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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
JD Vance-Disneyland controversy: VP's Tiana's Bayou Adventure ride sparks row - Here's why
Vice President JD Vance made headlines after he took a day out of his busy schedule to spend time with his family at Disneyland near California's Anaheim. He was seen strolling through the theme park with his wife, Usha, and their kids. The family hopped on different rides to have a good time, as per TMZ. The move comes as there were protests in parts of California against the Trump administration's immigration policies. JD Vance and his family were spotted at Disneyland on July 12.(Getty Images via AFP) One ride choice of the Vance family has particularly drawn attention for its controversial nature. It's the Tiana's Bayou Adventure. According to TMZ, JD Vance and his family boarded the controversial ride during their trip to Disneyland. It's a newly revamped ride, which earlier went by the name Splash Mountain. For those unaware, the change of name and storyline of the ride had created a strong stir a few years ago. Also read: JD Vance heckled by protestors for dining at California's Sushi restaurant amid Texas flood tragedy: Watch viral video JD Vance's Disneyland visit: All about Tiana's Bayou Adventure controversy The controversy surrounding Tiana's Bayou Adventure is linked to an old ride, Splash Mountain. The ride was based on an old Disney film, Song of the South, which received backlash for showing slavery in a good light. It was also accused of portraying life in the Southern states after the Civil War in an insensitive manner. As a result, Disney had to retire the ride. Instead, it was replaced with a ride based on the story of Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog in a bid to promote inclusivity. Since Tiana is a black Princess, many saw it as a symbolic move, The Hill reported. Amid praises from some people, others deemed the name change as a political move. JD Vance and his family were unbothered by the controversy surrounding the ride, as per TMZ. They were also seen walking towards Tom Sawyer Island. Also read: How JD Vance convinced Lisa Murkowski to vote 'aye' for Big Beautiful Bill in tie-breaking effort The Vice President stayed at the Grand Californian Hotel. The place's security was increased considerably after some protesters took to the streets voicing against immigration policy. The visit comes just a day after massive Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at two farms in Ventura County, Fox News reported. Federal agents detained almost 200 people as they were believed to be undocumented immigrants. FAQs When did JD Vance visit Disneyland with his family? JD Vance visited Disneyland with his wife, Usha, and their kids on July 12, 2025. Which controversial ride is JD Vance and his family riding? JD Vance and his family hopped on the controversial ride, Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Why is Tiana's Bayou Adventure controversial? Tiana's Bayou Adventure is a revamped version of the old ride, Splash Mountain. The old ride was based on the controversial 1946 film, Song of the South, which was criticized for being racist.
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Theme parks in Japan take measures to keep visitors cool amid intense heat
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan and Yomiuriland have taken measures to help visitors feel cooler amid warm temperatures. With the arrival of July and the onset of intense heat, leisure facilities in Japan have begun holding events and implementing measures to help visitors feel cooler. Each facility's operators are racking their brains for ideas to counteract the severe heat that might keep guests away. More splash on Splash Mountain Starting in July 2025 , Tokyo Disneyland, in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, will increase the water flow on its popular 'Splash Mountain' ride, causing more spray than usual when the ride plunges into an area resembling the basin of a waterfall. This summer-only initiative reportedly features the 'largest flow volume ever', which will cause water to splash like a shower not only on passengers but also on spectators nearby. On July 1 , the park held a summer parade, with mist spraying in time to the music, and visitors cheered when water was sprayed toward them along the way. 'I got more water than I expected, and it cooled me down quite a bit,' said a 46-year-old part-time worker from Kobe who came with her family. Extended evening hours Universal Studios Japan (USJ), in Osaka, began giving away salt candy to visitors for the first time on July 1 . Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG Credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities World Trump tax Bill stalled by Republican rebellion in Congress Opinion How Apple gave 'the gift of fire' to Chinese electronics firms The park has also extended its opening hours into the evening to encourage visitors to come after the heat has subsided. 'People have begun to avoid going out in summer. We need to take serious measures to prevent people from getting heatstroke,' a USJ spokesman said. At Yomiuriland, an amusement park on the border of Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, all 42 gondolas of the observation wheel 'Sky-Go-LAND,' which opened in October 2024 , are equipped with air conditioning, allowing visitors to enjoy the view comfortably even in summer. Its predecessor did not have air conditioning. All three free rest areas in the park have also been equipped with air conditioning. Impact of heatwave The number of visitors to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea from April to September 2024 was 12.2 million, 300,000 fewer than the same period the previous year. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature in Tokyo from July to September 2024 was 28.1 deg C, 2.8 degrees higher than the average for that period. That heatwave is believed to have been one of the reasons for the decline in visitor numbers. According to the agency, this summer is also expected to be hotter than average nationwide. 'In recent years, extreme heat has had a negative impact on visitor numbers at many outdoor leisure facilities. 'How to keep visitors comfortable during the summer has become an important question for management,' said Mr Chiaki Kato of Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Yomiuri Shimbun
02-07-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Theme Parks Take Measures to Keep Visitors Cool; Park Operators Hope to Fight Lower Visitor Numbers Due to Brutal Heat
