All right, everyone, in honor of this, my 50th post, I will dedicate it to talking all about a verbal tour of France's trip through Splash Mountain! As the safety spiel says, "Have a zip-a-dee-doo-dah ride!"
First things first, this incarnation of the popular attraction will take its cues from the other three Splash Mountains the world over. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's begin with the queue...
The entrance to the attraction is designed to resemble the mill structure. It is very similar to the structure that houses the first lift hill in the other versions of the attraction. After passing through the mill on the first floor, the upper floor through which you pass is only the critter tunnels. It is laden with waterfalls and lights. You pass by a shadow of Brer Frog, speaking (in French) about Brer Rabbit's exploits.
Eventually, you reach the logs, which are single file just like in California. Since the issues of chilly weather is the norm in much of Europe, especially in wintertime, the safety considerations from Japan are used in France as well; the load/unload area, therefore, is once again indoors.
Once aboard the log boat, the guests depart the load area and cruise through a cave entrance and pass below Brer Frog who sits on a tree branch above the river and gives the guests some parting words, as always. But in this case, his dialogue alternates between English and French. Passing below the branch, the guests mount the first lift hill which, as always, leads out of the mountain and around the Briar Patch. Just like in Japan, the logs go in the opposite direction. The guests then mount the second lift hill, which, again like in Japan, is a cave instead of a mill.
Leveling off from this climb, much of this portion of the ride is exactly like Florida's (with the critter dwellings, including Brer Rabbit's and Brer Fox's, and the medicine wagon), but in this case, it's indoors. At this point, "How Do You Do?" starts playing, as background music. The only part of this portion that is outdoors is the swing-around providing a great view of the park. Like in Japan, you reenter the mountain before you descend the first waterfall, which has no name (unlike the States, where it's called "Slip'n Falls").
This lands you right in the first scene: Brer Frog reclining on the alligator while fishing. "How Do You Do?" is played in French. You then pass by Brer Rabbit and Brer Turtle standing outside the Briar Patch, ready to leave. You then pass by some critters performing the music. You then pass by Brer Bear in the rabbit trap while Brer Fox yells at him (in French) and Brer Rabbit laughs at them both.
Then you pass by the fishing geese and bullfrogs that are seen later in the ride just like Japan. You then pass by the baby possums and Brer Rabbit riding a handcar across a railroad trestle (which are the cases in California). You then see some critters, including the singing alligator seen in California and Japan, trying to hitch a ride as signs point the way to the Laughing Place.
Now you approach the great tree with Brer Bear's exposed rear sticking out as he comments on the only thing in there being bees. His rear is positioned exactly like in California. Brer Rabbit is seen laughing uncontrollably in a clump of bushes nearby. You enter the tree and then go down, then up, as always. Now you're in the beehive-infested caverns. Now the song changes "Everybody's Got a Laughing Place" (performed in English) and you pass by Brer Bear with the beehive encasing his nose. Brer Rabbit is laughing his head off nearby, but Brer Fox raising the beehive over him is missing.
Now you go down a very gentle spillway and go through the Laughing Place scene as usual. Here, a beaver plays a turtle like a drum, a stork plays a spider web like a harp and fountains burble and leap this way and that. Now you see Brer Rabbit with the hive full of honey over his head and Brer Fox standing behind him. You then go through the Burrow's Lament scene, which is seen only in California. Also only Sis Rabbit and the bunnies are seen (while in California, they are accompanied by Sis Possum and her babies). The rabbits are singing in French.
You then pass below the two vultures and climb the lift hill, where this has all the elements from the other Splash Mountains. As you ascend the hill, you pass by Brer Fox's lair on the right, where you hear the exchange between Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox about being the rabbit not wanting to be thrown in the Briar Patch (the dialogue is in French). As the peak of the hill, the view of the skyline is dominated by the Phantom Manor and Space Mountain. Then you go down the big waterfall and into the Briar Patch below, passing by a flash of light taking their picture. As with Japan, you are left drier than in the States. You then go briefly through the Rivers of the Far West and then immediately reenter the mountain.
You go through a long tunnel and pass by a waterfall as you make your way to the usual "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" finale. But here, after you go past the riverboat, you see Brer Rabbit and Mr. Bluebird reclining outside the Briar Patch first and THEN see Brer Fox and Brer Bear in their own sticky situation. Then you find yourself back at the load/unload area. A short trip down the tunnel and past the photo display area and you exit back out into Frontierland.
So, what did you think? Impressive, isn't it?
:dazzle: Let's discuss! :animwink:
:brick:
