Overview
- Kathy Mangum, a retired Walt Disney Imagineer, said on the Dream Chasing podcast Wednesday that building Splash Mountain from Song of the South was "a horrible idea" and that she is "not proud" of the work.
- Mangum recalled feeling "so uncomfortable" when an actor recorded Br'er Fox's dialogue and said she "wouldn't do it today," signaling personal regret over the creative choice.
- She also said transforming the U.S. Splash Mountain rides into Tiana's Bayou Adventure in 2024 was "the right thing," confirming support for Disney's removal of Song of the South references.
- Tokyo Disneyland remains the only park still operating a Splash Mountain based on Song of the South because the Oriental Land Company runs Tokyo Disney Resort under license from Disney.
- Splash Mountain drew on the 1946 film Song of the South, which has long been criticized for racial stereotyping and kept out of Disney home release, and Mangum's remarks could renew public scrutiny of legacy park choices and pressure on Tokyo's operator to reassess the ride.