The closing of the 30-year-old ride — which Princess Diana visited in 1993 — follows years of calls for change because it features several characters from Disney's 1946 film Song of the South, which featured racist stereotypes.
Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain creatures sang their last notes in January of 2023, and Disneyland's on May 31, 2023. Now, the ride has closed its doors forever. The brand new ride replacing it, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, is inspired by Tiana, the radiant star of the 2009 animated hit The Princess and the Frog.
To make matters worse, Voyage of the Little Mermaid was removed from the official Walt Disney World website. According to a report made by Inside the Magic, the puppets used for the live show have been sold, confirming that this classic attraction has taken its final bow.
Because of that, Disney announced they will be closing Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge permanently. Galaxy's Edge is a themed land located in both California and Florida. It's an immersive Star Wars experience with rides, shops, and restaurants designed to make guests feel like they are on the planet of Batuu.
The Walt Disney World Railroad, which has transported guests around the Magic Kingdom since opening day in 1971, shut down in December 2018 for construction on the yet-unopened TRON roller coaster. Just before Christmas 2022, the railroad finally reopened for peak holiday crowds and is now running daily once again.
Disneyland's Space Mountain will be closed for a lengthy refurbishment next month. The closure begins September 18, 2023, and will last through mid-Fall 2023.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Disney's Hollywood Studios has been closed since COVID-19 shut down Walt Disney World in March 2020. But Disney is still surveying guests about it.
Splash Mountain has permanently closed at Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. While the structure and ride path will remain the same, the story will be changed to and rethemed to The Princess and the Frog Disney Animated movie based on New Orleans. There are a few reasons for this change.