Splash Mountain reopened today at a Disney park, restoring access to an attraction that has otherwise disappeared from Disney’s global lineup.
The reopening comes at a time when Splash Mountain has effectively been erased from U.S. theme parks. Disney permanently closed the ride at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom, replacing it with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as part of a broader effort to distance the company from Song of the South (1946).
Disney framed the retheme as a modernization effort. Fan response, however, has remained divided, with criticism centering not only on the decision itself but on the execution of the replacement attraction.
Since opening, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has faced operational scrutiny. Guests have reported repeated technical issues, including malfunctioning animatronics and ride vehicles taking on water, adding fuel to debates about whether the replacement justified retiring a longtime headliner.
With Splash Mountain removed from U.S. parks, attention shifted overseas, where one version of the ride continued operating unchanged.
Tokyo Disneyland Reopens Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain has officially reopened at Tokyo Disneyland following a month-long closure that began on January 14.
The ride was taken offline for its annual winter refurbishment, a standard practice at Tokyo Disney Resort, particularly for water attractions during colder months. Local temperatures are expected to dip into the low 30s, making the timing less than ideal for ride demand.
Even so, the reopening is notable given ongoing speculation about the attraction’s future in Japan. For years, rumors have suggested Tokyo Disneyland’s Splash Mountain could eventually be rethemed or permanently closed.
Those rumors intensified in November, when Kao Corporation quietly ended its long-running sponsorship of the attraction. While Kao continues to sponsor Toy Story Mania! at Tokyo DisneySea and the resort’s hand-washing areas, it is no longer listed as Splash Mountain’s sponsor on the Tokyo Disney Resort website.
The ride’s gift shop, Hoot & Holler Hideout, also closed in November 2024, adding to concerns that structural changes could be underway.
Industry reports have long suggested Disney wants to retire or retheme Splash Mountain in Japan as well. Those efforts reportedly stalled over cost disagreements between Oriental Land Company and The Walt Disney Company.
As the licensing partner, Disney is said to be pressuring OLC to retire the attraction. Reports suggest Disney has restricted the use of Splash Mountain’s music across the park and plans to limit the sale of related merchandise.
Tokyo Disneyland has historically resisted certain sensitivity-driven updates implemented elsewhere. Its version of Pirates of the Caribbean still includes the original “we wants the redhead” scene, which was removed years ago at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Disneyland Paris.
Despite uncertainty, Splash Mountain remains one of Tokyo Disney Resort’s most popular attractions. Its merchandise continues to sell strongly, and its seasonal “extra-wet” summer overlays are a major draw during Tokyo’s humid months.
Have you ever experienced Tokyo Disneyland’s version of Splash Mountain?
