Controversial Names Removed from Magic Kingdom Attraction
Disney removed some controversial names from a Magic Kingdom attraction. Let us know what you think about this change.
Changes to Attractions
Disney has made many changes over the years to its attractions. Sometimes these changes are to improve the attractions. Other times, changes are made to keep up with the current times. Classic attractions such as Splash Mountain and The Jungle Cruise are two such attractions.
Splash Mountain is getting a brand new re-theme and will soon be a "Princess and the Frog" attraction. Fans are torn on this big move. Many prefer the attraction be kept as is, and many can't wait for this welcome change. Many elements have already been removed from the park in anticipation of the refurbishment.
The Jungle Cruise was also drastically altered to get a more modern update. The attraction now has a new backstory that moves towards inclusivity and removes many controversial cultural elements from the ride.
Several years ago, Pirates of the Caribbean underwent refurbishment to drastically alter a controversial scene that was well known on the attraction. The famous "redhead" that we now see as a powerful pirate auctioning off chickens used to be very different. Formerly, this scene featured men auctioning off the woman as a bride.
Now, Tom Sawyer Island is added to the list of attractions with controversial elements removed.
Tom Sawyer Island
Travel by raft to get to a secret hideaway inspired by the stories of Mark Twain. This Frontierland attraction is fun for kids of all ages as they explore the caves and bridges. The raft ride almost doubles as a second attraction! Donna shares why her family loves this attraction so much in this post.
Each raft is named after a Mark Twain character: Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Becky Thatcher, and Injun Joe. However, Disney has recently removed the names from the rafts. In the photo above, you can see what they looked like previously.
For obvious reasons that I don't need to explain, Injun Joe is a very controversial name. By Disney erasing the names, they are looking to appear more up-to-date and inclusive. While many applaud Disney for these efforts, others believe it is erasing history and altering the original book and movie that the attraction is based off of.
What do you think of these changes? Which side of the spectrum do you fall on reading this removal? Let us know in the comments below and on Facebook.
It will be so nice to have less ignorant closed minded people in the parks after more changes are made and they vow never to come back again.
I couldn't have said it any better!!!
Totally agree
I completely agree.
Too late. The magic is gone.
Wow. Could you be any more racist with your comment? BIPOC can't afford to go to theme parks? You're saying they're all poor? No whites are poor???
Walt Disney must be turning over in his grave. You should remember history and appreciate our journey. Are we going to rewrite the Bible next?
The new “Generation: stick to your own crap
is what it was . History has been written,
Let it go . Disney and all you other big corporations, guit jumped hoops, be what you always have
Ya all disappointing
Totally agree..Disney is not the happiest on earth for me any longer. It's certainly not worth the price, standards have lowered..to many fights with woke fools, food quality is lower, to many rules..I'll never go again
Couldn't have said it better, Matthew -- 30 timers -- no interest in ever going back
I sold my DVC! I’m done.
The magic is dead forever. Woke Disney will never receive another dime from me. They cannot take my memories however. Walt is rolling in his grave!
Marci, here's the point. They don't care about us. There is a new generation they are playing to. They are obviously getting them to accept less service and more propaganda for more money. We're dinosaurs, soon to be extinct.
This is beyond disgusting, history being erased .ore & more by incompetent ignorants & has gotten way beyond our if control, now you're screwing up a story from a legendary author UNBELIEVABLE
Do we continue to erase history because it's to make the African Americans of today happy to be acknowledged? I don't understand why things continue to be erased. We learn from our own mistakes and mistakes of those around us. Embrace history and understand that you won't make the mistakes our ancestors did. I never understood Tom sawyer Island but I was never given the opportunity to read the books. Maybe I will now.
As a 72 yo and a former annual passholder I canceled my pass. Disney says they are making "updates" to keep up with the times. That's bull! They are trying to be politically correct and not upset people. Well I'm upset. They are removing mine and so many others great memories. I'm sure Walt and Roy wouldn't like these changes. These are fictional stories people NOT hurting anyone. Bring them back. Kids today won't have any type of imagination.
Very sad what is going on. Disney only trying to appease a minority. Why don't they take a poll before they make these changes to life long stories my parents, my children, my Grandchildren, my Great grandchildren have grown up on. Very sad indeed. Kind of changing my outlook on Disney that's been in my life for 50 years.
