Thunder Mountain's Splash...

[mrfantasmic]

...used to be a legit splash. You know, where the train was slowed by the water, and you got wet from the water splashing off the rocks (especially if you were in the back!).
But during a refurb, the splash was changed to be the sad little pumps that are rather pathetic in comparison.
But when did it change?
Why did it change?

[ryborg]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

Ahh I always thought thats what happened.. I never thought to try and confirm it with anyone.. Yea, I remember it originally being a way better splash -- it's pretty phoney stuff now.

[GeneralShang]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I never remember it being a real splash. it was always a fake splash, I thought. The only attraction with a real splash was Matterhorn.

[GrimmGreen]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I never remember it being a real splash. it was always a fake splash, I thought. The only attraction with a real splash was Matterhorn.

yeah as long as i can remember , so back to at least 1982 i remember the splash being fake , Though i thought it was real , ofcourse my dad corrected me and showed me the tubes where the water is pumped out

[hollywood1939]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I'm pretty sure it's always been fake.

[Aristocat]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I also remember a more convincing splash. I think that some of the track was also underwater. Not by much, but still.
At some point, though, it became a weak squirt.
Much like the Innoventions building...

[Gunny]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I too think that the water level used to be higher.

[frecky]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I cant ever remember it being "big"...as far back as I can remember its always been little.

[Opus1guy]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

It's been a fake splash since day one.

[mrfantasmic]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I have to disagree. the splash was removed after a refurbishment at one time. I read or heard from somewhere that they had done it, and it made me sad.
THe 1989 Disneyland Fun video shows the original splash.

[Yendorb]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

Concur with Opus1guy, fake from the start. there may have been more water sprayed towards the people in line.

[Nela25]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I remember when I was younger that the water would spray out so far that it would get the people waiting in line pretty wet. I want to say that they lowered the water pressure several, several years ago.

[Captain Rex]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

Agreed. There used to be more fake splash.

[The Mad Hatter]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

It needs more cowbe....er splash please.

[bearride]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

It's always been fake! Agreed, it was more than it is now but still fake.

[Jerm]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I am leaning on the side of used to be real. But I don't know when or how it changed over. It was BI (before internet) so that info might be lost forever.

J

[Disneyland Daddy]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

I remember when I was younger that the water would spray out so far that it would get the people waiting in line pretty wet. I want to say that they lowered the water pressure several, several years ago.

This is true - as I was one of the ones that got wet on various occasions. That was sort of a 'fun thing' really.

In 1979 when the attraction opened, whether or not the splash was real or not is debatable.....but if it was fake then, then it looked a heck of a lot more real than those PVC pipes shooting water out of them. I have to think that the train actually rode through the water.....but like I say, I was only 8 back in 1979....but I do recall that the splash was quite 'real' compared to how it is today.

[flatfnder]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

So you are saying that if you stand on Tom Sawyers Island and watch the wave that goes over the front of the log just before it makes the turn at the end of the drop that the wave is not a real wave.....just a piped in effect? I was standing on the island watching for a while the other day and some logs caused huge waves that filled the whole tunel from bottom to top and some waves that didn't go neck high on the riders.

[rihard2000]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

Watch this 1979 Big Thunder Mountain commercial and see if you can tell...(the splash is 24sec. into video).

[Gunny]

Re: Thunder Mountain's Splash...

So you are saying that if you stand on Tom Sawyers Island and watch the wave that goes over the front of the log just before it makes the turn at the end of the drop that the wave is not a real wave.....just a piped in effect? I was standing on the island watching for a while the other day and some logs caused huge waves that filled the whole tunel from bottom to top and some waves that didn't go neck high on the riders.

Thats Splash MNT not Big Thunder