Universal Orlando Amusement Park to ‘Evaluate’ Dr. Seuss-themed Attractions
By Movieguide® Staff
Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park will consider revamping the Dr. Seuss-themed area after Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the company that manages the late author’s books and characters, decided to stop the publication of six of the iconic children’s books.
BREAKING: Universal Orlando Evaluating Future of Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure After Publication is Halted on Several Classic Books for Being “Hurtful and Wrong”https://t.co/fx1TO5Ghyp pic.twitter.com/QSZI90br40
— Universal Parks News Today (@UniNewsToday) March 2, 2021
Movieguide® previously reported:
Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced that they would stop publishing six of Dr. Seuss’s classic children’s books.
“These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises told The Associated Press. “Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ catalog represents and supports all communities and families.”
The titles affected include “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” “If I Ran the Zoo,” “McElligot’s Pool,” “On Beyond Zebra!,” “Scrambled Eggs Super!,” and “The Cat’s Quizzer.”
The Islands of Adventure theme park contains a section called “Seuss Landing,” that features many characters from Dr. Seuss’s books. Furthermore, one of the attractions is themed after one of the canceled books, “If I Ran the Zoo.”
The park also features a gift shop called the “Mulberry Street Store,” referencing another book that will no longer be published.
A spokesperson for Universal Orlando spoke to the local Spectrum News about the park’s relationship with Dr. Seuss Enterprises.
“We’ve removed the books from our shelves, as they have asked, and we’ll be evaluating our in-park experience, too,” the spokesperson said. “But our guests can plan on continuing to be able to enjoy their favorite experiences at ‘Seuss Landing.'”
Notably, the announcement of the canceled publications came on the late Dr. Seuss’ birthday, which the president traditionally celebrates for “Read Across America Day.” Faithwire reported that while former President Barack Obama and former President Donald Trump both praised Dr. Seuss’ influence on child literacy, President Joe Biden neglected to follow suit.
Faithwire reported: “Over the course of his two terms in office, Obama said Dr. Seuss’ writing ‘challenge[s] dictators and discrimination,’ ‘call[s] us to open our minds,’ and encourages readers ‘to take responsibility for ourselves.’ In the final year of his presidency, Obama called Dr. Seuss’ one of America’s revered wordsmiths’ who ‘used his incredible talent to instill in his most impressionable readers universal values we all hold dear.'”
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss —
Theodor Gisel! At @UniversalORL’s Islands of Adventure, Seuss Landing is so wonderfully true to the style and spirit of the author — we just may need to celebrate with some green eggs & ham! #islandsofadventure #seusslanding pic.twitter.com/VrOs5ggCyd— Wishful Thinking (@wishful_thnkng) March 2, 2021