Disney to Change Splash Mountain to The Princess and The Frog Theme
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way. Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah
Disney just announced they have been working to change the theme of Splash Mountain at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, since last year, to be themed after the movie “The Princess and the Frog”. According to the “Disney Parks Blog” the ride will feature music from the film and continue the story after the final kiss. The story continues with Princess Tiana and Louis preparing for their first ever Mardi Gras appearance.
Splash mountain opened in Disney World on October 2nd 1992, I was 11 years old and it became and still is my favorite ride at Magic Kingdom. I have fond memories of riding it with my Uncle while my Aunt waited for us below. I was lucky to go to Grad Nite at Disney and remember getting to ride it repeatedly without getting off. I rarely leave Magic Kingdom without riding it.
Anyone who has been on Splash Mountain in the past few years may have noticed it was in need of some refurbishment. The water that used to spout over your head rarely worked and some of the scenery was long overdue for a refresh. Many times the ride would break down during our visits. Magic Kingdom did close down the ride for refurbishment recently from January 6, 2020 to February 28, 2020. (It is not uncommon for older rides too close for refurbishment occasionally)
Splash Mountain first opened in Disneyland on July 17th 1989, however it was planned to open in January/February. According to the “Los Angelas Times” it did more than “splash” riders and the executives testing the ride were completely soaked after riding.
On the 30th anniversary of the Disneyland ride the “Disney Parks Blog” posted some fun facts about the ride. It was the longest flume ride in the world when it opened and it has a 52 foot drop at a 45 degree angle. There are more than 100 colorful critters throughout the ride and the singing audio-animatronics in the final scene came from “America Sings”, a show in Tomorrowland that closed in 1988.
The movie ‘Song of the South,” that the ride is themed after, was last released in 1986 in the USA and 2000 in the U.K. and a petition began in June 2020 to change Splash Mountain’s theme to “Princess and the Frog.”
I will always love this ride and I’m excited to see what they will do with it. Since the ride was already based in the Bayou I hope I’ll see a few familiar critters, but either way I know it’ll end with a 52 foot drop and I’ll walk away a little wet.
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