Disneylands Frontierland vs WDW Frontierland

[Hattieboxghost110]

The queue and exterior are more realistic as they exist in the land. The logs drop into the cartoon world.

Just like the film had a realistic setting, with going into a cartoon world, with a finale of mixed elements. The DL version captures that perfectly.

Finally. Somebody who gets it.

 

[Hattieboxghost110]

That's the ugliest picture of MKs Splash Mountain I've ever seen. It doesn't look like that at all - very overexposed.
Here:

If you have a gripe with the photo, take it up with Disney. It's straight from their official website.

https://secure.parksandresorts.wdpr.../splash-mountain-gallery09.jpg?07072014212540

See!

The swamps just got an ugly mountain, that's all.

 

[Hattieboxghost110]

Next up, let's compare the soundtracks.

Here is Disneyland's soundtrack.



Beautiful. The classical, orchestral, big band sound fits perfectly with the theme and spirit of the ride.

Here is DW's soundtrack.



Right away, you start hearing that awful banjo music. The Song of the South is actually Western Hoedown music with harmonica's and banjos. Yeeeehawww!

The soundtrack is 29 minutes long, but I could only stand to listen to the 4:00 minute mark. That's when the horrid Alvin and the Chipmunks voice kicks in. I tapped out at that point.

It's clear that Disneyland has the superior soundtrack. No contest.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I prefer the WDW soundtrack.

"I just don't agree that the WDW version looks fake and tacky. It looks more like a cartoon, which the ride is based on. In fact, the way it clashes with the "realistic" setting in Frontierland reminds me a lot of the scenes in the movie where Uncle Remus is seen in an animated setting, now viewable in HD on YouTube"

Dude, why can't you just admit that Frontierland is an awful choice for the setting of Splash Mountain? The movie it is based on is called, Song of the SOUTH, it is not called, Song of the WEST!

Because it's just not a big deal to me. Are you telling me you go to WDW and start complaining when you're in the vicinity of Splash Mountain?

 

[grnflash]

If you have a gripe with the photo, take it up with Disney. It's straight from their official website.

https://secure.parksandresorts.wdpr.../splash-mountain-gallery09.jpg?07072014212540

See!

The swamps just got an ugly mountain, that's all.

C'mon. I love DL as much as the next guy. Love, love, love it, best theme park on the planet, second to none and impossible (clearly) to recreate. But....our Splash is not the best.

Yes, all the individual components exist...it straight up should be the best. And it's miserable that it's not. Location - better. Aesthetics - better. Song - better. Drop - better. Storyline- better. And yet it's not better.

When was the last time you rode Splash and major components weren't miserably broken (missing, dark, whatever.) Not in the last 5 years at least. Extended refurbs occur each and every year, and yet the ride reopens with components still broken (missing, dark, whatever)....each and every year. And what is fixed doesn't stay fixed.

The excuses have run their course. OSHA isn't to blame for year after year of this same old broken as* Splash crap. Nor that the animatronics are old. There are no excuses worth buying for years of constant, continual disrepair.

MK Splash > DL Splash

 

[BD-Anaheim]

If you have a gripe with the photo, take it up with Disney. It's straight from their official website.

https://secure.parksandresorts.wdpr.../splash-mountain-gallery09.jpg?07072014212540

See!

The swamps just got an ugly mountain, that's all.

Disney isn't comparing the aesthetic superiority of one SM over the other - you are. I'm just letting you know it's a completely inaccurate depiction so that you can refine your argument.

 

[mickEblu]

Disney isn't comparing the aesthetic superiority of one SM over the other - you are. I'm just letting you know it's a completely inaccurate depiction so that you can refine your argument.

Say what you will but man is passionate. I think we found the Splash Mountain version of @Kira Nerys

 

[shortstop]

You seem to want someone to challenge your arguments, so in a spirit of fun, I will! Although of course you are entitled to your opinion.

1. Briar Patch-The one at DW looks cartoony and fake with super bright colors and exaggerated dimensions. The briar patch at DL looks more realistic with better proportions.

The attraction is based on a cartoon. The entire concept of the cartoon/attraction are not realistic. So of course it looks cartoony.

2. Animatronics-The Disneyland version is chock full of AA's, clocking in at 103. The other version has significantly less.

Many of these AAs are recycled from America Sings and don't fit that well in my eyes. Quantity =/= quality.

3. Final Drop-The DL version has a more thrilling drop due to the fact that it is steeper and has single file seating.

Some prefer the single file seating but personally I do not. The drops are so short that on a thrill level I can't say they feel different to me.

4. Chickapin Hill-The mountain at DL is more beautiful because it has a natural-looking color scheme with earth tones and muted colors.

See number 1.

5. Location-Splash Mountain takes place in the South and is a Southern tale. It makes absolutely ZERO sense at WDW to be located in Frontierland. The mini-land of Critter Country makes a lot more sense, especially because it is next to New Orleans Square.

