Disney Moves Away From "Woke" Identity, Rebrands 'Splash Mountain'

For years, Disney stood firm. Splash Mountain was closing, and it wasn’t coming back.

The announcement in 2020 framed the decision as part of a broader effort to promote inclusion and move away from content tied to Song of the South—a film Disney itself had long buried. The replacement? Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a reimagined experience based on The Princess and the Frog (2009), Disney’s first animated film with a Black princess.

Back then, Disney didn’t mince words. Splash Mountain was being replaced, full stop. There was no “merger,” no “celebration of legacy.” It was a cultural reset, driven by mounting public pressure and a shift in tone during a highly charged year. The company received both praise and pushback—many fans celebrated the new direction, while others mourned the loss of a nostalgic favorite and questioned the sudden urgency.

Fast forward to 2025, and something strange is happening. Disney’s tone has changed.

The Quote That Sparked It All

In a recent statement that we previously covered, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro had this to say about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure:

“We knew that our guests wanted to see more of Tiana. We knew that Splash Mountain was a popular attraction, and we thought that the merger of those two things coming together would create an unbelievable experience.”

Wait—“merger”?

For the first time since this project began, a top Disney executive is referring to the transformation not as a replacement, but a merger of two beloved ideas. And that shift in language is raising eyebrows.

It’s a far cry from the narrative fans heard in 2020, when Disney emphasized that Splash Mountain’s storyline and source material were outdated and had to go. There was no mention of blending, merging, or keeping its spirit alive. Yet now, post-opening, Disney seems to be reframing its approach—and in doing so, many are reading between the lines.

Rewriting the Narrative?

Calling it a “merger” makes it sound like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was always intended to build on the foundation of Splash Mountain. And technically, it did use the same ride track and log flume system. But Disney’s new attraction scrapped everything else—new music, new characters, new story, new theme. The only thing left is the ride layout and the fact that guests still get soaked.

To now suggest that it was a natural fusion of two great ideas feels like a soft walk-back of a decision that alienated a large portion of the fanbase. And it’s not going unnoticed.

Across social media, fans are reacting with frustration, confusion, and even sarcasm. Many are calling out the quote as corporate revisionism—an attempt to backpedal on a controversial decision by making it sound more collaborative and less reactionary.

A Woke Move, Rebranded

Disney has spent the last few years navigating the cultural and political fallout of decisions like this one. The Splash Mountain closure was hailed by some as a progressive step, but criticized by others as a “woke” move that dismissed guest sentiment and nostalgia. Now, with D’Amaro’s new comment, it sounds like Disney is trying to have it both ways: maintaining the appearance of progress while also nodding to the legacy ride they once couldn’t wait to distance themselves from.

It’s a tricky dance—and fans are watching closely.

By calling it a “merger,” Disney is effectively softening the edges of what was once a firm cultural stance. Whether that’s because of the lingering backlash, the mixed reception to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, or internal pressure to win fans back, it sends a clear message: Disney knows the Splash Mountain conversation isn’t over.

Too Little, Too Late?

Is Disney hoping fans forget how this all started? Maybe. But the internet never forgets. Petitions to save Splash Mountain gained hundreds of thousands of signatures. Videos of the final ride-throughs went viral. And many longtime parkgoers are still vocal about their disappointment.

To those fans, this latest comment feels like Disney trying to reframe history—without ever fully owning up to it.

So no, Disney hasn’t said outright that closing Splash Mountain was a mistake. But by finally acknowledging that it was a “popular attraction” and now calling the retheme a “merger,” they’ve opened the door for fans to say: We told you so.