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Credit: Jess Colopy, Inside the MagicMultiple guests were recently suspended mid-air on Peter Pan’s Flight at Disneyland Resort. One trapped Disney Park guest shared a video of guests inside the attraction with the lights on.
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Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the few remaining Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort attractions that Walt Disney helped design. The classic Fantasyland dark ride takes Disney Parks guests on a journey through the skies of London and Neverland. All you need is a little faith, trust, and pixie dust–but watch out for Captain Hook!
Walt Disney World Resort recently made history when it updated its version of Peter Pan’s Flight. Walt Disney Imagineers replaced outdated, stereotypical figurines of Native American characters, including Tiger Lily and Kaw Chief, with moving, more human-like, and respectful depictions. The same changes will come to the Southern California Disney Resort ride.
The attraction update came as part of extensive inclusion efforts at The Walt Disney Company. As part of the 2020 “Stories Matter” campaign, Disney+ placed the following content warning on older films with offensive content, including Peter Pan (1953):
“This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.”
The Walt Disney Company also employed experts to examine its library for stereotypical or outdated content. Disney wrote the following about Peter Pan:
“The film portrays Native people in a stereotypical manner that reflects neither the diversity of Native peoples nor their authentic cultural traditions. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as ‘redskins,’ an offensive term. Peter and the Lost Boys engage in dancing, wearing headdresses and other exaggerated tropes, a form of mockery and appropriation of Native peoples’ culture and imagery.”
As Disneyland Resort prepares to change its version of Peter Pan’s Flight, it seems that the attraction might also need some technical updates.
Eric H. (@ehubb53 on TikTok) shared this video of their family trapped on the shuttered Peter Pan’s Flight attraction at Disneyland Park. The clip features a rare glimpse at the Fantasyland ride with the lights on:
@ehubb53 Got stuck on Peter Pan ride at Disneyland. Lights on #disney #disneyland #peterpan #ride #fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #fypp #adventure #happiestplaceonearth
Guests suspended mid-air on Peter Pan’s Flight must eventually be evacuated with assistance from emergency responders, as special ladders are necessary.
What caused the recent breakdown is unclear. The attraction has operated normally since the publication of the TikTok video.
Have you ever evacuated a Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort ride? In the comments, share your experience with Inside the Magic.