I remember being a child, attending Disney World and staying in the 'Dixie Land' hotel complex. Millions of visitors flocked to this facility when it was unveiled in 1992. It's Antebellum South theme was warm with manicured gardens, mint julips and southern charm. It was even equipped with it's own steam boat. The facility boasted a full size fictional newspaper and like with all of Disney's great parks, had a backstory rich with culture and history including the sounds of a jazz band playing in the streets. Over time, the questionable way Disney presented our nation's past has been poked and prodded. Statues being removed, and history being forgotten. Did you know about the history of this park? While it was enjoyed by all for almost a decade, it came under fire for its connection to it's confederate roots. The property even boasted a building which was designed to be a cotton mill. It was all tasteful, however, it was soon absorbed by the growing Disney portion known as Port Orleans. Dixie would fade into the darkness by 2002, never to been seen again. Slowly, over the years everything Dixie has been removed. With the newest addition to the list being Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, now shortened to just Dolly Parton's Stampede. The Dixie Stampede Dinner Show is a staple in Branson, Orlando and Pigeon Forge and made a fun night for visitors in town. It was often voted the most fun place to eat in the smokies. I was able to attend this performance, and while it was not the most educational dinner, it touched on the connection that the native americans had to the Appalachian mountains which has been almost completely cut out of everything in this area. Both sides of the arena would split, half would be the north and the other half the south. Now, while we may not be proud of some of our American past, we are certainly not able to censor what parts of it we keep and which to remove. Removing the name, and changing the themes will not make the situations better, or educate people for any higher purpose, so why remove the names? Those who do not remember their past, and their mistakes are doomed to repeat them. What do you remember from your childhood which was also censored?
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