Whether you agreed or disagreed with Disney’s controversial decision to close Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, surely you miss the once extremely popular log flume attraction. Closed for a year now at Disney World, the popular ride is undergoing a serious retheme, soon to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Although it has been twelve months since the famous ride featuring characters like Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox closed in Orlando, many are still dealing with the emotional aftermath of its dismissal by Disney CEO Bob Iger and the rest of The Walt Disney Company. However, maybe there’s a silver lining you haven’t thought about that might add a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
Splash Mountain Says Goodbye
Although Disney traditionalists accept Walt’s philosophy of a forever-changing landscape of magic, change is often still a difficult thing, especially when it infringes on childhood memories. Although popular IPs such as Star Wars have seen plenty of opposition upon their announced incorporation at Disney World, none have been as troublesome as Splash Mountain.
For those living in a box, Splash Mountain was a popular water-based ride at Disney parks around the world, including Walt Disney World and Disneyland Park. It was located within the Critter Country and Frontierland areas of its respective parks. The ride is based on the characters and stories from the 1946 Disney film Song of the South.
Related: This Disney Park’s Splash Mountain Just Became a Record-Breaking Attraction
The storyline of Splash Mountain follows Brer Rabbit, a mischievous character from the film, as he embarks on an adventure to escape from Brer Fox and Brer Bear. Guests would join Brer Rabbit on his journey through the colorful and immersive scenes of the ride, which include encounters with other classic characters like Brer Frog and Old Man Alligator.
The highlight of the ride was the thrilling final drop, where guests plunged down a steep flume into a splashdown pool, creating a big splash and leaving everyone drenched. This exciting finale is what gave the attraction its name and added to the overall fun and immersive experience.
Splash Mountain offered a combination of Disney storytelling, music, animatronics, and water-based thrills, making it a favorite among both children and adults. The catchy songs, such as “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” further enhanced the atmosphere and created a memorable experience for guests.
Controversy Surrounds Splash Mountain as Times Change
In recent years, there have been discussions and petitions regarding potential changes to the ride due to its connection to the controversial film Song of the South. The Walt Disney Company announced plans to retheme Splash Mountain to feature characters from the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog, focusing on the beloved Princess Tiana. This transformation, known as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, aims to create a more inclusive and culturally relevant experience for guests.
Related: Splash Mountain “Fights Back”; EXPLOSION Sets Back Construction on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Both U.S. versions of the ride, one at Disneyland and the other at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World Resort have since both been closed and undergone plenty of work to refurb each to fit into the New Orleans-style themes of The Princess and the Frog.
A current look at the progress on Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/pLS8AzboWI
— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) January 5, 2024
Fans of the ride were leveled by the news, and quickly, many support groups and petitions popped up all over the internet. In some cases, the argument against Disney’s decision to retheme the popular attraction makes sense, especially considering that its Tokyo Disneyland version is still in operation.
However, the opposing side notes that stories from Uncle Remus, derived from tales told to the creator of Brer Rabbit while growing up on a Georiga plantation, remain unethical to capitalize on. So now, Splash Mountain at Disneyland and Disney World will feature popular characters from the 2009 film like Mama Odie, Prince Naveen, and, of course, Tiana herself.
A Reason to Get Excited
Although other popular attractions at Disney World, such as Space Mountain, still remain untouched, the loss of such an iconic ride was enough reason for some to write off Disney altogether. Despite our own individual feelings towards the old theme of the attraction, the emotions of those impacted by its loss should not be dismissed. However, there is something they can look forward to when it comes to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Related: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Sneak Peek Unveiled
Of course, the actual ride system of Splash Mountain isn’t going anywhere. Disney Imagineering has been hard at work adding new features to the attraction, but its overall layout will remain the same, including that iconic drop at the end. In that way alone, Disney’s Splash Mountain will live on. But Disney fans can look forward to a potential addition from New Orleans culture that hasn’t been available at Magic Kingdom, for instance, in the past.
Disney has released photos of a handcrafted weathervane that was recently installed at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom. It was created by Louisiana master blacksmith Darryl Reeves. pic.twitter.com/xVfESbSQh0
— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) January 5, 2024
We love our snacks here at Disney Dining, and Walt Disney World doesn’t slack when it comes to fresh, hot, delicious foods to enjoy during your park day. With the inclusion of Tiana at her new home and possibly Tiana’s Palace, we all expect to see the introduction of beignets at Magic Kingdom eventually, hopefully.
Obviously, there was reason to change, but still. . .
byu/DoomBuggie27 inWaltDisneyWorld
We aren’t the only ones excited about this option either. Although the post was made in a joking way, Reddit user @Doombuggie27 shares our sentiments of sadness to see a classic Disney attraction say farewell. But we’re also pretty excited about that wonderful, sugary New Orleans staple, beignets.
Despite the upcoming changes, Splash Mountain remains an iconic and beloved attraction in memory, known for its immersive storytelling, thrilling drops, and refreshing splashes. However, it’s successor, Tiana’s Bayou Adventer, is sure to be worthy of replacing the iconic ride. If not, at least we get beignets out of the deal.