Why It Makes Sense for Peter Pan’s Flight to Be Reimagined Next

Comments for Why It Makes Sense for Peter Pan’s Flight to Be Reimagined Next

peter pans flight

Credit: Disney

45 Comments

  1. KenG

    “ Disney depicts these tribesmen as comically stereotypical Native Americans”
    Yes, that is true….
    But it’s also true they depict bumbling white pirates who can’t seem to do anything right (Mr.Smee?), and that’s basically true in many of the older Disney films – Bumbling, silly, lazy, conniving white people.

    But that’s ok…. Right? Strange we never here anything about that do we?
    Hypocrites!

    Peter Pan is a Disney Classic – Leave it alone people! If you don’t like don’t watch the film or wait in a long line to go on the ride!

    1. Confused

      Lol I think it’s a little bit of a stretch to say Smee is a racist caricature of white people at the same level of how Indians are portrayed in the movie, but yes, at least you get to feel heard. White people hate it when the spotlight isn’t on them. Yay for white fragility!

      1. Brian

        Imagine having absolutely nothing better to do with the relatively short amount of time we’re given on this planet, than to constantly try to rainbow-wash and sterilize every single thing. First liking burritos or egg rolls is cultural appropriation, then peanut butter and jelly is racist (Google it), then some effeminate d-bag writes a self-righteous thinkpiece because John Wayne said something racist 50 years ago, then psychos in Oregon are saying that expecting students to get correct answers in math is white supremacy (Google it), and now this. The Sensitivity Police need to retire. If legitimate Native Americans are offended, then they should step up and say something. But the Karen/Ken McWhiteBreads of the country need to shut up, drink their orange mocha frappuccinos, and mind their own business. This “offended by proxy” BS is getting real old.

      2. Ok people stop already . It’s not outdated . It’s from the 50’s we call that classic . If you don’t want to see it here’s the thing don’t watch it . Leave Peter Pan alone . Every movie you can find fault with. Let’s not see Donald Duck he doesn’t have pants on . Let’s not see Cinderella she’s being bullied . Come on

    2. Cheri

      Agreed ! Also….outdated??! That’s another ridiculous excuse.

      1. S

        Preach. NOTHING is outdated.

    3. Ry

      Beautifully said

    4. Cj Brown

      So glad I’ve kept my DVDs. / Blu-rays that Team Disney hasn’t removed Content from …. but if the Theme Parks are going Woke? They will go broke (Park Guests will go elsewhere!)

      The Disneyland I ?’d is gone, but the Knott’s Berry Farm ? I ? is inclusive without being stupid!

  2. EricJ

    “Once the Injun didn’t know / All the things that he know now. / But the Injun he sure learn a lot / And it’s all from asking, ‘How?’”

    And…that’s a “damaging” lyric?

    1. Doug

      Tiger Lilly isn’t an important part of the ride’s story, at least in Anaheim, so if Disney wants to take her out of the ride I won’t lose any sleep over it. Past that hypothetical situation, anyone hyper concerned about portrayals of Native Americans are likely to be Disappointed by Disney. While cutting out the most questionable “Indian” parts of the film wouldn’t hurt it structurally, Disney isn’t going to do that or bury it in a vault like Song of the South. At most they will keep it off of broadcast and cable and won’t issue new home video releases; but they will keep it available on Disney+ with a disclaimer and accessable to adults only.

  3. Vickie

    This cancel culture, everything is offensive. These movies are rides were done years ago and now because it doesn’t fit the narrative every body and everything has to change. Stop whining and watch things as they were made

  4. Michael Owens

    As a Native American (yes, I’m an Injun) who has ridden Peter Pans Flight many, many times, I am not the least bit offended by a few seconds of a great attraction!

    IF the complaints over this small section of a theme park ride, came from other Native Americans, Disney needs to know that those people are a VERY small minority of us and do NOT represent all Native Americans.

    The vast majority of us are not that sensitive! Disney, if any of your Executives and/or Imagineers read this…DO NOT CAVE TO THIS HANDFUL OF PEOPLE (they’re probably not true Disney fans anyway)! And, if any of you wanna talk about it, reach out to me!

    This is me officially authorizing @insidethemagic to release my contact information to the Walt Disney Company.

    1. Anita

      As a fellow injun, I concur with this statement.

  5. Brian

    Imagine having absolutely nothing better to do with the relatively short amount of time we’re given on this planet, than to constantly try to rainbow-wash and sterilize every single thing. First liking burritos or egg rolls is cultural appropriation, then peanut butter and jelly is racist (Google it), then some effeminate d-bag writes a self-righteous thinkpiece because John Wayne said something racist 50 years ago, then psychos in Oregon are saying that expecting students to get correct answers in math is white supremacy (Google it), and now this. The Sensitivity Police need to retire. If legitimate Native Americans are offended, then they should step up and say something. But the Karen/Ken McWhiteBreads of the country need to shut up, drink their orange mocha frappuccinos, and mind their own business. This “offended by proxy” BS is getting real old

    1. Jack H.

      Amen and amen! I’m had it up to my ears with this crap. No matter what is done, it will never be enough to satisfy those who go around looking for something that offends them. I absolutely can’t take anymore and urge everyone who feels like me to start pushing back hard. The more the majority keeps giving in to this way of thinking, the more it feeds it. And exactly whose “reflection of current times” are we talking about, because most of this garbage does not reflect me, my family, or most of the people I know… and my circle is certainly not homogenous. We are trying to rewrite our entire culture based on what’s trendy in a very, very tiny snippet of western, America, liberal, pop culture. Go do something constructive instead always trying to figure out what upsets you!!

