ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A new attraction starring the first Black Disney princess is debuting at the company’s U.S. theme park resorts. Some Disney fans view it as a fitting replacement for a previous ride based on a movie that contained racist elements.
The new attraction updates the storyline of Tiana from the 2009 animated film, “The Princess and the Frog,” and will open this year in the location previously occupied by Splash Mountain. The previous water ride was based on “Song of the South,” a 1946 Disney movie criticized for racist portrayals of African Americans and plantation life.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure retains Splash Mountain’s log-flume ride format but incorporates music, scenery, and animatronic characters inspired by the film set in 1920s New Orleans. It will open to the public later this month at Walt Disney World in Florida and later this year at Disneyland in California.
“For little Black girls, Tiana has been significant. Seeing someone who looks like them is impactful,” said Neal Lester, an English professor at Arizona State University who has studied Tiana.
Disney announced the transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in June 2020, following social justice protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis police custody. The decision was already in progress at the time, although it coincided with a period when many companies were reevaluating or renaming longstanding brands due to global protests.
The film “Song of the South” has faced criticism for its racist portrayals and has not been released in theaters for many years. Disney has also faced criticism for racist depictions in other older films, such as “Dumbo” and “The Jungle Book.” The decision to revamp Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is seen by some as a step in the right direction, although others feel it does not fully address past racial issues in Disney’s history.
The transition from Splash Mountain to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is one of several changes at Disney theme parks to update or remove rides with outdated or offensive storylines. Other attractions, like Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean, have undergone similar transformations in recent years.
Representing a character from a background not previously seen in Disney princesses with the introduction of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is seen as a positive step towards diversity and inclusion. Lester emphasizes the importance of representation in Disney’s attractions.
Mike Schneider’s book, “Mickey and the Teamsters: A Fight for Fair Unions at Disney,” was published in October by the University Press of Florida. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