Pamela, it's become a game of moral superiority. Essentially, "I care more than you do." There are people out there who don't have enough "real" things to do so they invent causes and a set of rules for them, then they become the leading advocates for them which, in turn, gives them relevance and a feeling of importance and purpose. Actually, it's kind of sad.
Al the Bible is fact not story telling more. Archeological sites have been found to prove the Bible the parting of the Red Sea the mountain in turkey where Noah’s ark rested after the flood the site of sodom and Gomorrah the garden tomb the place where Jesus was crucified and many others so al do not put Disney and the Roman Catholic Church in the same category as the Bible the word of god both Disney and the Catholic Church were created by egotistical narcissistic people sel centered and loved money
Bob, you sound like a real nut. I can order Tom Sawyer from WalMart right now for like $6. The US hasn't banned any of these movies or books that are getting canceled, the free market is dictating that the companies follow the trend or lose sales. If you and your buddy's had the purchasing power, you could get Disney to do anything, including reversing all this "wokeness" that scares you and your compadres.
Same. It’s heartbreaking.
I remember coming out of American Adventure to listen to some yuppies complain about how they should keep religion out of the show... Pushing the pilgrims down our throat... Also they did not understand why the smokehouse had so many meat products... SMH...
Kim, some of us educated folk realize that (in The Song of the South) Uncle Remus (the black story teller) was the hero in the film. The kid Johnny was colorblind (both visually and by his actions) and he charished Uncle Remis as a substitute father.
The real villain/racist was Johnny's mom, who later realized her fault.
Since it's all cancelled now, no one will realize some of the better points of this movie, including that the actor playing Uncle Remis was the first black actor to get an Oscar.
Patricia, maybe we should change Walt Disney World (WDW) to Woke World (WW) to get ride of that racist, zenophobic Walt reference.
Oh, and he smoked too, but Disney kept that buried as well.
I have the movie and book as well and have had my children watch it many times. And what was sad, I had to purchase the movie from England because it was banned in the United States of America. Why do we constantly try to erase history to meet woke expectations of the new world order
I think there was some back story about 'Aunt Jemima' saying similar. She was proud of her accomplishments woth the likeness. It's so annoying how people look for things to offend.
I'm curious. Does anyone know the sctual back story to Song of the South? I do. In fact I have the video tape as well as the book it was based on as well as some other Unvle Remus stories I grew up with. I treasure them still.
They already have! Was just there a few weeks ago. Prices through the roof. No trams from parking lot and walked 2.3 miles to transportation center (can’t use Covid excuse as you sit next to people on rides). Cast members not very pleasant, as they are overworked and underpaid and undertrained. I was shocked at how dirty bathrooms were! WDW cannot use Covid and closure/money as excuses. CEO just received a HUGE multimillion dollar raise!
Ridiculous. Losing faith in Disney more and more.
ITT The amount of people who don't realize Injun Joe is a fictional character written by a white man is astounding.
I don’t know if that is correct. Walt Disney was not woke.
Removing names or Statues or whatever just because someone or some group feels offended? Then they don't understand what HISTORY is all about. Once you start manipulating the historical time and events, how would ANYONE know as to how WE as a society ever got to where we're at. Once history has been removed, then there's no evidence to ever show any proof of our mistakes and how as a society we learned from those mistakes.
Leave the HISTORY ALONE. For those of you out there who feel offended by past history, you need to use it as a learning tool for society and NOT as a "FEELING OFFENDED" issue. Nobody can ever learn anything without past history.
Dear Disney: Nobody cares, you're just virtue signalling to make yourself feel relevent.
Kim, some of the most brutal slave owners in American history were black. You sound silly saying "white people being horrible racists". Our own people sold us into slavery! Do you not know that?! All people are evil. It has nothing to do with race, fool.
The truth is that the "racial slur" is in the book the ride is based on, so, yes. Also that was clearly not what the dude was talking about. You are the type of kid that would erase Americas history of slavery because you don't think slavery is right... Dumb dumb dumb...
The REAL question is, was Injun Joe offended by his "name"? If he wasn't, why is everyone else offended?
If Disney spent as much time on maintenance as it has on quivering social airbrushing, it might not be the joke it's become today.
If Disney spent as much time maintaining their rides as it has socially airbrushing them, it might not be the joke it's become.
