Former Disney Imagineer's Regret

Kathy Mangum says building Splash Mountain with a 'Song of the South' backstory was a 'horrible idea' she regrets from her 42-year career.

“I knew building Splash Mountain based on a movie we would not show was not a great idea. It was a horrible idea.”

Splash Mountain's Backstory

Splash Mountain debuted in 1989 with a backstory based on Disney's controversial 1940s film 'Song of the South' that was shelved in the 1980s.

Song of the South Origin

Disney's 1946 'Song of the South' was based on 'Uncle Remus' stories from the Southern plantation era compiled by Joel Chandler Harris.

2024 Transformation

Disney transformed Splash Mountain rides into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure with a 'Princess and the Frog' theme in 2024.

Tony Baxter's Role

Disney Legend Tony Baxter came up with Splash Mountain in 1983 while stuck in traffic on Interstate 5 to repurpose audio-animatronic figures.

Social Justice Response

Disney removed the 'Song of the South' theme during the 2020 George Floyd protests and closed both Splash Mountain attractions in 2023.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

The 2009 'Princess and the Frog' film was Disney's first African-American princess movie and earned two Academy Award nominations.