- Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World shut down on Sunday.
- The reason behind was its rebranding as a Princess and the Frog theme.
- Because of its association with Song of Disney film drawn on racist tropes, it has endured criticism for years.
Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World shut down on Sunday in preparation for its rebranding as a Princess and the Frog theme, attracting lengthy lineups and a flood of sombre social media posts from Disney grownups.
According to Thrill Data, which tracks wait times at various theme parks, the Splash Mountain line reached a record-breaking 220 minutes on Sunday, or more than three hours. There was a swarm of people waiting to board, as seen in this video.
One seller on eBay is offering a jar of water from the ride for $25 in an effort to capitalise on the memories. Water is being offered by another vendor for just $5. Additionally, a used FastPass for Splash Mountain is being sold for $5,000.
A lady called Kara confesses in a TikTok that has received over a million views that she named her child after the ride and expresses her regret that it is closing.
The jokes in the comments suggest names for the infant ranging from Baby Splash Mounting to Splashton Mountleigh to Zippidy Doo Dah. In a subsequent TikTok, Kara discloses that the baby’s name is Briar, which she claims she chose after seeing it on a list of baby names and thinking about the ride’s briar patch.
“I know it’s very controversial and terrible, but the ride itself, I really like,” she says.
Because of its association with Song of the South, a 1946 Disney film that strongly draws on racist tropes, Splash Mountain has endured criticism for years. Even though the film was created 80 years after the Civil War and takes place after it, it nonetheless romanticises life on plantations and portrays Black characters as being subservient. Disney notoriously never released the film on home video or streaming since it has been criticised for decades.
Others on social media side-eyed the sadness over its closure because of its history.
Splash Mountain defenders when the Tiana ride has the exact same ride system but it doesn’t have characters from a 75 year old racist movie on it pic.twitter.com/GrGk8z944Z
— Kayla 💛 (@kobcritic_) January 22, 2023
@jolenedolo Unfavorable guest: people who don’t spend a lot at the parks 😇 #disneyland #disneyparks ♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono – moshimo sound design
Disney declared that the log ride’s Song of the South theme would be dropped in favour of tying into the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog in 2020. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be the name of the latest iteration of the ride.
We’re thrilled to share Splash Mountain at @Disneyland & Walt Disney World will be completely reimagined with a new story inspired by an all-time favorite @DisneyAnimation film, “The Princess and The Frog.” Learn about what Imagineers have in development.
— Walt Disney World (@WaltDisneyWorld) June 25, 2020
An inquiry for comment was not immediately answered by Disney World. When Splash Mountain at Disneyland will close has not yet been specified.
Current wait time for Splash Mountain, on its last day of operation – 5hours 👀 #thatscrazy #lovethisride❤️ #goodbyesplashmountain pic.twitter.com/G8MT6wXeTl
— MARISA ❤️❤️ (@MarisaSpice1985) January 22, 2023
Splash Mountain will still be a water-filled log ride even though it won’t be Splash Mountain anymore. This is a regular occurrence in Disney parks. Guardians of the Galaxy is now the inspiration for Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure. Disney World’s Stitch’s Great Escape was formerly Alien Encounter. Maelstrom, a ride that explored Norwegian history, was the previous name of Frozen Ever After.
It will be OK. There will be numerous opportunities to bike through the rain and then spend the rest of the day wearing damp jeans.
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