Disney Issues Statement Regarding Removal of Splash Mountain’s “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” From Disneyland Resort Music Loops

Jessica Figueroa

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Disney Issues Statement Regarding Removal of Splash Mountain’s “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” From Disneyland Resort Music Loops

The Academy Award-winning Best Original Song, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”, originally from Song of the South and the main theme of Splash Mountain, was quietly removed from Disneyland Resort music loops across the Esplande and Downtown Disney recently. In response, Disney has just released a statement regarding its removal.

Disneyland Splash Mountain
(C) Matthew Cooper Photography – www.thetimethespace.com

The song was typically played between the Frozen Medley and The Ballad of Davy Crockett, but no longer plays with the rest of the loop:

In a new piece by The OC Register’s Brady MacDonald, Disney officials responded to the changes with the following statement:

The removal of the song from Downtown Disney’s background music is part of a continuous process to deliver an environment that features stories that are relevant and inclusive.

Disneyland has apparently also removed two mentions of the Song of the South from the Splash Mountain page on Disneyland’s website.

Many fans have wondered how the attraction would be retconned from the parks in the wake of Splash Mountain’s announced re-theme to Princess and the Frog, and while merchandise sales keep going strong at Walt Disney World, it seems Disneyland has made the first step in erasing the attraction from the overall park experience.

The attraction has been the subject of critique given the racist undertones of the film it was based on. In fact, Song of the South has been locked in the Disney vault since the 1980s due to its idyllic portrayals of Southern plantation life in the late 1800s Reconstruction Era. 

The attraction is set to reopen with the park, and an official closure date has yet to be announced for the start of the reimagining.

Featured Image: (C) Matthew Cooper Photography – www.thetimethespace.com

18 thoughts on “Disney Issues Statement Regarding Removal of Splash Mountain’s “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” From Disneyland Resort Music Loops”

  1. Zip a dee do da is a sweet and fun song that is a huge part of countless great Disney memories for me and my family… same is true for Disney’s best ride… the ever popular Splash Mountain….who would ever think these offensive. It seems Disney is bowing to the few and showing no regard to it’s most loyal followers..a tactic that will hurt them… showing a double standard…cut out these classics but put on Disney+ Beyonce’s Black is King…how polorizing and offensive is that? Beyonce’ has a history of pushing her polorizing agendas before with her salute to the radical Black Panthers in the super bowl. I’ve had enough…I once loved everything Disney…but no more. I’ve sold my Disney stock… did not renew my annual pass..and dropped Disney+.
    Wake up people…you are being manipulated…and your kids will be force fed the new Disney agenda…think before you support…it’s not the old Disney

  2. This is a sad when Disney removes one of the songs that define Disney to many people. It could be argued that Zip is one of Dinsey’s theme songs.

  3. I’m all for the re-theme and Disney acknowledging some of its problematic past, but dang it! I love that song!

  4. Brer rabbit is a african american folk character way before song of the south…. It would be a shame if they replace it with a version of a european ~1600s tale.

  5. Leave the attraction alone! Neither the song nor the movie the ride is based on is racist. The Disney corporation is caving to pressure all while nickel and diming the fans

    • This is freakin rediculous!!!!!!! Leave the damn ride alone!!! My God in heaven “what the hell is wrong with people “

  6. Disney is riding that train trying to erase history. Never had a racial thought listening to that song or watching the movie. Go ahead and cave, refurbish Splash mountain, I won’t be back. Dollywood is a much more beautiful park anyway.

  7. Song of the South was a great movie that I greatly enjoyed in my childhood; it was released the year after I was born. I still love it & am saddened by Disney thinks so poorly of it now. There seems to be a lack of understanding in that Corp’s management that people take out of a movie/song/book/etc what they want… a reflection of themselves. I saw/see beauty, charm, wisdom & love of life. Sadly, those who don’t are currently winning… Hopefully not for much longer!

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