The internet was abuzz recently with a viral report claiming that President Donald Trump had issued an order to bring back the original Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland Park. According to the report, this would reverse the reimagining of the Song of the South (1946) ride into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is based on The Princess and the Frog (2009). However, the truth behind the rumors is far from what many social media users believed.
In 2024, Disney introduced Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a reimagining of the iconic Splash Mountain log flume ride at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. The new attraction features returning Princess and the Frog cast members Anika Noni Rose (Princess Tiana), Michael-Leon Wooley (Louis), Jenifer Lewis (Mama Odie), and Bruno Campos (Prince Naveen). Guests embark on an adventure through the bayou with the characters, working together to assemble musicians for a joyous New Orleans-style celebration.
Originally, Splash Mountain was themed around Song of the South (1946), a highly controversial film due to its portrayal of post-Civil War life and racial stereotypes. The ride told the story of Br’er Rabbit’s journey, in which he faced the dangers of Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear before returning home with a triumphant rendition of the song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.” While the ride’s innocent aesthetic and catchy song may have seemed harmless, the film’s association with racial issues led to its long-standing criticism, ultimately leading to the decision to reimagine Splash Mountain in 2020.
The rethemed attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, was Disney’s response to concerns over Song of the South and its problematic legacy. Still, the transition was met with mixed reactions, with some fans of the original Splash Mountain expressing disappointment over its closure.
A satirical article from The Hard Times recently claimed that Donald Trump had signed an executive order to reinstate the original Song of the South-themed Splash Mountain at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. The article’s headline read: “Trump Signs Executive Order Demanding’ Song of the South’ Be Reinstated at Splash Mountain.”
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In the article, the quote attributed to Trump was as follows:
“The way that all-time classic has been treated by Disney is a disgrace. People come up to me at my rallies, tears streaming down their face, can you believe, and they say, ‘Well, sir, the Democrats decided honoring Southern heritage was offensive so they replaced our beloved ‘Song of The South’ with Tiana’s ‘Bayou Adventure,’ and it’s just shameful. And you’ll never guess what happened when they did that. It closed down! You had all these people showing up to Disney going, ‘Who the hell is Tiana?’ and they just leave. They leave the park. If Disney doesn’t do the right thing I hate to think of what might happen to them. Once Pete Hegseth finishes drinking his lunch we’re going to discuss our military options because this is a disgrace.”
If it wasn’t already obvious, the claims in the article were entirely fabricated. No such executive order was signed, and the original Song of the South-themed Splash Mountain is not making a comeback at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort. Yet, the satirical nature of the article did not prevent many social media users from getting excited by the “news.”
One user, @nickmcnamerica, commented, “I love Trump now,” while another, @philzphanz, wrote, “Based. The new ride sucks and Splash Mountain was the best log flume of all time.”
Once again, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is not going anywhere. President Trump has made no statement regarding Splash Mountain’s closure or the reimagining of the attraction, and there are no plans to bring back the controversial Song of the South theme. However, for those nostalgic for the original ride, there is still one place where you can experience it: Tokyo Disney Resort, where Splash Mountain still operates with its classic, controversial theming.
Would you celebrate the return of Splash Mountain at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom Park? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
Absolutely!!!
It never should have been removed!!