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Yet another reference to the “Song of the South” theme at Splash Mountain has been removed from Disney Parks. We have just learned that Disney World has removed the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” from its Festival of Fantasy parade soundtrack.
Credit: Disney Photo Snapper
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Disney Parks announced it would be changing the theme at the Splash Mountain attractions at Disney World and Disneyland after growing unrest over the negative stereotypes found in Disney’s Song of the South film, which was originally released in 1946.
Guests cited topics like slavery and others in the Song of the South film, as the story follows the Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris. According to the Disney Fandom Wiki, Song of the South follows the story of Uncle Remus and animated characters like Br’er Rabbit and his pals:
“The live actors provide a sentimental frame story, in which Uncle Remus relates the folk tales of the adventures of Br’er Rabbit and his friends. These anthropomorphic animal characters appear in animation. The hit song from the film was “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”, which won the 1947 Academy Award for Best Song and is frequently used as part of Disney’s montage themes, and which has become widely used in popular culture.”
Credit: Walt Disney Animation
The Splash Mountain attractions at Disneyland and Disney World never featured Uncle Remus, but they do feature Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear, among other characters from Song of the South. Part of the experience is set to “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” in the background. The lyrics are as follows:
My, oh, my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!
It’s the truth, it’s “actch’ll”
Everything is “satisfactch’ll”
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!
Yes, sir
My, oh, my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!
It’s the truth, it’s “actch’ll”
Everything is “satisfactch’ll”
Wonderful feeling, feeling this way!
It is the truth, it’s “actch’ll”, hm?
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!”
Credit: Walt Disney Animation
But Disney has announced that the song will no longer be featured in the Festival of Fantasy parade music. In August 2020, Disneyland Resort in California removed “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” from areas of the parks in which it was heard.
Both Splash Mountain attractions will be re-themed and will include characters and a storyline from Disney’s 2009 film The Princess and the Frog.
