WDW Pro
Well-Known Member
They wouldn't report it the way you'd like.
-
The new WDWMAGIC iOS app is here!
Stay up to date with the latest Disney news, photos, and discussions right from your iPhone. The app is free to download and gives you quick access to news articles, forums, photo galleries, park hours, weather and Lightning Lane pricing. Learn More -
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
News Splash Mountain retheme to Princess and the Frog - Tiana's Bayou Adventure
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
- Status
They wouldn't report it the way you'd like.
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
I don't mean to sound rude, but that seems like a provably false statement. At least indirectly, there are numerous documented cases where budgets have been altered and scaled back in reaction to spending elsewhere in the company as a whole. Even back when WDW first opened, Western River Expedition was canceled pretty much as a direct consequence of Disney deciding to rush out a clone of POTC instead. It was also reported in more recent years that the cost overruns of Shanghai Disneyland as well as the acquisition of 20th Century Fox had caused a lot of belt tightening at both US resorts. I could name a lot more examples as well. I think the original Splash Mtn also heavily cut into the original budget for what would later become Indiana Jones Adventure (Indy was originally planned to be a much larger mini land with multiple intersecting rides). So at least on some level, the idea that budgets aren't slashed and reallocated elsewhere is not entirely true.
This is correct (not about the 60 million number, but i realize that's nonsensical hyperbole anyways). Online petitions are indeed useless, both for and against the change. That said, it's psychologically satisfying that it exists and has vastly larger (and ever increasing) support than the one who support the overhaul.
Last edited:
Actually, if it got to that point it might. Although free to sign, that would be more people than actually saw Princess and The Frog In Theaters and home video copies combined! And presuming those people were ready to in majority speak with their wallets, But of course, not likely.
And just for reference, while I am sad about the ride changing, and specifically against it's demonization I saw Princess in The Frog in theaters as an adult with my older bro opening day.
Magic Feather
Well-Known Member
I think we're both arguing both sides of the same coin on this one. In earlier, developmental stages everything you said is absolutely true. Planned resources can be shifted from one project to another relatively easily. However, once money is allocated, signed off on, and work is underway, it is very difficult to make a "direct transfer" of resources from one project to another. In this instance, yes, we will se Epcot's initiatives scaled back (or at least slowed down). That was a given. The part I was refuting was that the already in progress Epcot work was being cut directly to make room for the PatF overhaul in budgets. That is not the case.
yensidtlaw1969
Well-Known Member
Rough Photoshop of the new art over Frontierland in Google Earth:
Is it different? Sure, but I'd argue that the change from Splash to this is much less drastic than the change from the original Frontierland Train Station to Splash.
Splash was itself a pretty jarring addition to Frontierland, but we got used to it pretty quick.
champdisney
Well-Known Member
I don’t see this attraction being a direct continuation from the film. I see the attraction being directly based off of the film. Seriously, can anybody picture this attraction without Ray the Firefly and Dr. Facilier?
Its possible for Facilier to be resurrected but Ray the Firefly passed on to becoming a star!
Its possible for Facilier to be resurrected but Ray the Firefly passed on to becoming a star!
champdisney
Well-Known Member
Wow. Looks like Disney transferred the Tree of Life from DAK to Frontierland. Even more of a reason why it doesn’t fit the land either!
Kate F
Well-Known Member
I’m sure you’re right, but I wasn’t even alive in the pre-Splash days so I’ll just have to take your word for it. As for the picture, I hate it of course.
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
I don't think that was what WDW Pro was saying either though. I expect projects that are already in a very advanced stage of construction wouldn't be as in danger of major cuts. This obviously includes Ratatouille (which I assume is 95% complete by now) and probably even Tron and Guardians. But I expect other projects that may have been announced and largely conceptually completed (such as the Mary Poppins Carousel or the Wonders of Life redo) would be massively scaled back or canned outright with their approved funds redirected elsewhere.
Though in terms of prefab setpieces or animatronic figures that may not have been made yet (or are very incomplete), I still assume cuts would be possible even if the rest of the ride is fairly well along in construction. I heard this occurred with Countdown to Extinction, with the pitch black segments intended to have lit set pieces and more dinosaur AA's. Some of which may even have begun construction but abruptly halted when the budget was reportedly slashed.
I think it's already confirmed to be post-film. I don't know how accurate the concept art is intended to be at this stage of development. But if it's somewhat accurate, there's a human Tiana figure in her dress alongside Louis going around the first curve after the first lift. If that's at all accurate to the scene that will be in the final product, that further confirms it will be post-film.
My prediction is that Ray will make a mostly non-visible appearance (except as the star), possibly as the ride's narrator. And I wouldn't it past them to just reuse the old Brer Fox projector at the top of the big drop to have Facilier's shadow make a small cameo appearance. Also not a physical appearance.
yensidtlaw1969
Well-Known Member
It is confirmed to be post-film - likely in an effort to quell concerns that Tiana would be featured as a Frog in the ride rather than as a human.
I wouldn't read too much into the concept art - I suspect the transformation of the Mountain itself will generally resemble the art, but it's unlikely that figures of Tiana and Louis will be featured at that particular juncture in the ride. Their presence in the art is probably more of an editorial flourish to contextualize everything else happening in the image - "The Mountain will be redone, it will look basically like this, and these are the characters who will feature in this new journey".
yensidtlaw1969
Well-Known Member
I'm surprised that I had an easier time finding a picture of the Station than I did of Splash from the same angle, so forgive the Google Earth shot, but this is the before and after roughly from the Big Thunder queue:
I believe the Contruction Walls in the first photo are from the beginnings of contstruction for Splash.
Disgruntled Walt
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
So is the mountain now supposed to be the built-up area around Mama Odie's tree? Will they eliminate the forced perspective completely? They would have to, right? In order for its appearance to make any sense?
yensidtlaw1969
Well-Known Member
I mean, not necessarily - essentially the dead tree at the top of Splash Mountain is being replaced by a "live" one, and I'm sure there will still be some forced perspective to make it look bigger than it is. But I suppose it's possible they may try to downplay the forced perspective on the rest of the structure rather than play it up since the Bayou is not a place known for its mountains . . . but the building is as tall as it is, so I assume we're just gonna have to let that be.
Disgruntled Walt
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Actually, it looks like the tree is in a pit, if anything, judging by the dark outline in the background. This is going to be a trainwreck...plus it will wreck the train station's appearance as well.
Disgruntled Walt
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
A Pirates style dark ride would work great, but I think what would be even better is if they had put a dark ride of PatF into the former Snow White site. Then very young kids could have ridden the PatF ride and age wouldn't be a factor. Instead, they've created a very weird combination of circumstances for this ride. It's a thrill ride (appeals to adults). It's a princess ride (appeals to young girls). It's a water ride (some people don't want to get wet). I'm sure some PatF fans would rather not get wet. But they're getting their PatF ride in a water ride. There are a myriad of reasons why this plan is illogical.
yensidtlaw1969
Well-Known Member
The same place the Waterfall came from:
And the rest of the mountain, for that matter. It is called Chickapin HILL, after all.
MagicHappens1971
Well-Known Member
Does anyone else feel that if Disney waits 2-3 years to move forward with this they may just trash the whole idea? Or by then maybe give it an appropriate budget? Option 1 would obviously be a PR nightmare, but so would not giving it a proper budget, to gut this attraction for the sake of erasing the racial prejudices that come from Song of the South and then replace a great attraction with a subpar one? I don't feel anyone really has a solid idea of what Disney's next move will be with this project.
- Status