I've been thinking for some time about this, and wondered if I should post my thoughts, because I generally don't like delving into sensitive topics, and honestly, this is one that's been turned controversial due to the ridiculous political affiliations having a difficult time using verbal self-control. There is one part of our culture that I'm not too fond of, and that's the inclination to spout out everything you think, regardless of the detrimental influence it might cause, but that's another subject.
Most people who have read these posts in the past know that I like Disney, and I've enjoyed a few visits to Disneyland, so perhaps one might wonder where I stand on the Splash Mountain issue. I'm on neutral ground basically. I believe a business has the right to make changes when they want. It's their right. They own the place, and as a visiting guest, I need to be respectful of that.
Splash Mountain itself isn't a big loss for me. To be honest, I've never had much interest in it, and have never wanted to go on the ride. I have no nostalgic connections, and I think that's the main factor behind those objecting to its changes; Removing it means the removing of memories. I completely understand that. There are places I would be absolutely devastated to see go if they decide to change them. Splash Mountain is based off of a movie that is hugely controversial, but another factor plays into it. No one in the younger generation has seen this movie and have no connection to it. I'm not sure I've seen it. If I had, it never captured my keen imagination, because I would have been totally obsessed with it if it did. I don't really feel like I've been missing out on anything with the movie or the ride.
The most tragic demise of anything connected with that ride (or movie) is the loss of the song, Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah, but that's because I have a special personal connection with it. I learned that song in school as a young child. It was during a difficult time. I had no friends, and was beginning to experience the joys of being picked on, and it didn't help that one of those people was one of my teachers. That's another story: I'll just say that if what happened then happened today, a job would have been lost. With all of this going on, learning that song strengthened me, and I remember singing that song many times coming in from playing outside, and looking up to the sky, and realizing that it was indeed a beautiful day. It uplifted me and helped me through those difficult years.
I'm not altogether anti-change. A little change now-and-then is exciting to me, and I think I'm good at adjusting to it so long as there isn't too many changes being made all at once. I'm interested in what it might look like, and I don't find any of the presentations so far objectionable. I think the restaurant is more appropriate for Tiana, and I'm not sure why both a restaurant and ride are needed, but again, it's their property, their decision. If there's one thing I've learned, it's this: I don't always understand why things have to change or why it has to change in that particular way, but with a little patience and time, eventually I will.
