In June 2020, Disney shocked (and angered) a lot of people when it announced that it would be completely retheming one of the most popular and classic rides there is — Splash Mountain. Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort’s versions of Splash Mountain will be undergoing extreme rethemes and the new attraction will be based on the hit animated film, The Princess and the Frog. The move immediately garnered both intense praise and intense backlash.
And now, Br’er Rabbit has jumped into the conversation.
The Twitter account Brer Rabbit (@BriarPatchz) was created in December, and its sole focus has been trying to get Disney to reconsider changing Splash Mountain to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. However, on December 18, Br’er Rabbit decided to change tactics and, instead of addressing Disney, addressed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Brer @RonDeSantisFL, hope you is ready to save Splash Mountain. I sho’ ‘nuf don’t want to see folks stop payin’ to see us critters in Florida!
Brer @RonDeSantisFL, hope you is ready to save Splash Mountain. I sho’ ‘nuf don’t want to see folks stop payin’ to see us critters in Florida!
— Brer Rabbit (@BriarPatchz) December 19, 2022
If you are wondering why the account thinks that Governor DeSantis might be able to do anything about Splash Mountain, it may have something to do with the dissolution of the Reedy Creek Improvement Act. The Reedy Creek Improvement Act essentially allowed Disney to operate as its own government, but when the dissolution happens, Disney will need to go through Florida’s red tape to do things like get permits.
DeSantis has not said what he plans to do with Reedy Creek once the dissolution takes place — which should be next June. He has said that he is considering creating a special district to oversee Reedy Creek, which was a special district. However, it is HIGHLY unlikely — if not completely impossible – that DeSantis would have any sway over the theming of the classic attraction.
Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom Park is set to close on January 23 and will reopen as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure sometime in late 2024. Disneyland’s Splash Mountain will also open sometime in late 2024, but Disney has not yet said when the ride is closing.