“Peter Pan” reopens at Walt Disney World – with a surprise

Perhaps one of the most famous attractions in Walt Disney WorldPeter Pan’s Flight was closed for renovations over the summer and recently reopened to visitors. Peter Pan’s Flight is a staple in the Fantasyland areas of Disneyland and Walt Disney World, but visitors noticed a major change to one of the attraction’s most controversial scenes, which features a group of Native Americans.

Peter Pan’s Flight opened at Walt Disney World in 1971, alongside the opening of the Florida park. Guests can see Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook and the other characters on a magical flight through London and Neverland. Peter Pan’s Flight is one of several attractions undergoing major renovations as part of a series of changes at Walt Disney World. Both the film and the attraction have been criticized in recent years for stereotypical depictions of Native Americans, including the song “What Made the Red Man Red?”. When watching the film on Disney+, viewers are now shown an acknowledgement of the “negative portrayals” of people and cultures.

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Peter Pan’s Flight reopened last week and riders quickly noticed that something was different about the Indian scene. The original version of the scene shows Princess Tiger Lily, the Chief, and several other Indians gathered around a fire with serious faces and arms folded. The new version of the scene shows Tiger Lily dancing with an older woman and three others happily gathered around a drum. BlogMickey uploaded a full video of the ride to his blog earlier this week.

Disney Parks introduce sensitivity changes as part of major updates

While the original scene was considered controversial, the new change is sparking a mix of praise and criticism. Many are praising Disney for its efforts to better represent different cultures and peoples that have been stereotyped in the past, such as with the closure of Splash Mountain and the inclusion of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Unfortunately, despite efforts to be inclusive and respectful, Disney will always face criticism from fans of the original version of the parks and films.

So far, the Disneyland version of the attraction appears to be unchanged, although it’s not impossible that the scene will be updated the next time the attraction closes for renovations. Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland are constantly changing to keep up with popular movies and franchises. Earlier this month, Space Mountain at Disneyland closed for a brief routine renovation, but announcements from the recent Disney D23 event have fans wondering what else is in store for the popular parks.