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Credit: DisneyDisney is enacting even more changes following its decision to adjust its DEI efforts.
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Following Disney’s bombshell decision to scale back its Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts, commonly known as DEI, the company has also removed its “Stories Matter” initiative from its official website. This initiative sought to “uplift” and “inspire” fans regarding Disney’s more problematic works.
Instead of erasing history, Disney saw an opportunity to educate, making a commitment to updating its content library with warnings and disclaimers that Disney hoped would “spark conversation” and “open a dialogue.”
Below is part of what Disney said in its Stories Matter inactive:
We can’t change the past, but we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together to create a tomorrow that today can only dream of.
To that end, we’ve brought together a group of experts from outside our company to advise us as we assess our content and ensure it accurately represents our global audiences.
As we embrace each other’s stories, we embrace possibility. And that’s why we’re committed to doing the best we can to represent communities authentically. So people not only see the best in themselves, but the world can see it too.
Disney’s “Stories Matter” Initiative
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Stories Matter is mostly thought of as something directly affecting Disney’s streaming platform Disney+, which is set to receive several reworks and updates. Disney will not only reword the disclaimers presented in front of more problematic films like Peter Pan but will also move them to the “details” section of the film’s information page.
Disney first rolled out these content warnings in November 2019, as Variety reports, seeking to do some damage control when it came to the company’s more “outdated” projects like the previously mentioned Peter Pan, as well as Dumbo.
The disclaimer originally read:
This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.
This language was updated the next year to a longer, more detailed disclaimer:
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.
However, Stories Matter didn’t end on Disney+, with the program actually intended to affect Disney’s theme parks as well. The biggest example was the reimagining of Splash Mountain, Disney’s iconic water log flume ride.
Opened in 1989, Splash Mountain had become a fan-favorite and one of Disney’s most beloved attractions of all time, though the ride’s source material proved to be a challenge for the company. Splash Mountain took characters, scenery, and music from Disney’s ill-fated 1946 film Song of the South, which is largely criticized for its portrayal of African Americans.
As a result, Splash Mountain faced controversy, especially over the last decade, as more fans uncovered the truth behind the ride’s characters and story.
Eventually, Disney announced it would be closing Splash Mountain forever and giving it a total makeover, one inspired by another, more popular film, The Princess and the Frog (2009). This new attraction, named Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, officially opened in 2024 at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts and, while controversial, has proven to be extraordinarily popular.
Prior to the Stories Matter webpage being removed, this is what Disney had to say about how this initiative affected its theme park decisions:
We are reviewing our offerings beyond the screen, which include products, books, music and experiences. While advisories for negative depictions of people and cultures may be added to some offerings, others will be reimagined. We are also investing in new ways to better reflect the rich diversity of stories in our world. This work is ongoing and will evolve as we strive toward a more inclusive tomorrow.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is certainly the most well-known example of this initiative within the Disney parks, although other changes can be seen and felt across various attractions, such as Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan.