DVDizzy Forum

Disney Duster wrote:Oh, then yes, UmbrellaFish, that part of Splash Mountain is racist.

With people claiming racism on Dumbo, Peter Pan, Song of the South, The Princess and the Frog, and Zootopia (thanks for the link JeanGreyForever), then it seems like Disney can't do creative endeavors, and people are making them hide away their movies and not do rides. Can Disney do anything? Hopefully no one says that John Henry short is racist, I liked that short...

I agree with DisneyDuster , This is getting RIDICULOUS, People see racism in everything nowadays , pretty sad in fact

Re: Splash Mountain's popularity

Only speaking for Magic Kingdom/WDW, as I'm not as well-versed with Disneyland, it's easily in the park's top 5 attractions, with an average wait of 45-60 minutes. Often higher on a hot, dry, summer day, and likely lower during the few times of the year Florida gets a bit of a chill. Like blackcauldron85 says, it's right next to Big Thunder Mountain, which is another quite popular ride.

I'd say the five most popular rides at Magic Kingdom roughly look like:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Peter Pan's Flight
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

I'd say the top 2 are pretty consistent, but 3-5 often rotate (Jungle Cruise or Tomorrowland Speedway may also creep in if they're having technical difficulties). You could hypothetically replace Splash Mountain for an extended period of time to refurbish or replace it, and still have plenty of other attractions to go on. But there'd still be something missing, I feel.

I have a feeling they're gonna end up doing to Splash Mountain what they did to that Churchill statue in Britain, stick the whole thing in a giant box.

Avaitor wrote:Re: Splash Mountain's popularity

Only speaking for Magic Kingdom/WDW, as I'm not as well-versed with Disneyland, it's easily in the park's top 5 attractions, with an average wait of 45-60 minutes. Often higher on a hot, dry, summer day, and likely lower during the few times of the year Florida gets a bit of a chill. Like blackcauldron85 says, it's right next to Big Thunder Mountain, which is another quite popular ride.

I'd say the five most popular rides at Magic Kingdom roughly look like:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Peter Pan's Flight
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

I'd say the top 2 are pretty consistent, but 3-5 often rotate (Jungle Cruise or Tomorrowland Speedway may also creep in if they're having technical difficulties). You could hypothetically replace Splash Mountain for an extended period of time to refurbish or replace it, and still have plenty of other attractions to go on. But there'd still be something missing, I feel.

The three bolded rides are the ones I see most consistently touted as favorites on social media and internet polls amongst the parks fandom. Especially since they're in both the American parks.

To the first post you made after mine, UmbrellaFish, I just wanted to say when you mentioned Pocahontas as one replacement idea that probably wouldn't work because of unpopularity, I couldn't help thinking the idea of Pocahontas characters on Splash Mountain makes sense because the film begins with her jumping off the cliff into the water below or whatever. She sings about "the voices of the mountain," too. And of course one of the shots that stays with me most from that film is the end of "Just Around the Riverbend." Still, I think the real reason is that Pocahontas itself is seen as somewhat racist by a sizable crowd. I remember getting into a very unexpected argument with several people when I suggested the film be in Kingdom Hearts at some point on a KH forum a year or two ago. I mean, I don't think the film is that bad.

But I still say The Princess and the Frog makes the most sense and I hope it's the one they replace the SotS characters with. It is the most fitting considering SotS glorified the enslavement of black people, so... Still, I don't think Pocahontas possibly being unpopular would really affect Splash Mountain's popularity. I don't think they'd re-name the ride even with the characters changed, would they?

I'd love either Pocahontas or TP&tF as replacements, since they're 2 of my most favorite films. Virginia isn't quite in the "Frontier," but maybe Louisiana counts?? You make amazing points about Poca, DD, but I'm with you that it might be a controversial choice.

TP&tF has the bayou, which has water, so I totally think the film would lend itself well to the ride...

well there's also the option of just having the fab 6 in frontier outfits and making it a generic western /frontier theme ride with Mickey and the gang. The SOTS critters should fit right in since they are anthropomorphized anyway. Are there any shorts featuring the fab 6 with a frontier or western theme? Im sure there's gotta be a few.

Please tell me they aren’t actually going to go through with an unnecessary retheming...

