Splash Mountain to become Princess and the Frog ride

[rteetz]

How will this fit into Frontierland?

How did Splash fit before? Splash wasn’t exactly western.

 

[ShayBells]

I’ll miss zip-a-dee-doo-dah song but I just really hope they keep all the dips and turns and length of the ride.
I hope they also announce refurb dates as soon as possible. I’d consider a trip down just to ride this one more time before my planned trip in 2021. I wonder also if they’ll take all YouTube videos of it down

 

[andyman8]

Has anyone ever considered that (the current) Splash Mountain doesn’t necessarily fit with the “theme” of Frontierland either? The aesthetic surely does (and it appears they’re going to keep much of that aesthetic), but the Old South and the Old West are very different thematically.

There’s something to be said for consistent theming, but I personally don’t think this instance is the one to draw the line at. Far too much precedent has come before it.

 

[JacknSally]

1920s in the south was VERY different than 1800s in the south... They do kind of have to stick to that timeline. Otherwise, they'd be removing the new ride pretty darn quick.

Oh, I agree that they were very different time periods. I was saying Disney doesn't necessarily have to stick to the original intended "timeline" of the Frontierland area. They do need to stick to the 1920's French Quarter setting of Princess and the Frog to make the ride work, I agree.

 

[aleh021]

Well... if you're mad or upset that's fine. At the end of the day it's just a theme park ride.

The ride system will be the same though, just a new theme and it's nice to see Princess & The Frog

Also - for those who say they should keep it original with original IP... aren't Song of the South characters also IP...?

But what do I know.

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

How did Splash fit before? Splash wasn’t exactly western.

It did fit into the timeline beginning at Haunted Mansion and ending at Big Thunder Mountain railroad.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I love how you're not allowed to *not* like this decision - like it's so terrible that people love this ride.

You're not allowed to care about something that someone else may like. That's a great mindframe. Everything must be tossed aside unless it's fresh and new, and you're a fool for disagreeing.

You're allowed to think and feel whatever you want. You know what I did when I saw this? I cried! Splash is a big deal in my family. My kid wears the sweatshirt, sleeps with Brer Rabbit every night and we have vintage posters. It is our favorite ride!

However, we know why it's an issue for many. I remember Song of the South even though my kid has no idea what it is. Princess and the Frog is a wonderful story and has been left out of the parks for far too long.

If you don't want someone to discredit your feelings about it, then don't discredit theirs.

 

[Tonyz]

How did Splash fit before? Splash wasn’t exactly western.

No it wasn't. But they were able to make it work.

This is straight up bayous of New Orleans.... right next to the mountains of Utah and Colorado.

But I guess consistent theming doesn't matter anymore.

 

[Emmaleighg728]

This is my favorite ride in all the parks. I have so many feelings right now, mostly anger. I can't believe this. I understand the movie has a lot of racial connotations, but the ride? I guess there's a lot of kids asking "what movie is this from?" and parents having to tap dance.

Me too, I’m so broken over this. PATF doesn’t even fit anywhere in Frontierland. I would love to see a PATF ride at DW but to replace splash? No chance. I saw on another thread someone said they should replace speedway with PATF and I completely agree. It isn’t necessarily on theme with Tomorrowland but I don’t think ANYONE would miss the dump that is Tomorrowland speedway....

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

Well... if you're mad or upset that's fine. At the end of the day it's just a theme park ride.

The ride system will be the same though, just a new theme and it's nice to see Princess & The Frog

Also - for those who say they should keep it original with original IP... aren't Song of the South characters also IP...?

But what do I know.

Actually the "Song of the South characters" are not IP-- most of them from the ride were reused from a previous attraction. That's why they chose Song of the South.

 

[BrianL]

If Splash was closer to Liberty Square it would fit nicely, where it is smack in the middle of Frontierland without a total theme reimagining seems forced at a minimum. If it's current climate, is Country Bear next on the chopping block? If you do that, and the shooting arcade, might as well re-do the whole land and make it something new.

How does The Princess and the Frog fit into Liberty Square? They are 150 years apart or so? It just doesn't work.

 

[SensesFailed]

I get, I really understand the thought process behind why they are doing it, but man.. Splash Mountain is iconic

 

[BrianR]

Has anyone ever considered that (the current) Splash Mountain doesn’t necessarily fit with the “theme” of Frontierland either? The aesthetic surely does (and it appears they’re going to keep much of that aesthetic), but the Old South and the Old West are very different thematically.

There’s something to be said for consistent theming, but I personally don’t think this instance is the one to draw the line at. Far too much precedent has come before it.

I associated Splash with Tom Sawyer island, and that "frontier" wasn't the old west. Mix of Tennessee / Mississippi River frontier time period and old west, but still a frontier nonetheless. Nothing Frontier about New Orleans, which is why if Liberty Square was near there it would flow much better.

 

[BrianR]

How does The Princess and the Frog fit into Liberty Square? They are 150 years apart or so? It just doesn't work.

It's just a costume change and it all fits, plus you can expand it and absorb some of the no-man's land of Frontierland and reimagine it on the cheap. The only reason you think Liberty Square is a time period is because of 5-10 actors and a canceled Muppet show.

 

[BrianL]

How did Splash fit before? Splash wasn’t exactly western.

They actually did this purposefully - the original folktales are sort of timeless and come from old Native American tales that sort evolved through African American telling. Anyway, the music at DLR is actually different - it's more Jazzy and fits the New Orleans Square vibe (though technically it is part of Critter Country). The music at MK is more twangy and western, to fit in the Frontierland theme. The stories kind of work in either setting as long as the trappings fit.

 

[Jiminy76]

It is set in the 1920's French Quarter, so it does throw off the "timeline" of the area in WDW, but I don't think they necessarily HAVE to stick to that original intention. It absolutely makes sense in Disneyland, though. It will be interesting to have Mardi Gras in between Pecos Bill and BTMR. Splash never really said "frontier" to me, personally. Not like the rest of the area does. Maybe Pecos Bill's will get rethemed to Tiana's Place!

I'm personally THRILLED. We love Princess and the Frog, Tiana, New Orleans, Mardi Gras, etc. so more of it in the parks is a-ok with us. And we loved Splash.

Yeah lots of mountains in New Orleans. Makes complete sense to have a log flume ride that drops you down a mountain themed to Princess and the Frog.

But hey we will get yet another re-skinned princess based ride in WDW. Lord knows we need another one of those.

 

[SmittS]

I really hope there are no screens on the rehash

This was one of my first thoughts as well. Please, please, please don't be a huge NRJ-like disappointment.

I understand the reason for the change...to a point. Sure, the source material is racially insensitive. But, the source material is near impossible to watch nowadays unless you pirate it. I feel like if you were ignorant to the source material there's nothing in the ride itself that could be considered racially insensitive unless I'm completely missing something. I agree with a previous poster - why not just make some new Briar Rabbit material?

That said, I do love PatF, so as long as they do the retheme right, it could work. I'm just bummed...

 

[JacknSally]

I associated Splash with Tom Sawyer island, and that "frontier" wasn't the old west. Mix of Tennessee / Mississippi River frontier time period and old west, but still a frontier nonetheless. Nothing Frontier about New Orleans, which is why if Liberty Square was near there it would flow much better.

IMO, 1920's New Orleans has even less in common with 1700's New England.

 

[rteetz]

Good discussion here with Bob Weis On this change and some other projects

https://d23.com/exclusive-walt-disn...ng-splash-mountain-for-tiana-and-her-friends/

 

[Marionnette]

I hope that they do a better job than they did with the Maelstrom->Frozen remake.