A Brief and Incomplete History of Splash Mountain

[SuddenStorm]

I visited the park earlier this week, and got my last rides in on Splash Mountain. I still firmly believe getting rid of this ride is the biggest creative blunder in Disneyland Park history, and I'm really curious to see how the public receives the Tiana ride, but it was nice to get on it 6.5 more times.

I was pleasantly surprised at the condition of the ride- yes, a ton of stuff wasn't working but it was more than passable and better than I've seen it in the past.

But the real highlight of the day was the last ride. To preface- I have probably been on the ride 200 times. If not more. And it's never broken down on me- something I lamented.

During the last ride of the night, at 11:50pm, our logs backed up right after the first Br'er Rabbit- and they ended up walking us off. My group basically had a photo shoot, and I now have photos of myself posing with a few of the set pieces. I was able to get my picture taken with the Rabbit and the Turtle. Here's a few photos I took below.

 

[Basketbuddy101]

"I still firmly believe getting rid of this ride is the biggest creative blunder in Disneyland Park history..."

Could not agree more.

 

[SuddenStorm]

For a little more Splash history-

The attraction marquee, as well as the famous statue of the three Br'ers seen in the queue, was carved by RL Blair. His site, though old, is a ton of fun to look through and has some great anecdotes.

 

[SuddenStorm]

For anyone interested, here is a three part Flickr album documenting most of Splash Mountain's construction. It's well worth looking through. A few years ago I reached out to the person who took these, they said they planned on rescanning them in much higher quality but it looks like that hasn't happened yet. Here's a few photos from it-

 

[mickEblu]

For anyone interested, here is a three part Flickr album documenting most of Splash Mountain's construction. It's well worth looking through. A few years ago I reached out to the person who took these, they said they planned on rescanning them in much higher quality but it looks like that hasn't happened yet. Here's a few photos from it-

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I’ve never seen these! Thanks for sharing!

 

[SuddenStorm]

I’ve never seen these! Thanks for sharing

My goal is to make this thread the most comprehensive history of Disneyland Splash on the internet.

 

[Brer Panther]

Who wants to see some more Splash Mountain storyboards? They're not in great quality, but beggars can't be choosers...

 

[SuddenStorm]

While looking up old videos of Splash today (as one does...) I stumbled upon a video from July 17, 1989. For the most part the quality is excellent for the time. And in light of a different ride through that was shared this weekend, I can't think of a better time to post this.



It shows figures moving in ways they haven't moved in decades. It shows the original figure design for Br'er Fox and Br'er Rabbit.

But it also lays to rest the question if Sooner or Later or Burrow's Lament was in place on opening day. I had always held to the belief they had made the swap to Burrow's Lament prior to the ride officially opening- but there was some speculation and nothing definitive.

 

[Figments Friend]

Wonderful!

This is something I needed today.

I love ‘Tony‘s River Run’….!



-

 

[Basketbuddy101]

I assure you no one walked off that ride disappointed on opening day. It's a travesty it barely made it to 30 years while equally-great attractions like Pirates and Mansion are pushing 60.

 

[MK-fan]

Well not much changed in its 34 year history. The most amount of changes happened within the first ten years. The “Sooner or Later” song sung by the rabbits was changed very early on. The Barnaby Owl audio animatronic showing off your picture didn’t come along until 1992 along with his portrait studio outside the attraction. In 1999, the logs were lengthened and the double dip fall (laughing place fall) had to be reconstructed at the bottom due to this. If anyone remembers, there was an extra little bunny hill at the end of the fall But they took it out . I remember this but very vaguely, does anyone else ?