Disney to Update Peter Pan's Flight Ride to Address Stereotypes

Disneyland is set to update its iconic Peter Pan's Flight ride to eliminate what officials describe as “stereotypes” of Indigenous peoples. This decision follows a similar revision made at the Orlando theme park, where the portrayal of the Never Land Tribe was altered to present a more respectful depiction. The current scene, which features tribal members, including a chief, around a campfire, has drawn criticism from some users on social media who label the characters as “problematic” and “caricatures” of native culture. The revised scene at Disney World now showcases animatronic figures of Tiger Lily and her great-grandmother participating in a harvest celebration, moving away from the previous representation. Disneyland officials have indicated that they anticipate making comparable changes to the California attraction, although the timeline for these updates remains uncertain. The park's “Imagineers” are committed to implementing thoughtful modifications. In addition to the ride updates, Disney has introduced content warnings on its streaming platform, Disney+, for films that contain racial stereotypes, including the original 1953 animated version of Peter Pan. The disclaimer acknowledges that the portrayals of Indigenous characters in the film, which include the term “redskins,” are offensive and outdated. This initiative is part of a broader trend at Disney to address and rectify potentially insensitive content. The company has previously revamped the Splash Mountain ride, which was based on the controversial film "Song of the South," replacing it with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, inspired by "The Princess and the Frog."