I mean, I'm excited for the re-theme provided they actually do a good job with it. The problem is, we have absolutely no idea how this is going to turn out. If they do a crap job, then I'm going to be upset they got rid of Splash. But if they do what I feel is a great job, then I'll be more than accepting of the changeover.
Honestly, Critter Country has lacked a bit of cohesion since Pooh moved in back in '03. Before that, it was sort of a "deep south extension" from New Orleans Square with the likes of Splash and Country Bears next door to each other. Ever since Pooh replaced the Country Bears, I feel that balance was upset (since Pooh definitely feels out of place in a southern motif). But Princess and the Frog feels like it belongs more at home next to something like Pooh and will sort of finally and definitively re-define that corner of the park from southern extension feat. critters to a new, more whimsical critter area. Between PatF and Pooh, that corner of the park sort of becomes a type of "critter Fantasyland".
I have history with Splash. I was born days before it's opening (so I grew up with it) and when I was finally old enough to do so, I spent nearly half a decade of my life working Splash as a Cast Member. I'm sad to see it go but I'm finding it hard to hate on the idea of what's replacing it. I think PatF will better tie that corner of the park together (as long as Pooh is around) and makes a literal perfect choice of source material to transition between New Orleans Square and a land based on critters. I don't hate Splash but I do like the concept of what's coming. What remains to be seen, is the execution of said concept.
