One of Disneyland California's classic rides is set to close forever after being branded racist. Splash Mountain at Disneyland California is set to follow in the steps of their Disney World Orlando park in closing the historic attraction.
The iconic ride is set to make a splash for the last time at the end of May, before being redeveloped to feature a storyline with Disney's first African American princess - Princess Tiana.
Splash Mountain is based on the 1946 Disney film 'Song of the South', and sees riders boarding a log flume to follow Br'er Rabbit to his 'laughing place', pursued by Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox.
The ride consists of more than 100 talking, singing and storytelling animatronics, while classic Disney songs including 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah' play in the background.
With around 950,000 gallons of water and three dips, the ride ends with a five-storey drop. Song of the South has never been released on video or DVD, with CEO Bob Iger himself branding it "offensive".
The film is set on a plantation, and features an elderly Black man, known as Uncle Remus, who tells traditional African American folk tales to white children being cared for by Black servants.
Many had concerns over the ride's links to a film which showed racist stereotypes and portrayals of African Americans in the post-Civil War south.
The Orlando Magic Kingdom version of the ride closed on January 23, 2023, with the Disneyland California version set to close its doors on May 31.
It's expected the rides will reopen in late 2024 following heavy redevelopment to become Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
The new attraction will bring guests into the world of The Princess and the Frog, with some of the film's original cast members returning to lend their voices to the ride. Anika Noni Rose will return to voice Tiana, Bruno Campos as Naveen, MIchael-Leon Wooiley as Louis, the jazz-playing alligator, and Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie.
The reopening will coincide with new restaurant, Tiana's Palace - based on the iconic restaurant Tiana is working to open in the film - which will replace the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square.
According to D23, more details have recently been announced about the highly anticipated new ride. There will be brand new original Disney characters as part of the ridde, with distinct names and personalities, along with dozens of Audio-Animatronics figures lining the route.
New original music will also feature on the ride, alongside much-loved favourites from the hit 2009 film.
In typical Disney fashion, no detail is going unnoticed. Just as delicious scents are pumped down Main Street in Orlando, the smell of beignets being prepared for a party will waft through the queue for the ride.
The ride will build on the story of Princess Tiana, the studio's first Black princess, who embodied hard work to achieve her dreams as she gets ready for her first ever Mardi Gras performance.
In order to get things just right, Walt Disney Imagineers visited Louisiana, exploring the French Market to the bayou, talking with academics, chefs, musicians and cultural institutions.
During a panel at ESSENCE Fest in Louisiana on July 1, 2022, executive producer of relevancy activations at Walkt Disney Imagineering Charita Carter said: "In many ways, Tiana's Bayou Adventure is a love letter to New Orleans.
"Like the musical city that inspired this attaction, Tiana's second act is about a community working in harmony to achieve something extraordinary..
"She reminds us of an immutable truth we can all relate to: 'If you do your best each and every day, good things are sure to come your way.' And that'sa melody we can all sing along to!"
One of Princess Tiana's new looks for the attraction sees her sporting gaiters, boots and a straw grass cloche hat - all researched extensively for authenticity.
Costume designer Ida Muldrow told D23: "The goal was to be authentic. Even though it is a fairy tale, it's extremely important to bring out the pride and the dignity of the African American culture at the time."
