Splash Mountain is a Disney theme park attraction inspired by the film, Song of the South.
The film’s main theme song, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” is heard throughout the log ride. The song also plays during the background music loop at the main entrance and Downtown Disney in Disneyland Resort. Disney recently announced Splash Mountain will be transformed into a ride based on The Princess and the Frog at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Disney has removed “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” from Disneyland’s music loops and also updated the website to remove references to Song of the South.
Orange County Register issued Disney’s statement in regards to the song’s removal: “The removal of the song from Downtown Disney’s background music is part of a continuous process to deliver an environment that features stories that are relevant and inclusive.” Disney has also removed the reference to the film in the description of the attraction on Disneyland.
The website previously described Splash Mountain as a “delightful log flume ride featuring characters and songs from the classic Disney film ‘Song of the South.’” The website now states: “Glide past over 100 talking, singing, storytelling Audio-Animatronics critters who inhabit Splash Mountain and offer up their own slice of down-home culture. Sing along to classic Disney ditties, including ‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.’” The new description references the main theme song from the film, but not the film itself.
Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation are working together to create a new story for The Princess and the Frog re-theming. The story will be an epilogue of Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen after their final kiss.
Splash Mountain is set to reopen in its current state when Disneyland opens to the public again. There’s no clear indication when the attraction will close for renovation for either Disneyland or Disney World. We’ll continue to keep you informed on the re-theming and construction dates as we are updated.
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Is this attempted erasure of historically problematic culture and art truly the way to do better in the future? I’m all for adding The Princess and the Frog attraction, but to bury The Song of tne South film, pretend that Disney is ashamed of Zip a Dee Doo Dah is more white washing that simply does more harm than good. Adding perspectives and reflecting more Americans’ contributions doesn’t necessitate deleting others. I’m sure there’s no law that states the background music must have a certain # of songs. For Pete’s sake. You’re just giving ammo to the great replacement hogwash.
Neither the ride itself nor the soundtrack ever endorsed the uncomfortable truths of the Song of The South movie. As such it has always been perceived by people to be just a joyous experience with animatronic critters taken from Uncle Remus’s stories. It had no negative influence and only a very tenuous link to anything remotely sinister. It’s replacement has little to do with Frontierland although it will satisfy the brief for Critter Country. I would’ve preferred that it remained as the Splash Mountain we all love.
Ridiculous! That’s a great classic song. Disney is just bowing down to people who just want to hate and find things to complain about in everything. What’s next??