When it comes to Disneyland, the company’s flagship theme park, there will always be fans who want the rides to remain in their original condition forever. The idea of changing something about the ride to update it or make it more modern and relevant can be appalling to some, but other people, including the people who make these types of decisions at Disney, think there are changes worth making.
Multiple rides at Disneyland have been updated through the years. For example, Pirates of the Caribbean was updated in 1996 and 2017 to change the depiction of female animatronics including removing a scene where a woman is being auctioned off. The Jungle Cruise ride was updated this past summer to make it more politically correct, and Splash Mountain will be completely rethemed as Princess and the Frog.
Disney is also working on a big change to one of the rides in Toon Town. It’s called Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, and it’s based on characters from the 1988 movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”
Visitors to the theme park recently noticed that Roger Rabbit’s wife, Jessica Rabbit, was missing from the first scene on the ride. She used to be tied up in the back of a car, but she has been replaced by cans of acid.
Jessica Rabbit Removed from first scene in Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin #disneyland pic.twitter.com/4vrvEwNkvZ
— 🔥 FIVE FIRES 🔥 (@thecalibae) September 15, 2021
Fans were worried that Disney was removing her from the ride completely, but that is not the case. Instead, they are giving her a makeover.
Jessica Rabbit was a beautiful, buxom and scantaly clad nightclub singer in the movie, and she was portrayed the same way on the ride. While the movie is not going to change, the ride certainly is. When she returns to the ride, she will be wearing a trench coat and a fedora because Jessica has decided to give up acting to become a detective. Here is a glimpse at the new version of Jessica via a poster that will be displaced in the ride’s queue.
Here’s some more information about the new Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin backstory at Disneyland. This poster will be displayed in the queue. Some background: https://t.co/ddPkhxX9ZB pic.twitter.com/bzNrM3Cb5c
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) September 15, 2021
Fans are turning to Twitter to express their feelings about this change. While some think this is a long overdue update, others think Disney is making a big mistake.
Disney does not understand the concept of Jessica Rabbit… pic.twitter.com/shD7aO6zge
— TrueUnderDawg (@TrueUnderDawg1) September 17, 2021
That she is an intentional subversion of the femme fatale trope. Characters like her in Noir films are always villains in disguise, while Jessica was the exception. Disney is working on a new story where she is a bland detective. Instead of letting her stay true to her design
— TrueUnderDawg (@TrueUnderDawg1) September 18, 2021
Who would’ve thought a trench coat made people this angry. She still looks the same. I’m confused here, is Jessica Roger tied up your guys special hidden kink or something?
— Mr. Reality @ Zodiac Dragonfly (Comms Open) (@MrReality_Draws) September 21, 2021
I hope people don’t misconstrued what I’m saying. The change is totally fine and honestly I’d say needed. But it just kinda reeks of mid 50s white dudes in a room trying to figure out what makes a woman “strong.”Again, I am man. I might be dumb.
— Offhand Disney (@OffhandDisney) September 15, 2021
She was never just sex appeal. She radiated authority. From the instant she spoke it was clear that she was a formidable presence, supremely cool, calculating, and proactive. Looking back, I wish that someone had thought of this earlier.
— Joe England (@JoeEngland6) September 21, 2021
WHY DOES THIS NEW MILLENIAL DAY CONTINUE TO DESTROY OUR CLASSICS?!?! IF YOU ARE TOO WEAK TO WATCH THE REAL THEN CHANGE THE CHANNEL!!! JESSICA RABBIT USED TO BE THE BOMB!!!
— COMEDIAN STEVETURNER (@STEVETURNER216) September 21, 2021
What’s the cultural sensitivity issue here? Jessica is sexy and we don’t want that?
— Martin MJ (@MartinMJ22) September 15, 2021
This is just another insult to those who originally drew a Disney classic. Even in Roger Rabbit they made sure to give Betty Boop a fantastic nood. They didn’t change her and as she said, She still had it!
— Doc (@RealAcidBurn) September 22, 2021
Have you been on the Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin ride at Disneyland? What do you think of this update to Jessica Rabbit’s character?