With the arrival of July and the onset of intense heat, domestic leisure facilities have begun holding events and implementing measures to help visitors feel cooler. Each facility's operators are racking their brains for ideas to counteract the severe heat that might keep guests away. More splash on Splash Mountain Starting this month, Tokyo Disneyland, in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, will increase the water flow on its popular 'Splash Mountain' ride, causing more spray than usual when the ride plunges into an area resembling the basin of a waterfall. This summer-only initiative reportedly features the 'largest flow volume ever,' which will cause water to splash like a shower not only on passengers but also on spectators nearby. On Tuesday the park held a summer parade, with mist spraying in time to the music, and visitors cheered when water was sprayed toward them along the way. 'I got more water than I expected, and it cooled me down quite a bit,' said a 46-year-old part-time worker from Kobe who came with her family. Extended evening hours Universal Studios Japan, in Osaka, began giving away salt candy to visitors for the first time on Tuesday. The park has also extended its opening hours into the evening to encourage visitors to come after the heat has subsided. 'People have begun to avoid going out in summer. We need to take serious measures to prevent people from getting heatstroke,' a USJ spokesman said. At Yomiuriland, an amusement park on the border of Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, all 42 gondolas of the observation wheel 'Sky-Go-LAND,' which opened in October, are equipped with air conditioning, allowing visitors to enjoy the view comfortably even in summer. Its predecessor did not have air conditioning. All three free rest areas in the park have also been equipped with air conditioning. Impact of heatwave The number of visitors to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea from April to September last year was 12.2 million, 300,000 fewer than the same period the previous year. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature in Tokyo from July to September last year was 28.1 C, 2.8 degrees higher than the average for that period. That heatwave is believed to have been one of the reasons for the decline in visitor numbers. According to the agency, this summer is also expected to be hotter than average nationwide. 'In recent years, extreme heat has had a negative impact on visitor numbers at many outdoor leisure facilities. How to keep visitors comfortable during the summer has become an important question for management,' said Chiaki Kato of Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co.
Sky News AU
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
‘The VIP lane with extra bells on': Prince Harry and Meghan Markle given royal treatment during family trip to Disneyland
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly given the full 'VIP' treatment during a recent family trip to Disneyland to mark Princess Lilibet's fourth birthday. On Friday, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, uploaded a new Instagram post that included special moments from the family's two day visit to the original Disneyland park in Anaheim. In the clip, the Sussex family were seen riding Splash Mountain and visiting Sleeping Beauty's Castle, Star Tours – the Adventures Continue and other iconic rides. Lilibet, who is currently seventh in line to the British throne, was also gifted an extravagant Little Mermaid-themed birthday cake. Markle, who has now been out of the royal family for twice as long as she was inside the firm, obligingly thanked Disney publicly for 'giving' the Sussexes 'pure joy'. 'Thank you @disneyland for giving our family two days of pure joy,' she wrote. According to royal commentator Rupert Bell, the Sussexes were in "the VIP lane with extra bells on" during the visit. 'There didn't seem to any other members of the public while they were there,' he told TalkTV on Sunday. 'They definitely were walking around with a photographer.' The passes presumably allowed the Sussexes to skip to the front of queues for popular rides and utilise underground tunnels to discreetly move through the crowded theme park. The Sussexes have maintained a friendly relationship with Disney ever since Harry was infamously heard on a hot mic asking Disney CEO Bob Iger about a voiceover role for his wife at the Lion King premiere back in 2019. Months later, Markle narrated a Disney+ documentary titled Elephant, but later clarified she took no payment for the role and did the gig for charity. The extravagant trip on Disney's dime comes just months after reports Prince William was concerned about Markle's flagrant use of her HRH title despite agreeing not to mix the title with her commercial ventures. Since leaving royal duties, the Sussexes have banked over $100 million USD through partnership deals with Netflix, Spotify and the proceeds of Harry's memoir Spare.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kenny Smith Reveals NBA Playoff Loss That "Hurt His Heart" on Tuesday Night
The NBA on TNT game night crew has become one of the most famous and popular of its kind in all of sports, led by the hijinx and hilarity of Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley along with the mostly stoic commentary of Kenny 'The Jet' Smith and Ernie Johnson. The crew broke down the NBA's winners and losers on Tuesday night as the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets all won their round one games, with the Pacers advancing to the second round after their Game 5 win over Milwaukee. Advertisement The night also included stark commentary from Smith as he revealed the NBA team whose playoff exit hurt his heart in the early round action. Cory Joseph is hit as he attempts to take a charge vs. Jaylen Brown of the Celtics on April 29, 2025. © David Butler II-Imagn Images "It hurts my heart Ernie," Smith said to Johnson in reference to the Orlando Magic's four games to one first round defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics. The NBA on TNT crew flashed a photoshop picture of the Magic players riding on the Splash Mountain ride at Disney World with franchise legend Dwight Howard and current stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wanger among those riding. The photo was titled 'Trash Mountain,' to which Barkley responded, sticking up for the young Magic after their tough loss to the defending champs. "Why y'all call it Trash Mountain?" Barkley exclaimed. Related: Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Makes Surprising Admission on Magic
