy. And they later want to educate them on its history. This one was a big part of my childhood and I want it to be a part of my children's.
9.) Also if they really want to make a statement maybe the profits made off the Splash Mountain Merchandise that's seein a price increase, should be donated to the BLM movement.
10.) My biggest fear is that by replacing the ride many will forget what was once there. And just let Disney off the hook. They'll forget the history. They'll forget the story. And when we forget history, we often repeat it.
"History is who we are and why we are the way we are." ~David McCullough
No amount of guilt can change the past and in order to move forward we can't forget it. Any way... There's my rant on that. I'm sure you all have your opinions. I just ask that you respect mine. And could you imagine a Tiana, New Orleans style restaurant? God, I'd love it.
Also I do love Disney I do. But they doesn’t feel like they’re respecting the character it feels like they’re using her because she appeals to a group of people they’ve offended. Tiana deserves her own ride made from scratch and her own god damn restaurant. Thank you for listening to my rant.