Some Now Calling For Re-Theme of Pinocchio’s Daring Journey

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pinocchios daring journey

Right Image Credit: @DevinFlanigan

Disney Parks recently announced that Splash Mountain would be rethemed after the beloved Disney animated film, The Princess and the Frog. 

But now, some call for a retheme of yet another popular Disneyland attraction — Pinocchio’s Daring Journey. If you’ve never had the chance to ride this attraction, the official description reads:

Relive the classic adventures of the wooden puppet who dreamed of becoming a real boy.

Hop aboard a woodcarver’s cart at the Stromboli Puppet Theatre, where Pinocchio is singing and dancing in a festive marionette show. 

Escape the clutches of the nefarious puppet-master Stromboli, with help from the kindhearted Blue Fairy. Follow the boy puppet as he ventures to ominous Pleasure Island, against the warnings of his loyal friend, Jiminy Cricket. 

When they make their escape to the sea, a new danger awaits: mighty Monstro the Whale! Will Pinocchio find his way back to his maker Gepetto—and become a real boy?

Pinocchios Daring Journey
Credit: Disneyland

One Inside the Magic reader recently commented on an article calling for a retheme of the popular Disneyland attraction, writing:

To the Inside the Magic staff. I want to let you know that Pinocchio’s
Daring Journey is my least favorite ride as it makes me feel very
uncomfortable as it’s the most disturbing ride partly due to scary
clowns that some of the people don’t like but also mainly because of
the child slavery and child abuse scenes involving Pinocchio being
caged up and then 2 donkey boys sold into slavery in cages has made me
uncomfortable.

I would like to ask the Disneyland staff to consider replacing
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey Ride with a different Disneyland ride as
it’s not the happiest place to be on which is a ride that’s not family
friendly.

Please Disneyland company, replace Pinocchio’s ride with something
else, like Cinderella or maybe Beauty and the Beast ride, child
slavery in the Pinocchio ride is a very sensitive subject for
families.

Pinocchios Daring Journey
Credit: D23

Another comment echoed these thoughts, which reads:

I don’t know if you’re aware of this but how about child
slavery that’s featured on Pinocchio’s Daring Journey ride. I have
nightmares with that ride featuring child abuse, scary scenes and
donkey boy slavery being caged up. There’s also scary clowns on that
ride many people get scared of.

Is the Pinocchio ride going to be replaced in the future with a
different Disney ride? I hope so because the Pinocchio ride  isn’t the
happiest place to be in Disneyland.

Pinocchio
Credit: Disney

Related : Disney Fans Create WORST Retheme Ideas For Park Attractions

Splash Mountain in “Embarrassing” Condition with ‘Princess and the Frog’ Retheme On The Way

This comment from another Inside the Magic reader suggested a retheme to Aladdin or Wreck-it Ralph, writing:

What about the Child Slavery featured in Pinocchio’s Daring Journey ride.

To the inside the magic staff, when I went on Pinocchio’s Daring Journey Ride, I was shocked and surprised to see a depiction of child slavery and animal cruelty on the Pinocchio ride involving 2 donkey boys in cages.

Will Pinocchio’s Daring Journey Ride be updated to remove the cages from 2 donkey boys? Or will the Pinocchio ride be replaced by the Aladdin ride or Wreck-it-Ralph ride?

Please let me know because I get very sensitive to child slavery images and I don’t want to see child slavery depicted on the Pinocchio ride anymore.

Some have even taken to Twitter recently asking Disney to replace Pinocchio’s Daring Journey with Princess Tiana, referencing the recent announcement of the retheme of Splash Mountain with The Princess and the Frog.

One Twitter user, R.J. Crowther Jr., points out that the Disneyland attraction focuses on the “dark heart of the story,” the reasoning as to why some call for a retheme. However, R.J. later clarified the point, which acknowledges that some may love classic Disney attractions and still recognize that they can have a darker history:

R.J. pointed out last month that Pinocchio’s Daring Journey is “one of the greatest dark rides ever!” R.J. is actually on the side of preserving the attraction.

In case some of you aren’t aware of the Splash Mountain retheme, below is the official announcement from Disney Parks:

Today we are thrilled to share a first glimpse of a project Imagineers have been working on since last year. Splash Mountain – at both Disneyland park in California and Magic Kingdom park in Florida – will soon be completely reimagined. The theme is inspired by an all-time favorite animated Disney film, “The Princess and the Frog.” We pick up this story after the final kiss, and join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.

Tiana is a modern, courageous, and empowered woman, who pursues her dreams and never loses sight of what’s really important. It’s a great story with a strong lead character, set against the backdrop of New Orleans and the Louisiana bayou. In 1966, Walt himself opened New Orleans Square when it became the first new “land” added to Disneyland park, so it feels natural to link the story and the incredible music of “The Princess and the Frog” to our parks.

What do you think? Should Disney retheme Pinocchio’s, Daring Journey? Let us know in the comments below.

If you want to visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World on your next family vacation, but aren’t sure where to begin planning, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friends at the Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at Academy Travel for a free quote.

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