Wow, I'm really diving into this discussion! Is there a lifeguard? Here goes!
My main issue is that mushroom scene; it feels empty with just 3D screens of Tiana and Louis, with long stretches of nothing.
Personally, I loved the adrenaline STRESSFUL / SCARY rush of Splash Mountain as you climbed that hill, especially right before the drop, and the joyful ending with Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah always made me feel so happy. We did it! We survived! HUZZAH!
With that said, I get that some guests might find that buildup scary. Which is probably why Disney went for a more whimsical climb with Mama Odie. And speaking of nostalgia, remember Food Rocks? I think they could've tapped into that with more h veggie animatronics.