They're being pressured to but with the parks reopening and people pressuring them not to reopen so quickly, I'm sure they have bigger problems right now.

unprincess wrote:well there's also the option of just having the fab 6 in frontier outfits and making it a generic western /frontier theme ride with Mickey and the gang. The SOTS critters should fit right in since they are anthropomorphized anyway. Are there any shorts featuring the fab 6 with a frontier or western theme? Im sure there's gotta be a few.

I like that idea. Um, out of the core original shorts (not Mickey's Mouse Works or House of Mouse, etc), there aren't any western/frontier themed ones that i know of that were "Mickey Donald Goofy" cartoons, but there are others that might fit.

Shorts that *would* fit: Timber, Donald's Gold Mine, Dude Duck, The Legend Of Coyote Rock, Sheep Dog, Pests Of The West. Maybe they could use the basic theme of Californy 'er Bust, without the depictions of the Native Americans; same with Pioneer Days. Two Gun Goofy, um, without guns; same with No Hunting, The Cactus Kid, Two-Gun Mickey.

Some other cartoons may be able to fit in? "Mickey Donald Goofy" cartoons: Mickey's Service Station (I was thinking because of small-town USA, but wrong time period!), Moose Hunters, Mickey's Trailer, Billposters
Others: Goofy and Wilbur, How To Fish, Foul Hunting, Hold That Pose, Two Weeks Vacation, The Wise Little Hen (I didn't go through the Silly Symphonies, but ones like The Three Little Pigs...I mean, they're not Frontier, but animals-in-houses fit!!!) Old MacDonald Duck, The Village Smithy, Donald's Garden, Old Sequoia, Donald Applecore, Up a Tree, The Barn Dance, Mickey's Follies, The Barnyard Concert, The Shindig, Musical Farmer, The Steeple Chase, R'Coon Dawg.

OH MY GOD IT'S HAPPENING

https://d23.com/exclusive-walt-disney-i ... r-friends/

I can’t believe it’s actually happening. Thank you Disney!

I still think TPATF is a wonky fit for WDW, but eh whatever. The songs will be so fun to hear on the ride and I hope the animatronics are like the new ones for the BATB ride in Japan. Those look amazing!! https://youtu.be/bJtNxaTwgz0

I had meant to reply to more of these posts, but my family has been moving from one apartment to another and I’ve been exhausted. If I need to address anything I’ll come back to it.

I'm fine with the change, but I find it hilarious that "it has been a year or more since [they] started talking about this particular concept" and it is just a coincidence that they only talk about it now

Well... I’ve always heard that Imagineering has a lot of pots boiling at all times. Most of it never sees the light of day, though. I believe them when they say it’s been in development for a year, but I also think that it ultimately got the green light and we got today’s announcement due to the recent petitions and general outcry.

I think they might have wanted to change the ride because it is outdated, but I don't believe that The Princess and the Frog is what they had in mind.

I knew Disney would eventually cave, but I didn't think it was going to happen so quickly. Theme park fans are not going to be happy about this! The concept looks good, but I wish they included Naveen as well. By the way, will it still be called "Splash Mountain" or will they rename it too?

All Splash Mountains will be updated to TP+tF I imagine? TP+tF is one of my favorite films, and I do think the bayou theme will be a good fit. I'm super happy with this.

I think they'll rename it. "Going Down the Bayou" would be fitting.

blackcauldron85 wrote:All Splash Mountains will be updated to TP+tF I imagine?

In the US, yes, but no word on the Tokyo Disneyland Splash Mountain. I’m sure the situation there has to be handled differently because of the different culture, and more importantly, the fact that Disney does not own that park outright.

Going Down the Bayou would be a cute name! Definitely “Tiana” or “TPATF” will be in there somewhere. Splash Mountain is kind of an intense ride for a young person who is a fan of Princess Tiana, I wonder if they will title it like “The Scary Adventures of Snow White” to make it clear the ride isn’t for everyone? Or will the fact that kids can see the drop from outside be enough haha?

In celebration of this change, here I am on some rides at Disney World. Both ones on the right are from Splash Mountain. The one of the bottom right, I tried to smile for the camera but then the sheer terror overcame me:

https://imgur.com/a/eTn8Cvd

Guess I'll have to eat several hats now (but I'm happy Tiana is getting more attention in the parks, even if it means I'll never get to ride the original version of Splash Mountain)