Disneyland’s Fireworks Dilemma: Will a Returning Classic Erase Splash Mountain…Again?

The 2026 D23 Expo brought a wave of thrilling news to Disney fans, but one announcement has sparked a fascinating debate. Disneyland confirmed that its beloved nighttime spectacular, Remember… Dreams Come True will make a triumphant return to the skies over Sleeping Beauty Castle. However, fans quickly realized that the original soundtrack features a brief piece from Splash Mountain.

Sparked by viral social media posts, a massive question has emerged. Since the physical log flume has been entirely replaced, will Disney edit the beloved fireworks show, or will the controversial music return to the park? Here is a look at the difficult entertainment decision Disney is now forced to make.

A Love Letter to Disneyland

Debuting for Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary in 2005, Remember… Dreams Come True is widely considered by park purists to be the greatest fireworks show the company has ever produced. Narrated by Disney Legend Julie Andrews, it serves as a breathtaking auditory time capsule. Instead of focusing on animated movies, the soundtrack highlights the original park’s actual rides, featuring audio from the Haunted Mansion, Star Tours, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

During the Frontierland and Critter Country segment, there is a vibrant, brief piece from Splash Mountain. Aquatic-colored pyrotechnics fill the sky while sounds of splashing water and instrumental snippets of “Ev’rybody Has a Laughing Place” echo down Main Street, U.S.A. It was a joyful nod to a classic thrill ride, but in the modern era, that brief audio snippet represents a massive corporate headache.

The Controversial Closure

Splash Mountain was a technological marvel, but its thematic source material was undeniably problematic. Based on Disney’s 1946 film Song of the South—a movie heavily criticized by scholars and the NAACP for racist tropes and a romanticized view of the post-Civil War South—the attraction faced mounting public scrutiny.

In 2020, Disney made the historic decision to close Splash Mountain to foster a more inclusive environment permanently. Today, the physical ride has been completely transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Reversing that construction is an impossibility, meaning the current dilemma is strictly about the music returning to the sky.

The Impossible Choice

Disney’s live entertainment team now faces a true dilemma. If they leave the original soundtrack completely intact, they risk severe public backlash. Playing audio tied to a culturally insensitive film directly contradicts the company’s highly publicized inclusivity initiatives.

So… to address the elephant in the room- when "Remember Dreams Come True" returns to Disneyland, I think Disney has the chance to win MAJOR goodwill towards a lot of the fandom by simply leaving the Splash Mountain section in the fireworks.

Do I think they will? No. But as I… pic.twitter.com/SLQ1VNfDYP

— ThatOnePassholder (@That1Passholder) August 18, 2026

On the other hand, if they edit the brief musical segment out of the show, they risk the ire of theme park purists. Fans view the original Remember… Dreams Come True is a masterpiece and often resists any historical alterations to classic park entertainment.

Realistically, a musical edit is highly likely. Disney has spent years systematically removing this specific music from background loops and parades globally. It is highly doubtful they will allow this brief piece of music to blast from the park’s largest outdoor sound system. Disney is once again facing a Splash Mountain decision, proving that the ride’s complicated legacy still echoes through the park.

If Disney does cut the Splash Mountain segment, which classic attraction do you think should replace it in the soundtrack?