Why no Splash Mountain poll?

[merlinjones]

With the big article on Splash Mountain's redesign I would like to have seen a poll of readers reactions. Do they prefer it remain Song of the South or do they prefer Princess and the Frog or don't care either way.

[mickdaddy]

While I love Splash mountain I can see the need for the change and I think Princess and the frog is a great theme to transform it, I like that they have created a new story with the characters instead of just a retelling of the movie but my main concern comes from how they plan to incorporate the drops into the story. The brilliance of Splash mountain is that the drops are so well written into the storyline. I will hold out full judgement when I see the final product. I will say though that to me this is different than the Changes made to Pirates and Jungle Cruise as the story and scenes here are not really problematic as it is just stories tied to a movie that is scene as problematic and no longer available.

[Mr_IvanStark]

I've seen a lot of Disney fans take this change to heart. I can can relate. That's how I felt when they were removing TOT. But then again, I was never a big fan of Splash Mountain. I've been on that attraction maybe around 4-5 times ever! But like it's been said on here many times, sometimes change is good. I'm sure they're going to still have the drop

[BasilOregano]

I've seen a lot of Disney fans take this change to heart. I can can relate. That's how I felt when they were removing TOT. But then again, I was never a big fan of Splash Mountain. I've been on that attraction maybe around 4-5 times ever! But like it's been said on here many times, sometimes change is good. I'm sure they're going to still have the drop

The ride I don't care for in either incarnation, but man oh man, do I wish the thing they replaced TOT with was easier on the eyes from other areas of the park... or at least plant a bunch of tall trees in front of it and build a berm, it looks completely ridiculous looming behind Carthay Circle.

Splash Mountain, I don't know. The need for a change is eminently reasonable and Princess and the Frog is a great property to choose, but the original ride is just so well done. Not just in terms of technical craft but in terms of creative craft: the ride is a masterclass in how to effectively and tastefully use mood, tone, story, music environment, and so forth to build an experience. There's no reason WDI can't come up with something just as good or better, and I have been pleasantly surprised by some of their recent successes, but I don't know, I'm worried we're going to get a lot of screens, a lot of projections, and lot of "look it's the character you recognize." I would be very happy to be proven wrong, though.

[Stormy]

With the big article on Splash Mountain's redesign I would like to have seen a poll of readers reactions. Do they prefer it remain Song of the South or do they prefer Princess and the Frog or don't care either way.

Could you please link to this big article? I tried googling, but can't find any 'new' articles.

IIRC there was a 'thread poll' when the redesign was first announced.

[merlinjones]

Song of the South the film is very meaningful to me (since I first caught it in 1971 and countless times since), as is the score, the storytelling, the animation, characters, and art -- what I liked most about Splash Mountain the ride is that is brought that joyful, beautiful environment to life and we could step inside just like Bobby Driscoll.

I likely won't ride again after the change even out of curiosity. But then, it's possible I might never even go to the park again due to the forced technology migration, so...

(Stormy: article is on MiceChat main page today - press ''Features" on top bar above)

[kjhorton25]

Change is something that is essential in theme parks, technology advances, societal changes etc. Princess and the Frog is one of my favorite Disney movies since the start of the 2000's, great music, characters, art direction the list goes on. Which is why it's a perfect replacement for Splash Mountain. The only question is the one of money. How big of a budget is this retheme going to get? I've been very impressed with Imagineering the past couple of years with RotR and the Runaway Railway in WDW (It's gonna be a big success here at DL as well). Even the Millenium Falcon is solid, just wish they would add a few more missions like Star Tours but I digress. We know the talent that Imagineering has it is now only a question of will Disney allow them to spread their wings and let the creativity not be compromised by the bottom line. I sure hope so, I'm really rooting for this to be a success.

[Co Foo]

Splash Mountain, I don't know. The need for a change is eminently reasonable and Princess and the Frog is a great property to choose, but the original ride is just so well done. Not just in terms of technical craft but in terms of creative craft: the ride is a masterclass in how to effectively and tastefully use mood, tone, story, music environment, and so forth to build an experience. There's no reason WDI can't come up with something just as good or better, and I have been pleasantly surprised by some of their recent successes, but I don't know, I'm worried we're going to get a lot of screens, a lot of projections, and lot of "look it's the character you recognize." I would be very happy to be proven wrong, though.