      1. TJ

        Lol – maybe take your own advice? You seem to be getting mighty upset about something so ultimately stupid and inconsequential.

  6. Danielle

    I swear I cannot take anymore of this stuff.. If they do anything to this ride I will scream. Just leave it alone.. People are so sensitive.. Just enjoy the magic for the love of Disney

  7. S1

    Here’s an idea: How about just don’t change anything at all and if anyone gets offended and calls for changes tell them to shut up. Scream at them in their faces like the late R. Lee Army in Full Metal Jacket until their spirits are broken if you have to. The Splash Mountain change will be cancelled primarily due to lack of funds. Expect Pirates to be changed back by its 75th anniversary too complete with the auction. What does Disney think will happen if they do nothing and ignore these cancel culture complaints? That there will be a national movement to boycott all things Disney? If there is, the PC police will be replaced and won’t be missed in the parks. Quoth P.T. Barnum: “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.” Disney as a company can survive on its name and would still be if they went back to asking “what would Walt do?” to make decisions.

    1. S1

      It ends with Disney being seized in a hostile takeover by some purist or someone like-minded who vows to drain the PC swamp and undoes decisions like these, basically erasing the Iger/Chapek era from existence and vows to “make Disney great again!” Use of that slogan would appall and infuriate cancel culture and those Armchair Imagineers so much that Disney would use Trump’s slogan that they would indeed boycott all things Disney. The impending breakup of the company by Congress for antitrust violations and the loss of Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and everything Iger bought will also anger fans of those IPs. They won’t be missed.

      It’ll have Iger and/or Chapek and their supporters echo Waternoose’s last words to Sulley as he was arrested by the CDA, that the new boss has destroyed the company. Basically along the lines of “I hope you’re happy, you’ve destroyed this company and its theme parks! The Walt Disney Company is dead! How will minorities feel welcomed? Where will everyone get their Marvel and Star Wars fixes now? Universal will take over and dominate the US theme park industry! The Disney stock will crumble! The company will go under and Walt Disney’s legacy will be scattered to the four winds! The travel crisis will only get worse, because of YOU!”

      But of course we all know that Waternoose was completely wrong. You could say sanitized PC attractions are scream and OG non-PC attractions designed by Walt, his artists and their immediate successors are laughter. And remember: Laughter is 10 times more powerful than scream.

      1. Donna

        I love that…”.MAKE DISNEY GREAT AGAIN,”
        If they keep this up, there will be mass exodus from Disney, just like so many other things in our country today. If I were Disney, I would be careful. Our wallets talk.

  8. Sherri

    Enough is enough, does it ever stop. It’s always a small majority that’s responsible for these changes. After reading all these comments, it doesn’t appear that anyone wants this change, leave it alone, it holds memories for people. Shame on you Disney! I’m about done going to these parks, so many changes to political. Walt would never have approved!

    1. Sandy

      I agree completely!
      I am so disgusted with the so called “Disney” people wanting to change everything that made Disneyland and Disney World what it is!!
      If you take out everything that Walt put in, it will not have the feeling of Walt! What made & makes Disneyland and Disney World so wonderful is Walt Disney. If you change everything he put in, the “magic” of Walt will be gone!
      There will be no need to go then.
      Apparently there is no one who thinks like Walt in the business any more. All you have is an amusement park, not what dreams are made of, like Walt made!
      It’s Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
      Apparently no one else wants to try to think like Walt.
      Very sad how people think they know better than Walt. LEAVE WALT’S RIDES ALONE!

  9. Charles

    Stop it.

  10. Darth Pence

    After reading all these comments, it sure is impressive how much the ANTI-Cancel Culture Crowd whines about change.

    And if somebody is Anti-Cancel Culture, it’s an easy leap to say they probably support keeping up statues and army bases named after Confederate traitors who rebelled against the Constitution.

    And if somebody supports that, they must’ve loved January 6th. Good times, because ol’ Orange Bird should still be president. And if these supporters love him, it’s partly because he NEVER whined about anything. EVER. Seriously, if somebody is a supporter, think they’d own up to saying he whines all the time? Nope! Because he NEVER did.

    So take a lesson from the king of anti-cancel culture, and don’t whine.

    1. Milliv

      Bravo!!! Very good point!

    2. Cheri

      Whatever

  11. Kevin

    I don’t know why people get so upset about changes being made to rides because we’ve grown as a society to realize that certain stereotypes, even those that we’ve used in the past, are wrong.

