Disneyland appears to be doing everything it can make sure sounds and images from the movie “Song of the South” are erased from the theme park. For starters, the water ride Splash Mountain, which featured music and characters from the movie, is going to be rethemed to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and will feature characters from the movie “The Princess and the Frog.” Now, Disneyland has also removed a classic song from its parade.

The “Magic Happens” parade at Disneyland debuted in 2020, but it had to close after just a few weeks because of Covid-19. Now, almost three years later, the parade is finally back but with one very noticeable change that not everyone is happy about.

When the parade originally debuted, one of the songs featured in the parade was “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah” from “Song of the South.” Now, in 2023, “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah” is gone. It was replaced with lyrics from the movie “Peter Pan” including “think of the happiest things.”

“Zip-a-dee-doo-dah” was cut because the 1946 movie “Song of the South” is considered controversial due to the way it depicts Black people in the South. Disney is desperately trying to separate itself from the film. They don’t even have it available for streaming on Disney+. 

Many fans, some of whom are Black, are very unhappy about Disney trying to erase “Song of the South” from its history. For example, one person commented, “I feel so sorry for the amazing talented black actors and actresses that worked on this film and brought the songs and characters to life. RIP James Baskett (Brer Fox and uncle Remus), Hattie McDaniel (aunt Tempy), Johnny Lee (Brer Rabbit), Nick Stewart (Brer Bear) and Glenn Leedy (Toby)… I would love to say gone but not forgotten, but by doing this we are ensuring these names are forgotten. Why is it always the angry white folks being given a voice when it comes to topics like these? A lot of older people in the African American community are fond of and familiar with the Brer Rabbit and uncle Remus stories, people like Valerie Stewart, daughter of Nick Stewart whom I mentioned earlier, she is an African American woman who has fought to attempt to save splash mountain and halt all the stupidity and censoring of this movie. Her father used the money he received from Song of the South to found the ebony showcase theatre which focussed on giving talented black actors a chance to shine and escape demeaning comic relief roles in movies and TV. He reprised the role of Brer Bear in Disneyland’s splash mountain in 1989 and laughed at the racism claims surrounding the film when he was asked by Disney historians if he found playing the role offensive or degrading, he said Disney treated him and his fellow cast and crew like kings.”

Another fan commented, “It’s not controversial though. Nobody cares about it or even gave a seconds thought about it until Disney removed it. They create their own controversy.”

Yet another fan added, “So they don’t like the happiness of the post civil war south and the gentleman having wonderful days, got it.”

Do you think Disneyland went too far by removing “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah” from their parade?