Top 10 Exact Moments Disney Dropped the Ball

Genie from Disney’s “Aladdin” is iconic, thanks to Robin Williams’ remarkable voice performance. Remembered for his warmth, humor, and charitable work, Williams was deeply committed to giving back, from supporting the unhoused to performing for troops overseas. So perhaps it’s no surprise that he reportedly accepted a reduced salary for the Genie role. He simply asked that his voice not be used for merchandising, and to only be featured in 25% of ads, maximum, fearing commercial exploitation. Disney broke the first part of the agreement, leading to a fallout. Williams was understandably mad, only returning to the franchise for “Aladdin and the King of Thieves” once he had received an apology. During the interim, Dan Castellaneta, known for his work on “The Simpsons,” replaced him.

We know George Lucas as the mastermind behind the “Star Wars” franchise. In 1982, he founded Lucasfilm Games, a division of Lucasfilm, to develop video games. Renamed LucasArts in 1990, they developed beloved projects like the “Star Wars: Jedi Knight” series, “The Secret of Monkey Island” and “Grim Fandango”. However, Disney's 2012 acquisition of the company ended all in-progress development and led to the dismissal of most staff, dealing a significant blow to the community. The loss of these games, especially the highly anticipated “Star Wars 1313”, led to disappointment many still feel today.

In 1958, Disney added a documentary called “White Wilderness” to its “True-Life Adventure” films. It’s ironic, considering the company faked part of the product! To create compelling footage, filmmakers threw lemmings off a cliff, basically implying this was a natural behavior amid migration season. The animal cruelty was terrible enough, but the doc also spread misinformation, causing viewers to believe that lemmings have such instincts and mindlessly follow their herd. In fact, many still think this is true. In reality, while the animals do exhibit group behavior, especially during migration, they also have individuality, like in the “Lemmings” games!

Animator Don Bluth joined Disney in the 1970s, contributing to beloved classics like “Robin Hood” and “The Fox and the Hound”. Unhappy with the company’s business direction and creative limitations, he left in 1979, taking a number of animators with him to start Don Bluth Productions. Seeking more artistic freedom and higher standards, Bluth’s new studio notably produced “The Secret of NIMH”. He later founded Sullivan Bluth Studios, creating hits like “An American Tail” and “The Land Before Time”. Then, at Fox Animation Studios, he delivered the popular “Anastasia”. Those three films were incredibly successful, sparking renewed interest in quality hand-drawn animation from studios other than Disney. These films collectively made Bluth a fierce competitor to his once-employer.

Disney+ made waves when it launched, providing a vast library of content at a relatively affordable price. However, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the company introduced a controversial “Premier Access” model. Subscribers had to pay an additional fee — about $30—to watch new releases like “Mulan” and “Raya and the Last Dragon.” To be clear, that’s on top of their regular subscription. Naturally, many felt this move was a blatant cash grab during a challenging time, to say the least. While customers were already paying for the streaming service, the high rate for movies led to significant backlash and calls for more consumer-friendly practices.

The “Disney Renaissance”, beginning in 1989 and ending a decade later, bears that name for a reason. This era revitalized the company’s reputation and saw films considered among the Mouse House’s best, like “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King”, hit theaters. However, these movies’ mediocre sequels were released on VHS, and failed to reach the same classic status. Disneytoon Studios was founded in the ‘90s, and typically handled the follow-ups (in addition to other films). It was a division of Walt Disney Animation Studios, but the end result was never as good. The projects also received a low budget compared to Disney’s theatrical films, explaining the perceivable drop in quality.

The Lone Ranger is a classic cowboy character who has seen several popular adaptations. Unfortunately for Disney, their take was far from one of them. The film, one of the company’s biggest-ever box office flops, apparently cost them between $160-190 million. It was criticized for Johnny Depp’s portrayal of an Indigenous character and for being flat-out boring, especially considering its extensive runtime. Disney had hoped for a franchise expansion similar to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. There were even preliminary talks to bring in some form of attraction to the parks. However, those plans were swiftly abandoned, and it’s doubtful that Disney will return to the West soon.

Given its legions of devoted fans, you’d assume many would jump at the chance to stay at a Star Wars-themed hotel. Disney banked on this when they spent an estimated $400 million constructing the Galactic Starcruiser. The price of at least roughly $6,000 for a family of four or $4,800 for two people, excluding Disney World tickets and travel costs, was too much for many considering hopping aboard. For those who did stay, the only option was a roleplaying experience. Perhaps that was a dream for some. but it was surely inconvenient for others. Due to its limited audience, the Galactic Starcruiser ceased its voyage after slightly over a year.

“Song of the South”, set on a post-slavery plantation, is one of Disney’s most problematic films. Indeed, it has been condemned as “one of Hollywood’s most resiliently offensive racist texts” and as “propaganda for white supremacy” since its release. Its depiction of Black characters and romanticized depiction of plantations has notably sparked significant backlash throughout the years. Though rarely acknowledged now, the film inspired the Splash Mountain ride at Disney Parks until recently. In response to ongoing criticism and calls for change, Disney decided to deliver a revamped version of the ride, re-themed around “The Princess and the Frog”. The updated “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” aims to celebrate diversity with Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess, offering visitors a more inclusive and respectful experience.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Olaf's Frozen Adventure” (2017)
This Not-So-Short Short That Played Before “Coco” Was So Poorly Received That Disney Pulled It in Mexico

Attempting to Trademark “Day of the Dead”
Thankfully, Disney Retracted Their Application Following Backlash

Superstar Limo
The Ride Was Shuttered After Less Than a Year

In the 1990s, Disney planned to spend $650 million on an American history-themed park in Virginia. However, the inclusion of things like a Civil War-themed area raised eyebrows. After all, when you think of the most magical place on Earth, slavery hardly comes to mind. Concerns arose about how Disney would handle these sensitive topics. In addition to public protests, the park faced numerous other obstacles, including financial worries after Euro Disney underperformed. Ultimately, the project was axed in 1994 and the 600 acres of land were put up for sale the following year. While history-themed areas like Frontierland remain, Disney largely prefers to keep its kingdoms magical these days.

Did we miss any other notable Disney trainwrecks? Let us know in the comments!