Song of the South may take place in the south, but the Brer Rabbit cartoon stories don't really take place in any particular location. Splash Mountain takes us into the cartoon portions, not the entire movie.

6. Soundtrack-Compensating for the ridiculous decision to put a Southern story in a Western setting, DW had to create a "frontier" soundtrack with awful banjo music. The DL soundtrack is charming and the sound fits perfectly with the theme and setting.

This is a matter of personal preference. I like both and in fact love the banjo.

7. Grand Finale-It is grander at DL with more creatures and a nicer, bigger boat.

Off the top of my head, I can't speak to this one way or another.

8. Transitions-It doesn't makes sense that the song, "Everybody has a laughin' place" begins before the drop in the dark at DW. At Disneyland, the song begins once you actually drop into the rainbow caverns in the darkness.

This is a good point from a musical standpoint but I find the pacing and transitions are better at WDW.

9. Layout-The layout at DW is basically long, slow stretches during the indoor portion. As stated before, there are much less AA"s so it can feel a bit lifeless, especially considering that a lot of the design when to elaborate set pieces. At DL, there are many twists and turns in the indoor portion with a more exciting layout and speed.

I can't stand how fast the log moves at DL. The show scenes are boring and far less elaborate compared fo WDW so there is far less to look at anyways.

10. Burrow's Lament-For some stupid reason, they cut this scene out at DW! Maybe it was too scary for the kids. It is my absolutely favorite part of the whole ride.It perfectly creates anxiety and anticipation for the final drop. It's actually a rather dark scene with morbid lyrics and an ominous tone.

Sorry but I am not a fan of this song. It comes off as overly corny and during this part I am laughing harder than I am during the laughing place.

Plus, BRER FROG!!!

 

[No Name]

The answer to the question is, we are often biased toward the one we grew up with, so we probably think that one is better. That's the answer to a lot of DL vs. MK questions.

Maybe if there had been a way to circumnavigate the park and walk to Critter Country from Frontierland then it would make more sense. But the only way to get Critter Country is by walking though NOS and that is definitely a land deserving of having its own name and not being lumped into Frontierland because it vaguely fits the theme. Besides, what would Disney had to have gained by announcing Frontierland expansions in the 60s and 70s as opposed to new lands they could market with NOS and Bear/Critter Country?

Curious though - wasnt the Indian village still in current day Critter Country even after NOS opened? So on the map, would you walk through NOS and then be in Frontierland again?

Magic Kingdom opened their Fantasyland expansion a few years ago and just marketed it as "New Fantasyland." Toontown was listed seperately, but now Storybook Circus (and Enchanted Forest) are listed as part of Fantasyland. So MK expanded, but went from 7 lands to 6.

Obviously these are decades apart, but there's an example where the company felt it was marketable.

 

[Practical Pig]

Right away, you start hearing that awful banjo music. The Song of the South is actually Western Hoedown music with harmonica's and banjos. Yeeeehawww!

I haven't been on WDW's Splash, and have no horse in this race. But hoedown music was carried westward by the pioneers from it's roots in the rural southeast. It's very Appalachian.

 

[mickEblu]

The answer to the question is, we are often biased toward the one we grew up with, so we probably think that one is better. That's the answer to a lot of DL vs. MK questions.



Magic Kingdom opened their Fantasyland expansion a few years ago and just marketed it as "New Fantasyland." Toontown was listed seperately, but now Storybook Circus (and Enchanted Forest) are listed as part of Fantasyland. So MK expanded, but went from 7 lands to 6.

Obviously these are decades apart, but there's an example where the company felt it was marketable.

I see where you re going and actually anticipated new Fantasyland as a rebuttal but I think it's kind of apples and oranges. When Disneyland first opened those new lands it was still in its infancy and had a lot more to gain by marketing new lands than announcing Frontierland expansions every 5 years. Not to mention had the room to buildout without too much "untouchable" or important infrastructure/ attractions getting in the way. NOS has a completely different aesthetic from Frontierland and was designed and created as a new land.

With new Fantasyland, that is just Disney (now with 60+ years of theme park experience) adding more bread and butter to their bread and butter. Not to mention they have a nearly fully fleshed out park which makes it harder to just add news lands especially to the typical castle parks (SWL at DL is a huge anomaly and a reason why many old school Disneylanders are ed ) where it's harder to introduce new lands that fit with concepts / themes that we ve come to expect after all these years. A lot more popular fairy tale IPs have been created since Fantasyland was first built. It just makes sense to add Mermaid and BATB where all the other fairy tale IPs are located.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I love a good DL vs. WDW argument, but it's difficult for even me to prefer DL's. I think at one point I claimed to prefer it (probably because it was next door to the Haunted Mansion), but then pointed out that despite being so similar, they're actually too different to compare.

