Splash Mountain gets a makeover

Republished from Enchanted News and Travels, February 16, 2023.

The nearly 34-year-old ride Splash Mountain is getting a major redo!

The Disney World ride closed in January 2023, and Disneyland Splash Mountain will officially close at the end of May 2023, with both expected to reopen in late 2024.

The characters of Splash Mountain were first featured in America Sings, which was a show where furry friends sang classic patriotic songs. The show was changed to Splash Mountain, and Splash Mountain opened up in 1989.

Splash Mountain takes riders through the story of the mischievous Br’er Rabbit and his hunt for his “laughing place.” The ride is based on the movie “Song of the South.”

Splash Mountain will be re-themed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure by the end of 2024.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes guests through the setting of “The Princess and the Frog.” The story picks right up from where the film ended, and Princess Tiana and several other beloved characters adventure through the bayou to throw an amazing Mardi Gras party open to everyone.

The change has been a very common discussion among Disney fanatics and has caused quite a division within the fandom.

Many feel as if Disney World and Disneyland are losing key parts of their atmosphere because of Splash Mountain closing. Others believe it aids in disposing of racist stories and stereotypes because “Song of the South” is set during the U.S.A.’s Jim Crow era.

Personally, I am not emotionally attached to Splash Mountain. I believe it was a fun ride, but the racism and stereotypes were not exactly hidden.

Stereotypes were seen in the exaggeration of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) spoken by the animal characters, and the main examples of racism are found in “Song of the South” such as Br’er Rabbit’s “Tar Baby.”

Over time, Splash Mountain has left a sour taste in many people’s mouths, and it was time for a major redo of the ride.