Splash Mountain has long reigned as one of the most iconic attractions in Disney Parks history, making waves at three separate parks and delighting guests for decades. But, oh, what a transformation this mountain has undergone!
It’s the only “mountain” ride that isn’t a roller coaster, and it was one of the first mountains to be based on a movie instead of an original story. Of course, many modern riders aren’t too familiar with the original film Splash Mountain was based on, which is why retheming this attraction into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was helpful to not only modernize it but also promote positivity and inclusivity.
Contentious Origins: Song of the South
Splash Mountain’s roots trace back to Disney’s 1946 film Song of the South, which has become known over the years due to its controversial portrayal of race and outdated stereotypes. This connection often surprises riders, as the movie itself has been largely hidden from public view in recent decades. In recent years, Br’er Rabbit and friends have become so closely associated with the ride that some mistakenly think they are original characters created for the park. Any reference to their cinematic origins has been swept under the rug; you won’t even find the film on Disney+.
Song of the South, the film that first introduced these characters, hit theaters in 1946, riding the coattails of Gone With The Wind and its influence on films about the Southern United States during the Reconstruction Era. It was a technical marvel, blending animation with live-action and gifting the world the iconic “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.” However, it wasn’t without its share of controversy.
Song of the South was an adaptation of the “Uncle Remus” stories compiled by Joel Chandler Harris, a reporter in Reconstruction-era Atlanta. These stories were reportedly shared among Black Americans at the time, though it’s unclear how many were genuinely authentic and how many were modified for a white audience by Harris or his sources. Using these fables as source material, Disney crafted the tale of a young boy who forms a relationship with the “real” Uncle Remus, a wise old former slave who lived on his family’s plantation. The film saw several releases over the decades, with the most recent theatrical release in 1986 and television broadcasts as late as 2006.
One of the biggest critiques of the film was its romanticization of slavery. While it never explicitly states this, Uncle Remus and other characters often express nostalgia for “the good old days.” Since the film is set shortly after the abolition of slavery, many interpret this as Uncle Remus longing to return to bondage. Needless to say, this and other problematic elements have led Disney to quietly lock the film away in the Disney Vault.
However, while the live-action framing story was quietly erased from memory, the characters of Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear remained popular in children’s books and comics. These stories, now divorced from their original context, would eventually become the storyline of Splash Mountain.
An Addition to Critter Country
In 1977, Disney unveiled Bear Country at Disneyland, a four-acre land centered around the Country Bear Jamboree, which has since been removed from Disneyland Park. However, this area often felt like a ghost town as guests flocked to more thrilling attractions elsewhere in the park. Meanwhile, America Sings, an animatronic revue featuring singing animals, was playing in empty theaters. Disney planned to close America Sings but needed to repurpose its many animatronics.
The ride was initially called Zip-a-Dee River Run, named after the Oscar-winning song from the film. However, then-CEO Michael Eisner, freshly minted in his role, decided to rename it Splash Mountain to capitalize on the release of the live-action movie Splash. Aside from a scene where a character sings “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” the attraction has no real connection to the film, and this decision continues to baffle scholars to this day.
The Price Tag of Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain’s construction cost a staggering $80 million, a jaw-dropping sum for the time. Adjusted for inflation, that’s over $182 million in 2020 dollars—more than the total cost of building Disneyland when it first opened! While Disney has since far surpassed this figure (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge takes the cake on that one — so far, anyway), Splash Mountain was a monumental financial commitment in its day. The attraction repurposed many animatronics from America Sings, installing them as various residents of Critter Country. Some animatronics were transformed into characters from Song of the South, while others were custom-built specifically for the ride.
One of the main reasons for the ride’s hefty price tag was due to safety concerns. The climactic drop was initially too intense; it drenched early riders, and some test dummies lost their heads. The ride also faced staging and technical issues, which necessitated several extensive redesigns to ensure both safety and a smoother experience.
One surprising challenge was reprogramming the recycled animatronics. Older figures, like those from America Sings used in Splash Mountain, were designed for a fixed sequence of movements. Unlike modern animatronics, which can perform a wide range of actions and even respond to stimuli, these older figures were built to deliver a single show sequence and little else. Adapting them to the new ride’s requirements was a complex task.
To acclimate the animatronics for the new show, they had to be completely rewired and reprogrammed, with new hydraulics installed to make their movements smooth and realistic. This process took months and was far from perfect. Even up until its recent closure, guests might notice animatronics malfunctioning from time to time—and sometimes, they’re even removed altogether!
Despite its rocky beginnings, the ride proved to be a huge hit. Nearly identical versions opened at Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland in 1992, just a day apart, and both received high praise and extreme popularity.
Capturing the Moment
Despite the elaborate theming and controversial source material behind Splash Mountain, the most iconic feature of the ride is a little technical innovation that’s been delighting guests for decades!
