Bittersweet Changes

Permanently closing on Jan. 23, the nostalgic ride “Splash Mountain” at Disneyland will be going through a major retheme due to controversy surrounding it. 

“Splash Mountain opened at Disneyland when I was a guest who had an annual pass. I remember it being one of my favorite rides because of the thrilling drop at the end, I didn’t really think about the association between the cartoon and the ride. Later in highschool, when I watched the cartoon “Song of the South”, I realized that it has racist undertones and it made me question Disney’s decision to use it as a theme for Splash Mountain,” said Rachel Mantuano, a former Disney cast member.

There are many factors that lead to the closing of “Splash Mountain, including the scandal consisting of the ride’s depiction of race. The popular ride was based on the 1946 film “Song of the South”, and opened on July 17 of 1989. It will be renamed to Splash Mountain: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and will reopen in late 2024.

“I am sad to see it go, but I understand that it is offensive. I’m glad it has been brought to Disney’s attention and that they’re taking action. Disney is a large company and has a responsibility to progress with social change. I am proud to have been a part of the company and see that they are becoming more socially conscious.” said Mantuano.