Disneyland Quietly Revives “Canceled” Character

Clear Facts:

• The classic Splash Mountain ride, originally themed after the 1946 film Song of the South, is undergoing a radical transformation to incorporate elements from the 2009 film, The Princess and the Frog.
• Despite the intended removal of the Song of the South characters, Br’er Fox has unexpectedly appeared at a Disneyland pressed penny machine, causing a stir among Disney traditionalists.
• Alongside the thematic changes, strange occurrences including unexplained fires and missing tools have been reported at the construction site, fuelling further debate around the transformative process.

Splash Mountain, a well-known attraction at Disneyland and Disney World, is currently caught in the midst of a heated cultural transformation.

The iconic ride, initially inspired by the 1946 Disney film Song of the South — which has been subject to criticism for its controversial depictions — is undergoing a full re-theme to reflect the 2009 film, The Princess and the Frog.

This decision follows a 2020 petition which sought to change the ride’s theme due to allegations of it “romanticizing the Antebellum South.”

It read, “While the rides [sic] storyline is not an exact version of the movies [sic] plot line it is derivative from it, the characters, the songs and locations are all main features of the ride.”

Disney acknowledged the change in 2020, with a spokesperson insisting that “The new concept is inclusive–one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year … Tiana is a modern, courageous and empowered woman, who pursues her dreams and never loses sight of what’s really important.”

However, the sudden resurfacing of the Song of the South character, Br’er Fox, suggests a peculiar clash of narratives.

Despite the character’s removal from the ride, Br’er Fox is available at a pressed penny machine at The Mad Hatter Shop on Main Street, raising eyebrows among guests who value the legacy of ‘old Disney days.’

Meanwhile, odd occurrences reported at the construction site of the reimagined ride have fueled further controversy.

Anecdotal accounts detail tools mysteriously disappearing and reappearing, unexplained fires, and even a small explosion.

These incidents have been the source of speculative amusement among park insiders, although official confirmation is still pending.

As Disney navigates the choppy waters of cultural revision, fans await the unveiling of the new ride next year — along with the answer to whether or not these incidents are merely a coincidence, or something more symbolic.

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