DL's is what happens when a Fantasyland dark ride and a water ride have sex and give birth to a dark water ride with furry animals. Unfortunately, everything is broken and all the lights are out whenever I've ridden it, so it's tough to compare elements. It's super charming that they recycled elements from the America AA show, but it was also very obvious they shoehorned all these unrelated characters into it. Still charming, but weird. In its current state, it's like a junkyard of old broken AAs from Disney's past. Kind of creepy.

WDW is far grander, moving at a slower pace more like POTC style water ride. Unique WDW elements I love and prefer include the soundtrack, the queue line with the talking birdhouses, the shadow of the frog telling the story (MEGA charming, holy crap...) and portraits, captured Brer Fox displaying captured Brer Rabbit in the beehive, vultures in suits and tophats and the ending scene with vocals that sound like the guy from the B-52s and an obviously superior Brer Rabbit/bluebird scene.

 

[dweezil78]

WDW wins for me easily. I used to think the two were too similar to declare a winner, but being able to go on both within weeks of each other made me realize how superior WDW's is. More AA's don't make an attraction better. WDW's just has way better show scenes in general, with DL's feeling pretty shallow and basic compared to WDW feeling way more flushed out. Everything from the scenes to the queue to the ride vehicles at WDW just feels more substantial in a way that is additive and not bloaty. Both are great attractions, but when you go from WDW to DL you definitely can feel ours is lacking a bit.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Well...the "logs" at WDW look like loafs of bread.

 

[mickEblu]

I love a good DL vs. WDW argument, but it's difficult for even me to prefer DL's. I think at one point I claimed to prefer it (probably because it was next door to the Haunted Mansion), but then pointed out that despite being so similar, they're actually too different to compare.

DL's is what happens when a Fantasyland dark ride and a water ride have sex and give birth to a dark water ride with furry animals.

So what's the problem? That sounds like the greatest recipe for a thrill/ water ride. An E ticket Fantasy Land style dark ride with thrills. True, lighting isn't great but I think it kind of adds to the FL style dark ride charm and gives the attraction more of an ethereal effect. TBH I never notice the broken AAs as much as I read about them on these boards. Maybe cuz the logs are going so fast which I also think adds to the excitement (along with the tight turns) and repeatability of DLs version.

I haven't been on the WDW version but just from the ride through on YouTube i can see it has the better show. But to me it just has more of "I'm on a Magic Kingdom ride " vibe and less of the charming qualities of DLs that make you feel like you ve been transported to another world. Like the mood setting lighting or lack thereof and that overall Alice in Wonderland type of weirdness/ zaniness. Another way to put it - the Disney X factor magic that's hard to define or pull off. Not to mention I like how in DL s you feel like your in some world within the mountain (almost like a Tolkien book) which makes more sense since you are splashing INSIDE the mountain. With WDW, they make the interior look like a bright shiny day which I think is better reserved for the Zipidee Doo Dah scene which creates a greater tonal difference from the rest of the darker attraction in DL and therefore plays off of our human emotions more than the linear story and consistently bright settings at WDW can.

When I think of Disneys greatest attractions they re all kind of dark, mysterious and other worldly. POTC, HM, Indy, DLs Splash Mountain ,TOT, the FL style dark rides etc.

It really just comes down to what type of ride experience people prefer. And just because everything goes back to burgers... WDWs is liek getting a restaurant burger. Has all the quality ingredients but is missing that X factor or love that you ll get at the hole in the wall down the street that's been serving burgers since the 60s.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

You're very wrong about this. Trust me. The queue line at WDW is better than the entire DL version.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm open to being wrong as I ve never been on WDWs but for some reason I've read many opinions of folks who have ridden both that echo some of what I said above.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

There's an animated shadow effect in the waiting line for the WDW version that is better than the entirety of DL's attraction.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm sure it's charming but that's a very bold and probably false statement.

 

[TheOrangeBird01]

People need to give credit where credit is due.

Not saying anyone is wrong as opinions are based on personal experiences and whatnot, but I strongly prefer the WDW Splash Mountain. I just rode the DL version this August, and boy was it an experience.

I don’t know if this is a good thing (to me it wasn’t) but I found that there was a lot more unnecessary splashing in the DL’s mountain. That meant for a much rougher ride as our log kept bumping against the guide rails. I also thought that the DL version was much too fast and I didn’t get any time to really enjoy the show scenes. Yes, the extra animatronics were nice, but for some reason it just didn’t feel as populated as the WDW version if that makes any sense. As someone else said, quantity doesn’t always equal quality.

I will give DL the benefit of having a much scarier drop. I thought I was going to fall out of the log!

On the topic of the ride music, each soundtrack compliments the area of the park each attraction is in. Personally I prefer the banjo WDW version, but that’s the one I grew up with and I understand why others like the DL soundtrack instead. I also don’t see much of an architectural difference, so I really think those who are complaining are just looking for something to complain about.

Both Splash Mountains are amazing rides and continue to be classics, however I’d ride the WDW mountain over the DL mountain any day.