Good morning from Magic Kingdom, where the Adventureland entrance sign has gone missing. The Adventureland sign was removed recently, and we made it out to Magic Kingdom this morning to take a look. Right now, it’s unclear why the sign went missing, although the Frontierland signs were recently refurbished. It’s also possible that the sign was removed for a reimagining. Let’s take a closer look at the removal and discuss the possibilities.
Adventureland Sign Removed from Magic Kingdom
Before we take a look at the Adventureland entrance and missing sign, here’s a look back at the signage and props before they were removed. As you can see, the Adventureland sign was meant to resemble a stretched material, constructed with bamboo and installed on a wooden arch frame. Props such as an animal skull, human skulls, totems, and other ornamentation were also present.
And now, here’s a look at the missing sign from our visit to Magic Kingdom this morning. As you’ll see, not only is the Adventureland sign missing, but so too are the props that decorated the sign. Other props on lighting structures on either side of the Adventureland bridge remain in place.
Of course, the next question is: why was the Adventureland sign removed? I’m of two minds here. I think that it’s possible that this is some sort of standard refurbishment. With the refurbishment of the Frontierland signs finally complete, it’s possible that Disney is simply moving onto the next sign in the area and that’s the Adventureland sign.
As seen in some of our detailed photos above, the structure that the sign sits on appears to be of poor quality in a few places. It’s possible that the actual reason for the refurbishment is a refresh of the wooden structure, and the removal of the sign was just the first step.
Another possibility is that Disney is looking to reimagine the sign. More specifically, some of the props appear to be out of alignment with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) changes at the Jungle Cruise attraction. The removal of Trader Sam, removal of the dancing tribe, and the removal of other props depicting “natives” was part of a soft reimagining of the attraction.
If this were still the Disney of 2022-2023, I would be inclined to think that the removal of the Adventureland sign was part of DEI changes. However, when current Disney CEO Bob Iger returned, he aligned himself closely with the Trump administration, axing a number of DEI initiatives and programs within The Walt Disney Company.
Working inclusion into the theme parks was part of a platform called Stories Matter. That initiative was also ended with the removal of DEI programs. Right now, it’s unclear what the future of DEI is in the theme parks. There are a number of items in the theme parks that could change, but it seems unlikely that we’ll see the type of sweeping updates to the theme parks that we have in recent years.
For that reason, I think that it is more likely that the removal of the Adventureland sign is due to a more standard refurbishment, and not a reimagining.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
