Splash Mountain DL vs. WDW

[LaughingGravy]

For those nitpickers out there, is DL's Splash Mountain better than WDWs the same way PotC in CA blows away the one in Florida?

I read somewhere that a bunch of the AAs in Splash Mountain came from "America Sings", which I was fortunate enough to see in its last year the one time I went to DL.

Are the AAs in WDW's Splash Mountain from "America Sings", or ar they just copies and DL has the originals?

 

[CoffeeJedi]

General consensus is that WDW's Splash Mountain is much better. Having ridden both, i tend to agree, DL's is much more cramped inside, and suffers from compressed storytelling.

That's a good question about the AA's though, something i've wondered myself.

 

[raven]

I rode Splash at DL last February after many years of riding the WDW version and I still like the WDW version better. Not only is the seating better on the WDW boats but everything just seemed a bit larger. I don't remember America sings but I have seem pictures of it and some of the characters on the paddle boat at the end look very similar. I also read somewhere that a few of the characters in the WDW version could also be from that old attraction.

 

[Stitch69]

I think WDW is much better. Bair rabbit looks rabid at DLR! I also don't think DLR PoC is better as everyone claims. I didn't like the queue area. WDW gets you into the mood more.
I'll give it up to DLR for Space mt and all the rides in Fanstyland( Alice.. ect) and I loved Indiana Jones at DLR- MGM needs to bag the Indy stunt show and get the Indiana Jones ride from DRL- That is KILLER!!!!

 

[Buried20KLeague]

There's no question that WDW's is better than DL's. Easily, hands down. Larger logs mean no single row seating, plus there are more and much larger scenes at WDW. Just like you mentioned, it's like PoTC, but in reverse. Brer Rabbit does look weird out there... And instead of a jumping brer rabbit, they have a railroad push car version. There aren't as many interior drops. The final drop is much less impressive at DL, and doesn't go under the bridge and around like and WDW's either... And the whole thing feels over before it starts in DL.

And this is from someone who finally visited DL for the first time this past Summer and unfortunately found it superior in almost every way. At least we got the better Splash Mt!!!! :lol:

And as I understand it, the AA's in WDW's are all copies... The originals were used in DL's version when it was created years before WDW's.

 

[imagineerfan]

I agree with everything that has been said. In addition, I found the logs to be more jerky on SM in DL.

-Dan

 

[Disneycoog]

WDW is much better!

 

[tunaman68]

WDW hands down! Bigger, longer, wetter (especially the water cannons at the bottom of the first lift), better looking characters, and I thought better sound.

We were able to ride it 4 times in a row without getting off on a drizzly morning last week!! Man were we soaked!!

To chime in on POTC, the cue in WDW is way better, but the ride at DL takes the cake for me!

 

[Lynx04]

Are the AAs in WDW's Splash Mountain from "America Sings", or ar they just copies and DL has the originals?

Yes the America Sings' AA are used in DL's Splash Mountain. When I was kid America Sings was one of my fav attractions at DL and was upset to learn that the attraction closed to give the AA a new home in Splash Moutain. Having never ride the DL's Splash Mountain since I moved out of Cali before it open, I can't be an objective judge. Although that will change come Dec.

I do remember riding the DL Railroad and going through the mountain when they were building it and listening to one of the spiels about the then upcoming attraction.

 

[hokielutz]

I have to give the award to WDW for the better Splash Mountain. I believe that the WDW version benefitted from more open property to work with with allowed for better story telling, queue theming, and much better wet performance.

For once WDW takes the trophy on a similar/copy attraction. :sohappy:

 

[TP2000]

Splash Mountain is the one, single E Ticket that is noticeably superior at WDW compared to the Disneyland original.

The first time I went on Splash Mountain at WDW, after several years of riding the Disneyland version, I stepped off the ride and said "OH MY GAWD, this ride actually has a PLOT!" The storytelling on the Disneyland version is so rushed and so compact that it is very hard to tell there actually is a story there.

At Disneyland, Splash Mountain is just a 10 minute long log ride with about a hundred singing animals flailing about singin' and dancin' and talkin' about somethin'. At WDW, Splash Mountain is actually a retelling of the Song of the South story and it provides context and a purpose for the entire ride.

Disneyland has more animatronics crammed alongside the flume, and on my last visit to WDW the interior of the attraction looked moldy and in need of some TLC. But overall the art direction and pacing and plot development of the WDW version of Splash Mountain is superior to the Disneyland version.

On a side note, I found the Tokyo Disneyland version to be the best Splash Mountain ever. It has all of the excellent art direction and purpose of the WDW version, but like everything else in Tokyo, the upkeep and maintenance were top notch and it felt like a brand new ride even though it had been open and operating for years. The final big drop on Tokyo's Splash Mountain is shorter and less thrilling than either the California or Florida version however. If only WDW could get their maintenance and upkeep problems under control and get the old Disney standards back, their Splash Mountain would be just as good as Tokyo's.

 

[seabee1]

Quick question, it has been a while since I have been on WDW's splash mountain. (had kids-and no one to ride with) Now that the kids can ride I was wondering how many drops are in the dark, I don't remember. I took my oldest when she was 4 on DLR's version and the drop in the dark scared her to dealth( I forgot about it so I didn't warn her). It has been a while and now she feels she is ready to try again, plus my youngest can ride now. I just wanted to give them a heads up before we ride, maybe it will help avoid the same situation we had 4 years ago.