This is basically true. Splash Mountain is a classic ride even if it isn't one of my favorites. I like Princess and the Frog and can see the upside, but it's hard to trade something that is very good for something new that is an unknown.

The trick in thinking about WDI's potential is that there are enough hits and misses so that you can imagine basically whatever you want.

[Co Foo]

The best thing about Splash Mountain is the music. The best thing about Princess and the Frog is (not coincidentally) also the music.

[Captain Andy]

Could you please link to this big article? I tried googling, but can't find any 'new' articles.

IIRC there was a 'thread poll' when the redesign was first announced.

The article was only updated today for the upcoming refurbishment date. There has been no additional news.

[mickdaddy]

The ride I don't care for in either incarnation, but man oh man, do I wish the thing they replaced TOT with was easier on the eyes from other areas of the park... or at least plant a bunch of tall trees in front of it and build a berm, it looks completely ridiculous looming behind Carthay Circle.

Splash Mountain, I don't know. The need for a change is eminently reasonable and Princess and the Frog is a great property to choose, but the original ride is just so well done. Not just in terms of technical craft but in terms of creative craft: the ride is a masterclass in how to effectively and tastefully use mood, tone, story, music environment, and so forth to build an experience. There's no reason WDI can't come up with something just as good or better, and I have been pleasantly surprised by some of their recent successes, but I don't know, I'm worried we're going to get a lot of screens, a lot of projections, and lot of "look it's the character you recognize." I would be very happy to be proven wrong, though.

I agree with this completely the charm of the rides are often through well done physical props and sets, There can be some good use of screens to provide depth to back grounds but not as the primary source of a scene, I think this needs to be done at the same level that the current version in order to be successful and the story line needs to be just as solid and work with the ride flow.

[disneywarcrafts]

To be dead honest. Splash Mountain is more or less a boat ride through the old America Sings with different songs. Uncle Remus is nowhere to be found on the ride and changing it is neither here nor there in my eyes. We will see the inclusion of a black villain which seems counter intuitive. Im posting incognito, so I can say that.

[Co Foo]

To be dead honest. Splash Mountain is more or less a boat ride through the old America Sings with different songs. Uncle Remus is nowhere to be found on the ride and changing it is neither here nor there in my eyes. We will see the inclusion of a black villain which seems counter intuitive. Im posting incognito, so I can say that.

and a black hero (Tiana).

[disneywarcrafts]

and a black hero (Tiana).

I would have been on board with Tiana defeating a white villain tbh. Adding another black villain just keeps the stereotypes going and is more of the same.

I’m not very woke, so there’s that as well.

[J. Thaddeus Toad]

Isn't the new January date just for a small refurb? I would think they'd make a bigger announcement if it wasn't.

[DLHMFAN]

As much of a fan I am of Splash Mountain; it may be time for it to go. The movie is controversial and the characters in the ride are controversial. Change is inevitable. If it does close in January, I'm happy I got to say goodbye to Splash Mountain back in August when the rumors of the ride closing were spreading.

[Co Foo]

I would have been on board with Tiana defeating a white villain tbh. Adding another black villain just keeps the stereotypes going and is more of the same.

I’m not very woke, so there’s that as well.

Different people can come to different conclusions as to how different ethnic groups should be portrayed, but I'm not a person to focus only on the negative.

[merlinjones]

Isn't the new January date just for a small refurb? I would think they'd make a bigger announcement if it wasn't.

Then there is still hope that the expensive redesign project could be defunded and dropped.

[J. Thaddeus Toad]

Then there is still hope that the expensive redesign project could be defunded and dropped.

I think it largely depends on how development of the Disney+ PATF series is going. If they start anticipating a flop or even disinterest in the IP amidst a streaming service that is currently struggling, it may mean no reskin.

Chapek and the rest of the company are under immense pressure to turn Disney+ around right now, and since the park's attractions and lands are now inextricably linked to the streaming service, it will be interesting to see how ongoing platform developments affect the parks.

[Psychotic Parakeet]

My only fear of the make-over is it being subpar like most of the other recent ride makeovers (e.g. California Screamin' etc...), and that it will be mainly the use of screen projections with very little to no actual "new" animatronics.