Meanwhile at Islands of Adventure:Any ride that more or less requires a plastic cloak is inherently problematic.
At its core there is something very wrong; a flaw so deep that it can adversely affect one’s next 3 hours in the park.
Meanwhile at Islands of Adventure:
People use a poncho because it's been under 70 degrees the past few weeks (actually supposed to warm up a bit next weekend). When it's 80+ in the summer most people don't mind getting wet because it feels good in the heat.Any ride that more or less requires a plastic cloak is inherently problematic.
At its core there is something very wrong; a flaw so deep that it can adversely affect one’s next 3 hours in the park.
I don't see how this is a deep flaw.
The only reason so many people are riding it in the cold weather now is because it's new. Most people skipped Splash in the winter time and it would have a 5 minute wait because people have already ridden it several times and didn't want to get wet.
So you're saying Splash Mountain was also a deeply flawed attraction for 34 years because riding it in the winter would make you wet and cold and so people had a tendency to skip it? Should water rides not exist or be seasonally shut down in theme parks that are open during the winter?But it looks like you do as evidenced by your:
If one needs to time the weather to ride then things like Bayou have real drawbacks.
So you're saying Splash Mountain was also a deeply flawed attraction for 34 years because riding it in the winter would make you wet and cold and so people had a tendency to skip it? Should water rides not exist or be seasonally shut down in theme parks that are open during the winter?
I'm still fuzzy on your actual complaint.
Yes, of course I’m saying that——whether we see ominous vultures or an Odie it’s immaterial to how wet we get……… but not just for winter, not by a long shot. Any day of the year that isn’t a fast drying hot day can make for a lousy next 3 hours of wet footwear or other items.So you're saying Splash Mountain was also a deeply flawed attraction for 34 years because riding it in the winter would make you wet and cold
Finally went on TBA yesterday with a friend. I’d say neither of us were Tiana haters, as I long defended the decision to change this ride over as SoTS was a dated film that did not appeal to modern audiences and the core were there for a talented team of Imagineers to create a new well-rounded storyline based on a strong IP like PaTF. My final decision is I think the ride has dropped from a 9/10 (in its closing state) to a 6.5/10 for me (at best)
Splash was already not in my top 5 but it was a top 10 for me, and I definitively would say given the “soakness factor” (we sat in the front two rows) and the general lackluster storyline I don’t think this warrants many repeat visits for me.
The Good:
- Lighting package - looks great at night
- Exterior show scenes seem improved
- Arguably the “How Do You Do” scenes - will depend on taste but because it’s much visually darker it creates a more unpredictable experience leading up to the “dip drop”. This may be the strongest part of the ride.
The Bad:
- Finale scene- while decent still feels like a downgrade given the comparative and noticeable lack of AAs. Still can’t beat “Zip” but I think Dig a Little Deeper would have been a stronger choice here.
- The half-baked “salt mine” storyline in the queue was unnecessary and frankly the white paint sloppily applied on rabbit burrows with glitter looks sloppy and unfinished in the caverns leading up to the queue. Which is unfortunate because the outdoor queue while understated is still sufficient.
- Wetness - while I used to find the campy humor of getting soaked on the dip drop I actually think the soak factor of this ride that is heavily marketed to families/young girls while downplaying the drop (including the “splash” effects) creates a bit of a false marketing problem. Ideally a purpose built ride system or at least adjusting the dip drop would have been preferred.
The downright shameful and ugly:
- The Laughing Place/Burrow’s Lament needs to be reimagined. If not for the fact I was soaked from the dip drop the inner Scrooge McDuck in me might have been sobbing in shame for the apparent disregard for shareholder value. If you’re going to value engineer this ride just dump the Mama Odie AA before the drop here, too. One less AA to maintain which is a true “joyful celebration” for TDA while simultaneously fixing the story. In its place can be new projection mapping effects and Dr. Facilier as a ghost projection. But in all seriousness, the lack of tonal shift or any anticipation makes the drop at the end feel “unearned” and frankly out of place. It also makes the ride feel shorter because of the one tone nature.
- While I know Lightning Lane revenue is too lucrative the combination of LL and VQ is simply too much. Making folks register for VQ only to wait 90 minutes is just ridiculous. Drop one or the other.
Unfortunately even though the original Splash Mountain was overdue for a makeover it simply was not the right team to do it.
I dare say something that will get me attacked on all sides but for all the hate Freddy Chambers got they should have gone with his original idea. Proof that the cast that works the parks knows more about theme park design than a bunch of MBAs. And sometimes you can’t trust a first year dental student to perform a brain surgery.
Had it been changed 5 years after the original film came out in 2014 vs in 2024 I honestly think we might have had a different and more appealing result.Disagree with the notion that Splash needed to be changed but otherwise I think this review is spot on.
Had it been changed 5 years after the original film came out in 2014 vs in 2024 I honestly think we might have had a different and more appealing result.
That said, I own that in its current form even a decaying Splash Mountain is much preferred to what is there now.
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