    That being said, I don’t get why the Indians should be removed from the ride. Sure, the song and some of their actions in the movie are something that most likely wouldn’t be done today. But in the ride, they are just sitting around. They aren’t doing anything offensive. The only possibly offensive thing about them is that they seem a bit like caricatures. But, really, couldn’t you say that for all of the humans in Disney cartoons?

  12. Al

    Stop trying to make problems out of nothing. You did it with Splash Mountain, and now you’re doing it to Peter Pan’s Flight. You call yourselves a Disney news site, and yet you’re wanting to retheme every little ride or thing that offends you slightly. Here’s an idea, don’t go on the ride! It’s that simple! You think you would’ve thought of it sooner.

  13. Milliv

    Disney needs to get a backbone. Stop caving to this ridiculous crap. No one will ever stop going to Disney Parks.

    1. Doug

      You do know that this is an opinion piece, NOT a news story about the Anaheim or Florida parks?

  14. Donna

    This hasn’t outright offended anyone after all these years, just leave it alone! If the American Indian community complains, then think about it. This is part of the story, why change it now.

    Seems a group of people have way too much time on their hands, ciphering thru Every scene, every story line. Why should a few decide what offends the majority. Most people realize its just part of the story and don’t overthink this stuff.

  15. gary

    Where’s the fun the joy the escape from reality that Disney gives us if everything has to be so politically correct ? that’s why I go to Disney, to get away from all the pc bs. if they keep changing everything to keep a few butthurt snowflakes happy then soon there won’t be any reason to go, the world we live in now is screwed, we need a place we can escape to , to get away from it for a little while and have a laugh or two and forget about everything. people that are wanting all this politically correct BS should just stay away and let those of us that want to have a good time and a laugh enjoy ourselves.

  16. CommonSense

    I’ve already seen diehard Disney fans demand that Trump be completely removed from HoP. I think it’s a losing battle. The rich minority will tell us what to think and how to feel and we will have to comply or face the consequences. What other business do you know of that can survive an 11 month (and counting) shut down? I don’t think we’re seeing the worst of it yet.

  17. Michael

    This is an absolutely ignorant take. Good grief.

  18. Brian

    If they’re slapping these labels on movies, why can’t they finally release “Song of the South” and just place the same label on it?????????????

    1. WoW

      Song of the South was controversial the day it was released. To re-release it with a warning label would be a huge insult to every descendent of slavery. It’s best to let that movie be buried away.
      Peter Pan has no comparison. Although there stereotypes throughout it doesn’t attempt to whitewash history the way SotS did.

      1. S1

        Releasing Song of the South would be a huge favor to all real Disney fans and the purists. It’s best that it be released and available. If anyone cries foul or brands Disney a racist company for doing so, that’s not Disney’s fault. It will be released one day. What does Disney think will happen if/when they do? That the woke crowd will go out and start a national movement to boycott all things Disney? As P.T. Barnum said: “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.” No studio should legally be allowed to prevent the public from viewing any film in its library. Congress can just pass a bill that forces all the major studios to have all their films available for home viewing and therefore they can force Disney against its will to release Song of the South.

  19. WoW

    Okla-homa, look it up. Shall we rename the state as well?

    1. Darth Pence

      FINALLY! Somebody else who agrees with renaming the state of Oklahoma!

      How about Okla-Homer? It takes away the offensive part and might help us finally locate Springfield on a map.

      1. Harry

        Gee you guys are a special kind of stupid
        LeTs rEnAmE a StAtE cAuSe FeElInGs

  20. Cj

    No, stop!

  21. Amy

    No. This, Like Dumbo and Small World cannot be reimagined. Screw around with the line queue all you want, it actually improves things (see Dumbo and Peter Pan), but leave the ride itself be. Disney is already on thin ice with how it treats/fires it’s employees, the skyrocketed ticket prices, mouthy social media profiles (Imagineers and actors mocking guests) and horrible treatment of Star Wars and live action reboots.
    We had to stop visiting because of the pandemic. All of this means, there’s increasing reasons not to go back.
    I do look forward to seeing the Splash Mountain redo, and I did appreciate the mermaid themes added to PotC: they were tasteful and blended well. Disney lately sucks at tasteful and blending well: see EPCOT firework floats.

  22. Barbara Ervin

    People are just way too thin skinned any more. A lot of you probably never heard of Mr. Magoo but he was a cartoon character who wore very thick glasses and still couldn’t see his hand in front of his own face and he was always tripping and running into things. Now this has been eons ago when I was just a kid and wore glasses myself but was I offended? Hell no, I thought he was hilarious! And thinking back on that cartoon I STILL think it was hilarious! But then I find it easier to laugh than to go around specifically searching for things that offend me. Something that does offend is stupidity. Is there some way we could fix that? HaHaHa!!!

  23. Gigi

    It’s a bad idea! You shouldn’t erase history. But use it to explain to your kids how far we have come. Learn from it Peter! Peter Pan is A classic. We gotta stop being a bunch of over sensitive wussies.

  24. How stupid you think Disney really is.

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