Disney World has updated the controversial “Never Land Tribe” scene in Peter Pan’s Flight at Magic Kingdom.
The ride reopened Friday after a six-week-long refurbishment that included modifying the scene that features Tiger Lily and other indigenous characters from Disney’s 1953 film, “Peter Pan.”
The updated scene is set in the tribe’s village during a harvest celebration, according to Disney.
“Here, Tiger Lily and her grandmother gracefully performs the traditional Fancy Shawl Butterfly Dance by the fire, capturing the vibrant spirit of the occasion,” reads a description shared by Disney.
Tiger Lily and a her grandmother are depicted mid-dance on a rotating platform as the other figures beat a drum. The teepees in the scene were also updated with new colors and symbols.
The old scene was heavily criticized for its use of racist caricatures of indigenous people—the same depictions used in the animated film.
Peter Pan’s Flight, one of the original Magic Kingdom attractions, is the latest one with culturally insensitive depictions to get an update. In 2021, Disney revamped its Jungle Cruise ride to remove depictions of spear-wielding tribespeople and a shrunken head dealer.
Most recently, Disney opened Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom, a replacement to Splash Mountain which featured characters from Disney’s controversial 1946 movie “Song of the South.” Disneyland’s Splash Mountain is also being transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is set to open Nov. 15.
