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.