What you stated is so very true
Okay, changing “Injun Joe” makes sense. I’m pretty sure he would rather be addressed as “ Native American Joe” or “ First People’s Joe” anyway. But hey, can we at least be grateful does not have a raft that needs to be updated to“ Black-American Jim”?
I'd also be curious to know how many actual "people of color" complained about Splash Mountain and Injun Joe vs "overprivliged" white women attempting to be morally superior to those they consider beneath their social station.
Hey Kim?
How do you "know" I'm white?
Hello!
Racist A LOT
While your at it can we put a pair of pants on Winnie the Pooh? Or can we just have the characters take off their heads in public so the children can know the truth that they don’t exist in reality? Reality is why we go to a Disney Park, it’s a fantasy world based a interpretations of cultural storytelling kind of like the Bible and the Catholic Church or any other religion for that matter. Disney is like a church for a lot of people, you go on special occasions, dress up in special clothes , go with your family as you grow up and the memories are part of your life. You interpret what you like while you follow along and sing songs you know with strangers. Should we cancel all the incorrect, untrue or belief’s/rules we don't agree with anymore? Do we want or allow others to do that to your church? Of course not. Life is too short. Don’t wear pants!
I think they want to remove the name of the person of color, they have no problem with white names, it's white washing under the guise of wokeness.
Disney has gone public about being "Woke".. Disney has always been "Woke". They've just been waiting to go public with it. Never has been a family environment, never will be a family environment
Leave the Park attractions as they were. We went there to have a nice time and enjoy ourselves, not to nit-pick everything apart.. . Apparently some people won't be happy until everything is politicized. That's exactly what's happening. Fix things by firing Chapek! That will be a great start!!
Disney is caving to people, or beings (not to offend anyone that might not be human) who need to be in padded rooms with gentle music. They’ve taken the jungle cruise and ruined it. They’ve absolutely ruined Pirates. Please, PLEASE, I implore you, show me where pirates also acted as antique salesman back in the 1700s. And how ignorant for Disney to erase Spash Mtn when Joel Chandle Harris, the author of Uncle Remus Tales (what song of the south is based off is), literally wrote the stories from first hand accounts told to him by African slaves. They brought the tales with them from Africa making the Uncle Remus tales some of the earliest accounts of African folklore ever recorded in American history. Now please tell me again about erasing a ride based on African American folklore is helpful to pushing whatever narrative they have. If anything, it’s a absolutely disgrace that they couldn’t even muster the creative power to give Tiana her own original, incredible ride. Just change some paint and put her in an existing ride somewhere. Disney has gone down the tubes. It’s wanting more money for less of a “magical” experience. I’ll pass.
Wow. How do you say you white people. You sounding a little racist there.
Are you really saying that BIPOC people can't afford to go to Disney?? Really?? That's mighty racist of you, to assume all BIPOC are racist.
If you only went to Disneyland for the racial stereotypes you should look into booking a KKK rally. Absolutely no woke nonsense there!
The small changes so far haven’t bothered me. I will be very bothered if they ditch American Adventure or Hall of Presidents. I think what’s considered offensive to some is ridiculous. And there are some here who call white people racist while making racist comments themselves. Those are the kind of people who will never have my respect and with whom I will never consider as my equal. Racism is not confined to a specific race. I do not consider Disney a racist company but if they feel they are making improvements to cater to certain people groups, more power to them. I hope they have confidence those people groups can support them If they irritate their their target market badly enough, because at the end of the day, Disney will only cater to the whims of people until it hurts their bottom line, so is it really a social justice issue at all or is it a financial one?
If aunt Jemima is so important, wouldn't your kids want to teach their kids about it? And more importantly, are y'all going to complain about cancel culture or stop going? Nobody cancelled anything, by the way, this is called an "update" and it's how Disney actually continues to attract the kind of people who don't still think all candy should be 10 cents or less and who are actually willing to pay $150 per day for a good experience (but not for some busted 50 year old rides where we have to explain AGAIN why Walt's vision of the future included blatant racist and sexist themes).
Don't get me wrong, my kids will learn history, and as much as possible they will get the other sides to the deeply censored and sanitized versions mainlined to children when and where white supremacists are respected, like what my public school curriculum looked like. They already know enough to ask why there are no women or black people represented in entire sections of theme parks. I don't need to add explaining how we don't just fail to represent entire continents worth of people, we actively portray them the same as we did 50 years ago and glorify some fake view of history over actually dealing with our problems to all the other mushroom food I have to get through just to be a parent in a theme park. If your 70 year old self dreams of having WDW kid free and unchanged then take some pictures and let the rest of us move on.
