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© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Attraction starring Disney's first Black princess replaces ride based on film many viewed as racist
By MIKE SCHNEIDER ORLANDO, Fla©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
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dagon
I can hear the screams of the anti-woke already.
Meanwhile the King of anti-woke just made sure Disney gets massive corporate welfare for its next project.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/disney-floridas-desantis-end-spat-with-deal-15-year-expansion-plan-2024-06-13/
So please scream about representation as you bow down to your corporate masters and their political lackeys.
Toblerone
We might see the impulse to replace rather than dismantle or build anew as a metaphor for structural racism, too,” Kapurch said. “Again, this is unintentional on Disney’s part, but the observation gets to the heart of how Disney reflects America back to itself.”
Toblerone
Cuckoo!
fallaffel
I don't think anyone believes this. Actually it's pretty commendable that Disney changed the entire theme of the ride just because the song was inappropriate. They could have easily just changed the song.
TokyoLiving
The toxic culture again...
Quo Primum
I hear Disney is planning a remake of 101 Dalmatians with a cast of black Labradors.
Actually, I‘m okay with the black princess thing. But Disney ‘gaying up‘ its productions so as to sexualize and groom kids is quite another thing.
Samit Basu
I was lucky enough to ride the Splash mountain on both coasts before the closure and remodeling.
At least Tokyo Disneyland doesn't care about political correctness and won't remodel Splash Mountain.
I just hope Disney doesn't touch the Snow White's Enchanted Wish after the new feminist Snow White Live Action movie.
Snow White's Enchanted Wish is a target of remodeling call after the non-consensual kiss controversy, which claims the prince charming kissing Snow White to revive her amounts to a sexual assault and Snow White should have been left sleeping instead.
bass4funk
This is different from being woke, this move is noteworthy and actually a positive step over something that was culturally insensitive.
Yes, because Disney stopped pushing the LGBTQ issue heavily, good on DeSantis, they still have a way to go, but they’re slowly learning their lessons and will keep going n learning them, you go woke, you go broke. Look at Disney’s latest record breaking flop, Star Wars-“The Acolyte”
that movie is such a massive politically driven train wreck, they essentially ticked off Star War fans across the globe and for what reason? To make it a feminist, lesbian assault on men? They actually thought people would like it?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2024/06/11/the-acolyte-episode-3-review-the-worst-star-wars-episode-ever-made/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/the-acolyte-brutally-slammed-with-star-wars-record-low-audience-score-on-rotten-tomatoes/ar-BB1nK31F
No, no need, but the good thing is that this will provide thousands of new jobs, so it is a positive good first step in the right direction, more work needs to be done though.
bass4funk
That’s the biggest complaint about Disney, for some stupid reason they think that if they just continue to shove this crap down our throats we will eventually accept it and that’s never going to, so if they want to continue to make flops, then more people will boycott Disney altogether. The LGBTQ agenda is just never going to win Disney fans over, that’s just a reality fact.
owzer
Getting a new themed ride is fine. But Song of the South was objectively a better movie than the Frog Princess.
Antiquesaving
The criticism of The Acolyte is far less about it being lesbian or lgbtq despite what the actors and directors tried to say.
The real problem and the real criticism is the fact that suddenly the Jedi are the bad guys or should I put it more precisely? All the men or male Jedis are the bad guys.
What Disney was thinking by making the Jedi and primarily all the men bad guys and expecting people to go "Oh great! What a good show" is mind-boggling
bass4funk
Sorry, but you’re just flat out wrong and this is not just my opinion, is everywhere and in multiple languages. The LGBTQ and gender politics issue needs to stop. No one is interested in it, and it doesn’t belong in Star Wars. Yeah, just when you saw Disney couldn’t stoop any lower, they really hit granite rock-bottom, I sincerely hope they learn their lesson this time, don’t fix anything that was never broken.
That is another part of the reason as well, not going to quibble with you on that
Yes, that is true as well. But not sure if they can recover from this, I really hope they learned their lessons this time.
Fighto!
Owzer-
With the greatest respect - you do realize these films are made for kids to watch, right?
Speed
Let's just completely erase history. The Song of the South portrayed a racist time in American history. No one's promoting we go back to those times and mindset. The ride is a lot of fun. Just let it be. Stuff the Frog whatever.
owzer
The Song of the South imparts timeless morals and lessons that resonate across generations. To suggest it was intended solely for children would overlook its depth and universal appeal. Through Uncle Remus's guidance, characters learn the values of respect, understanding, and unity, regardless of background. The film encourages critical thinking, wise decision-making, and emphasizes the strength found in family and community. These themes make The Song of the South a meaningful and relevant viewing experience for audiences of all ages.
On the other hand, "The Princess and the Frog" is rife with stereotypes, portraying voodoo and African-American culture through the antagonist, Dr. Facilier. Its romanticized depiction of the Antebellum South, marked by slavery and segregation in American history, overlooks historical complexities and harsh realities. The rushed transformation of Tiana and Prince Naveen into frogs results in limited character development, and the film's weak character arcs further detract from its narrative impact.
"The Song of the South" stands out as a superior film compared to "The Princess and the Frog," offering timeless morals and a universal appeal that transcends age groups. Its depth of themes and character development surpasses the problematic stereotypes and narrative weaknesses found in the latter.
Jimizo
?
So, ‘The Princess and the Frog’ it is then.
owzer
So you're in favorite of stereotypes, romanticizing slavery and segregation and bad writing?
Jimizo
Haven’t seen the film so I can’t judge if your subjective opinion and representation of it is accurate.
I find that knowing what someone with a very predictable set of viewpoints thinks of a particular film, artist etc can be a useful guide.
I just found ‘The Princess and the Frog’ more interesting after reading your post.
Gene Hennigh
All this fussin' and fighten' over a Disney movie. On the one hand, sensitivities change over time. What's wrong with adjusting to that? On the other hand, some things are better remembered to show how things really used to be. Be careful about rewriting history. Some things we see are lessons history has not yet taught. There are some things better to change. There are some things better left to remember.
Nicolò
The next princess could be a 50-year-old Asian American who thinks he is in her 20s.
Gene Hennigh
Ah, Nicolo, now you've gone to far. A princess who thinks she's a he is far, far too woke for some people.
owzer
Well, if slavery and segregation are your thing, that would make sense. Enjoy!
Seth Majer
The ones that scream about the anti-woke are the same ones that don't pay a dime for they cause they supposedly support.
kurisupisu
As long as Snow White isn’t ‘white’ but ‘black’ then it’s all fine….
Anonymous
Does “everybody” include minor-attracted adults?
moonwatcher
There's mountains in Louisiana?
starpunk
Every group of people needs inspiration. That never hurt anyone.
One bigger issue: how about lowering the admission rates? When I visited there in 1985, it was $17 to get in. $100 is obscene. And as for the 'woke'/'anti-woke' biz, Ron DeSassy the Scream Queen/Drama Queen/maybe Closet Queen needs to shaddup and due his governor duties. He's been negligent on those matters when the pandemic was raging! Loser.