Splash Mountain probably didn’t invent the concept of on-ride photos. It’s undoubtedly the most iconic example. The ride cleverly uses that spectacular drop to capture guests in all their candid (or not-so-candid) glory as they plunge into the briar patch!
One reason Splash Mountain’s photos became so iconic? They debuted just before the internet took off, allowing guests to share their snapshots online. This sparked a trend of staging humorous or improbable ride photos, turning those moments into social media sensations.
After the success of Splash Mountain’s attraction photos, nearly every major ride at Disney Parks—like The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean—jumped on the photo bandwagon. With the advent of Memory Maker and PhotoPass services, these iconic photos have become more prevalent than ever. Some might even say we have Splash Mountain to thank for setting the trend!
So Long Br’er Rabbit, Hello Tiana!
In June 2020, a petition began circulating online calling for a re-theme of Splash Mountain due to its connections with Song of the South. Later that month, Disney officially announced that the ride would undergo a makeover inspired by The Princess and the Frog. They noted that the update had already been in the works before the petition gained traction.
The ride wasn’t given an official closing date at that time, so when Magic Kingdom reopened after the pandemic closure just a few weeks later, guests flocked to the Splash Mountain gift shop, prompting Disney to implement a virtual queue for the store. Merchandise sold out swiftly and quickly appeared online for resale at inflated prices.
Eventually, the frenzy subsided as the ride continued to operate for several months. In July 2022, Disney officially announced that Splash Mountain would be rebranded as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. By December, it was revealed that Splash Mountain at Disney World would close its doors for good on January 23, 2023. The Disneyland version was slated to close on May 31, 2023, with construction already underway at Disney World.
The new attraction’s story will unfold after the final kiss in The Princess and the Frog, following Tiana, Naveen, and Louis as they gear up for a unique Mardi Gras celebration. This grand celebration will serve as the ride’s grand finale, and throughout the journey, guests will enjoy original music inspired by the film’s songs.
The tale of this exciting ride begins in the line, where visitors discover that Tiana has launched Tiana’s Foods, a cooperative owned by its employees. Through her skills and the community’s collaboration, they transformed an abandoned salt mine into a cherished brand. Tiana acquired both the salt mine and its expansive salt dome. With assistance from her mother Eudora, Naveen, Louis, and other cooperative owners, she transformed the land into a thriving area where vegetables, spices, and herbs were cultivated for her recipes.
In gratitude for her family and community’s unwavering support, Tiana intends to host an extravagant party during Mardi Gras. However, when a mix-up occurs in the party arrangements, Tiana invites us to join her at Tiana’s Foods to help locate the missing ingredient (live musicians!) for the celebration!
Upon arrival at Tiana’s Foods, guests are greeted with vibrant decorations featuring artworks by local artists. The aroma of food fills the air as preparations are underway, with crates of beignets being readied for the upcoming journey into the bayou. Along the way, visitors encounter both new and familiar characters from the film, adding to the enchanting experience.
Walt Disney Imagineering crafted a new, original chapter for Tiana’s story. In the attraction queue, guests will uncover how Tiana expands her enterprise with Tiana’s Foods—an employee-owned cooperative. Through collaboration with the local community, Tiana revitalizes an aging salt mine, establishing a cherished brand.
As for the ride itself, the track remains the same with new music, new critters and characters, and a new adventure to enjoy. Yet, just like some of the hiccups with the America Sings animatronics struggling to adapt to their new programmed choreography, some of the new and much more sophisticated animatronics in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are challenging the established track and operations of the 1980s technology-based Splash Mountain infrastructure. This resulted in a rocky preview release and opening day delays or closures.
Regarding Splash Mountain, despite its rich history and recent controversies, the new application of Tiana’s hard-working and spirited story is delighting guests and capturing memorable ride photos. For the latest Disney updates, stay connected with AllEars.net.
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RIP Splash. Perhaps the greatest attraction ever created by WDI. When fun and creativity ruled the day. Before budget slashing reduced each new attraction built to “what could have been” status, and certainly before woke mindedness became the new central starting point. All you ever did Splash was put smiles on faces, no matter what each rider’s background was.
I could not agree more. This was one of the best rides Disney ever designed. In addition to the thrill of the log flume drop, it had cute animatronic animals, a coherent storyline, and the award-winning Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah song. Almost no one who rode this ride had seen the Song of the South movie, and the ride displayed no controversial scenes. It was good, wholesome fun. I wish the easily-offended people would not have sent in a petition to change this ride. And, as one of the few who have actually seen this movie, I recall it as a heart-warming story whereby a troubled young boy was helped by a wise Uncle Remus by his sharing of fables which were some of the funniest, most inventive of any Disney animation.