Exactly!!!!
Ridiculous!!! The attraction is based on Mark Twains books. Want to pretend the books didn’t exist?
That would be sad! I can’t believe there were in fact people complaining the names of the rafts. Really????
What next scratch Walt Disney himself for coming up the ideas?
I think changing the names is insane! This is history, literature. Have we become so soft that future children can't handle the classics? When I was a child and we went to Disney there was no issue with names of boats, pirate characters, etc, This world is full of snowflakes that want to sweep history under the rug. Pathetic. I'm so disappointed in Disney for making these changes..
"This is a common response to people who make stupid threats" "What is 'good riddance'"
Disney stock in the toilet. Politically correct ain't working guys
Try reading Twain before you make ignorant comments about the names in his stories.
The irony here is how racist you are calling us "white folk" and "horrible racists" while trying to "teach us" what is and is NOT racist. If I were to call you "black folk", Id love to see how that goes over. Racism isnt just towards one race. It can be towards ANY race. Yes, even towards whites....get over yourself!
The real question is, did they change the name to Injun Joes' Cave on the island? Cause I'm willing to bet they did not. And I'm likely going to the park in two days, and I'm going to go check.
When the minority rules the majority has no voice! Sad to see my world destroyed by a few woke minds!
It is easy to make insensitive comments when history doesn't effect you.
Disney is slowly destroying itself piece by piece
Do you really consider a racial slur to be “the truth?”
I would bet that 98% of visitors to the parks never even noticed or cared about these things. It's hard to learn from the mistakes in our history if no one knows what that history is. Removing unpleasant parts of our history doesn't make them go away. It actually does a dis-service to those who were wronged.
Cancel culture, cancel morality and common sense, and give in to a woke movement of the sensitive and touchy feelings of the insecure!!!!!
I have never thought there was anything to be learned by erasing the truth.
Next they’ll remove the “MAGIC”☹️
Things like this just cause more resentment than acceptance.
White people arguing about which racist names get to stay. White people arguing about what racism our children should be exposed to in a theme park that's priced so that many BIPOC people can't even afford to go there. White people complaining about "erasing black history and culture" without understanding any of that culture or the people of color who have been exploited to create what white people deem "black history."
All that said, this is a theme park and MAYBE this isn't the best place for you white people to be teaching your kids about history. Including racist names on theme park rides NORMALIZES RACISM. So yes, Disney absolutely should remove all of these things. My kids don't need to be confronted with racist names while they're just trying to enjoy a day at the park. If you want your kids to "learn from history so that they don't repeat it" then make sure your schools are teaching history which, sorry white folk, includes a whole bunch of stuff about y'all being horrible racists. Maybe you shouldn't be expecting a theme park to teach American history.
Disney has turned "woke" liberal. Getting rid of the past, doesn't mean you won't be inclined to repeat it.
Disney constantly changed and updated things the entire time he was alive. He'd be horrified that so many things are the same way they were 60 years ago. You can hear him talk all about it in One Man's Dream.
Most of these comments read like they're from a bunch of uneducated yet privileged white folk.
Did Disney confiscate every print copy of the book?? Wow. Now that's over reach. /s
It's a problematic name, we all know it, Disney is a business and they aren't required to keep up problematic items in their business areas. But the idea that removing things like a sign on a raft with a book character name in a theme park, or on a larger scale, removing statues that glorify racist figures or war criminals from history will make it happen again? Are we only learning of these historical things from theme park rides and moderately skilled rock art?? Oh, that's right. We kinda are since we're in the middle of a push to literally whitewash history. And yes, that was a book reference.
I'll take "Reasons I'll never enter a Disney park again" for 200 please.
Tell the whiners to get a life,they are real ruining this country,,wish I could tell them face to face
The whole world has gone off the deep end. Everyone is offended and entitled except the whites......leave history alone!!!!! I for one will not be going back I remember when it was like $25 to get in.....now over $150.00 crazy.....
Those who choose to forget and erase history are doomed to repeat it.
I'm offended that the character portrayed by Donald Duck as a male has such a bad temper. This stereotypes male ducks and men as bad tempered. Either do away with Donald Duck or make Daisy have a bad temper.
