Disney plans to update its Splash Mountain attractions at both Disney World and Disneyland with a new “Princess and the Frog” theme. The Princess and the Frog movie was released in theaters in 2009, and is set in 1924 New Orleans.
This announcement comes after some have raised concerns about the stereotypes found in the 1940s Disney movie “Song of the South,” which is the inspiration for the attraction.
The new story will start up after the final kiss between Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen at the end of the movie. It will follow Tiana and Louis, the alligator who plays the trumpet, as they get ready for Mardi Gras.
Plans Started Last Year
It turns out that Disney Imagineering has been working on a Princess and the Frog theme for the attraction since last year, and internally made the decision to make the change in the summer of 2019 – well before the current protests surrounding George Floyd’s death.
Change Over Will Time
Disney has not released a date for the change, but the attraction in the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland will likely reopen from the Coronavirus shutdown with their original themes. These types of changes take time to plan and execute.
Disney will soon begin initial work to prepare for the change.
Imagineering Leadership
Disney Imagineer Charita Carter will lead the change. She most recently worked on the development of Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railway, which opened in Disney’s Hollywood Studios shortly before the Coronavirus shutdown.
Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter, who helped develop the original attraction, will be a creative adviser on the makeover project.
Glad to hear Splash Mountain will be rethemed to Princess and the Frog?