Blog #446: Why “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” Serves as a Cautionary Tale of “Nec
- Jeffrey Snyder
- Jun 14, 2024
- 5 min read
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For anyone who either runs or is part of any business, big or small, we all have that desire to want to grow our business according to our own personal or what best serves the general public. This can range from retail to transportation to hospitality to the theme park industries. We all have to adjust our businesses to sometimes accommodate outside changes in society, but sometimes we end up being viewed as the changes we make can result in backlash.
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That’s the case with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the updated version of Splash Mountain that is set to open at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the United States at the end of this month. The attraction is based on the 2009 film “The Princess and the Frog” whereas the original Splash Mountain is of course, based on the animated segments of the 1946 film, “Song of the South.”
Taking a first look at the updated Splash Mountain, I often look to myself and say that while I think the intentions are good, such as giving “The Princess and the Frog” a little bit of respect as one of the last great hand drawn film, some of the execution is a little off such as a missed opportunity to include the song, “Friends on the Other Side,” as you are getting ready to make the drop. Some may also argue that Disney ruined the ride by retheming to “The Princess and the Frog,”
That is to say that the heart was there, but I think that the key here is that while the intentions are good, the execution of this business decision by Disney will be criticized to an extent. In fact, every business will often make questionable decisions that will not be fully embraced by the general public, especially if the decision affects something that has been embraced for generations.
Being a neurodivergent business owner, I sometimes make questionable decisions that will often be scrutinized much to my chagrin. There have been plenty of decisions that I made already that are often questioned that I feel were right, but others felt were wrong. I mean, take my time in the Brony Fandom for example. I knew from the beginning that I wasn’t going to make any money by attending these conventions and writing fanfictions based a pastel-colored cartoon about horses that everyone who wasn’t in the fandom found bizarre and strange.
I also knew that I wasn’t going to make any money being around people in the fandom that have shady if not questionable behaviors as well as never being able to do never live up to the expectations that I hold myself towards. You might say that my time in the Brony Fandom was more of an internship towards what made Going the Distance what is today and you might be absolutely correct.
You may also say the same about “Pokemon,” because some view it as a complete waste of time for kids. Or how about Taylor Swift as some people find her annoying? People don’t make money off of attending Pokemon conventions or Taylor Swift concerts, but they are steppingstones to people who have a desire to do something like voice acting, being an animator or even an aspiring singer.
Not everyone likes “Pokemon” or Taylor Swift, but it’s something their fans enjoy and become a foundation for their true passions.
Some people liked Splash Mountain the way it was and that it was a foundation for their own true career passions and goals such as being a Disney Imagineer, being a history teacher (as Song of the South takes place AFTER the Civil War) or even those who want to take a deeper look into African American histories.
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Was the decision to retheme Splash Mountain questionable? Well, yes and no in the sense that “Song of the South” has never been seen by a wide audience and that Disney wanted to update the attraction with something that people have seen before such as “The Princess and the Frog.” Plus, in this day and age, there needs to be an attraction that feels more inclusive while not shoving it down the attendee’s throats.
On the other hand, by doing this change, Disney has also set themselves up for criticism in the sense that many people have been introduced to Joel Chandler Harris’ stories through Splash Mountain since it’s opening in 1989 and in fact, many of my generation have been introduced to “Song of the South” by Splash Mountain.
For that matter, many have been introduced to “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” by this attraction or when the song was featured on the “Disney Sing Along Songs” series of the 1980’s and 1990’s.
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In fact, those of my generation who are neurodivergent will often have a hard time accepting change to the fact that characters like Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear have been replaced by Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis the Alligator and Mama Odie. I also think that some neurodivergent individuals and families as well as neurotypical families and individuals who come to Disneyland and Walt Disney World exclusively for Splash Mountain and no other attraction will probably never return to the Disney Parks because of it.
Now, let’s be real here, if you make a business decision, are you going to expect everyone to love the idea and be on board with it? The answer to that question will be no. Just because Person A likes the decision doesn’t mean that Person B will. Person A liked the idea of “The Princess and the Frog,” and Person B liked the idea of “Song of the South.”
I, myself, have Person A and Person B who says things one way and I say another way to make my business grow. But it’s important that I hear what Person B has to say and then take the advice that Person B has said and incorporate it into making “Going the Distance” grow.
Disney did the same thing in this scenario and again, not everyone is going to enjoy the idea of converting Splash Mountain from the tales of Uncle Remus to New Orleans in the early 20th century.
Some may also argue that taking away “Song of the South” from Splash Mountain takes away any educational value that the attraction had of what life was like after the Civil War. But there is educational value in “The Princess and the Frog” as well as that film gives it’s audience a look at what life was like in New Orleans during the early 20th century.
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But, at the same time, Walt Disney himself said that Disneyland will always keep changing and I get that Disney itself is trying to honor what it’s namesake declared. Still, I can’t help but wonder what Walt would think of how his company is being run today?
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Catch you all later!!
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