Best reply yet! I totally agree with you, Beth!
Agreed! Everything can be offensive if you are looking for it. As a woman I was not offended by a "make believe pirate" from a setting of a hundreds of years ago auctioning a bride. My foster brothers are American Indians and took no offense to a naming of a raft. It can all be teachable moments if parents are concerned or children have questions. I agree with taking the millions to continue to "update" and put it to better use in our present day community and needs. We learn from our history so we don't make those same mistakes.
This is Disney World / Disney Land. Leave these parks the way that Walt Disney imagined many years ago when we did not have to worry about being "Politically Correct" or hurting drones feeling because of a ride be.
Agreed. I would rather see Disney keep the original content while placing an explaination at the beginning of the ride (explaining why times are different). Then they can take the $$$ they saved and pay CMs a living wage (though Chepak would think he is entitled to a bigger bonus for doing nothing).
Amen!
Good heavens, people, THIS IS A RIDE IN AN AMUSEMENT PARK. I do not think Disney EVER meant to portray acceptance of rape or slavery in any shape, fashion or form. Get off your soapbox and just enjoy the park. You need to realize that every time Disney remodels something to keep your feelings from being hurt, the cost gets passed on to all of us. Suck it up buttercup and just have fun -- if at all possible.
This is not “erasing history.” We do not need to glorify ugly parts of our history like mistreating minority races and women. Times change and so should the parks. Is keeping a stereotype like “Injun Joe” really such an important piece of history to you that you can’t see how it may make Native American guests uncomfortable and unvalued? I’m grateful that Disney continues to view things from a more modern lens to make sure its parks are inclusive.
It is NOT about “erasing history.” Most people don’t want to face dioramas of organized rape and sexual slavery while on vacation, and don’t want to have to explain to their kids why this was part of a fun amusement park attraction. Yes, some men (and a few women) miss the old days when they could act like that and get away with it. Disney did surveys, studies, and focus groups before making any changes. Most people wanted it gone. Choose your battles.
I don't see any of this as erasing history or being 'woke.' Things change, people grow and learn, and the past glory days are often looked at through those ol' rose-coloured lenses (and from the point of view of when we were children ourselves-not as adults with experience). I often wonder about those who stomp their feet about change... shouldn't they see it as learning? And honestly, is a theme park ride's *only* purpose that of nostalgia? Why bother ever building anything new, if that was the case?
"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - M. Angelou
In the last two years we have seen the destruction of monuments and the removal of iconic names from products. Do you think that has made a difference…I don’t think so! Violence and bitterness is worse then ever. This latest attempt by Disney is ridiculous. Try investing the millions $ Disney is making on improving the living conditions of those (black and white) who can’t afford to visit Disney parks and see these changes.
Good to see that Disney disapproves of the likely historically accurate selling off of the red head.
Also interesting is that Disney Management still approves (in the same ride) of waterboarding torture, blowing things up, burning buildings down and theft via pirating (maybe this ride taught today's kids how to riot correctly). It's all good as long as you don't hum "pretty good as sure as you're born".
Something to consider when you are hiking across the parking lot to wait in line for an overpriced ticket (plus Genie / LL adders) and then waiting a few more hours in line when the ride breaks down.
I think there should be one more ride name change to reflect modern times --
Chepak of the Carribean
We're living in George Orwell's book, 1984. They may try, but they can't erase history. Disney has gone 'woke' and I don't like it. "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." -- George Santayana
We must learn from past mistakes - not try to erase or ignore it!
I agree with all of the above that we should not be removing history! History is what happened and you can’t erase events and life. Current and future children will not know the truth about our history and the truth should not be changed. History is just that, history! We learn and go forward but leave our Disney history alone and drop all this “woke” crap!
Where is all of this going to end?
Keep removing...
Rewrite history snd even books. Typical of the new "woke" Disney.
You cannot change history. You cannot rewrite books. And all this is done under the guise of "up to date", "more modern", 'inclusive"!
erasing history is bad all the way around. my grandkids will never know names such as Aunt Jemima and I think that's a shame. She was one of the only female black womenswear of her time to do so much and get so far, I believe we are taking all of that away from her by removing her. It was absolutely not disrespectful to name something after her, in my opinion our society is slowly erasing black history and culture :(