News Splash Mountain retheme to Princess and the Frog - Tiana's Bayou Adventure

[WDW862]

Has Disney's financial situation changed THAT much in the last couple of weeks?

Its not like almost all of their revenue generating businesses were shut down or something.

 

[_caleb]

See Slide 6 for the phases of design and construction.

https://network.aia.org/HigherLogic/System/DownloadDocumentFile.ashx?DocumentFileKey=25eadd48-6fff-4a2f-ae26-cef8a77d4f6d&forceDialog=0

I mean approved. Projects are approved at the end of Feasibility and it’s not unusual for them to be announced shortly thereafter. The D23 Expo will now push that back but Disney announces projects rather early in development which is why construction usually starts so long after the announcement, because they haven’t done enough to be able to start construction.

Thanks! This helps me understand. It does seem a bit risky for Disney to routinely announce projects so early in development, yet here they’ve done it again. Add to this @TP2000’s suggestion that the Splash retheme may have been a sort of play to solidify support for greenlighting the project, and then the rumors that other projects may be put on pause while funds are diverted to PatF Mountain— it’s all very interesting to me.

 

[EagleScout610]

So just to clarify, is the retheme in limbo for World at the moment?

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

Yes.



2022 for MK was the plan, but even that seems difficult. Disney flat out committed to a project they can't currently afford.

I will say as someone who is a tepid supporter of the idea of this “refresh” project overall cognizant of the need to connect this to a more recognizable and inclusive IP. But as a (modest) stockholder I was unpleasantly surprised the company would commit to such a project at seemingly the worst possible time (fiscally).

As I’ve said in the Disneyland side of the forum I feel like it’s likely the budget gets slashed substantially to get this approved in the current budgetary climate which will anger the many fans of the original Splash while looking like a cheap attempt at “tokenization“ for supporters of the project. I really hope WDI will cautiously and carefully take the necessary time to reevaluate this, hopefully shifting money from other WDI budgets/projects if/where possible.

Even if this was in the works for a year (which is certainly plausible) it’s never a good idea to jump at “flash in the pan” news stories without some exercise in due diligence first. This is a real catch-22 for TWDC now.

 

[drizgirl]

Disney Plus brings in $6.99 per subscriber. People drop thousands on a Disney World vacation they are not at all in the same league.

Disney has now realized that:
-Covid is not going away and will be suppressing interstate travel for at least the rest of the year
-International travel will be nonexistent for the rest of 2020
-They’ve already given up on Halloween, MVMCP and the CP 2020 is on its deathbed and will die unless something dramatic happens in the next month
-Demand is going to be soft through Oct 2021, and possibly after
-Movie Theatres are likely going to remain closed for the entire summer, and potentially the rest of the year

This is disastrous for the company.

Yes, but it was already disastrous when this was announced 10 days ago.

It’s important to remember that the internal politics of Disney is very complicated. Different parties will do things without telling everyone. There are some parties who really want this to happen, and there are other parties that understand that it’s not the most feasible thing to do right at this moment in time.

The choice of timing of this announcement is very clear. The idea was in flux, and like most projects during this trying time, at risk. Someone (or a group) within the company wanted it out now so that they would be guaranteed to move ahead with the idea.

Do people really go around announcing things in a big corporation without approval?

 

[drizgirl]

That would be incredible, it just seemed like they didn't really take a deep breath and fully understand what they were doing. Very knee jerk.

They're way too big for kneejerk. If true, how emabrrassing.

Its not like almost all of their revenue generating businesses were shut down or something.

It was already shut down when they made the announcement.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

They should put SotS on D+ and watch what happens.

 

[Surferboy567]

So just to clarify, is the retheme in limbo for World at the moment?

We don’t know I’d assume no

 

[RSoxNo1]

They should put SotS on D+ and watch what happens.

Considering there are complaints about Hamilton, SotS should go over well.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Considering there are complaints about Hamilton, SotS should go over well.

People will complain about anything, if given the chance.

 

[RSoxNo1]

People will complain about anything, if given the chance.

I don't like that I can't dislike your post, so I liked it, but you know what it really means.

 

[tl77]

So just to clarify, is the retheme in limbo for World at the moment?

They haven't announced dates because they don't know when they can go back to doing construction work

...but I think the idea of a princess ride, that's also a thrill ride, with a 40 inches height requirement... is an idea that may need to be reworked a bit

 

[Brer Oswald]

They haven't announced dates because they don't know when they can go back to doing construction work

...but I think the idea of a princess ride, that's also a thrill ride, with a 40 inches height requirement... is an idea that may need to be reworked a bit

It’s the same as when people were pitching Winnie the Pooh, an IP I personally enjoy that would fit thematically.

The ride system doesn’t match the targeted audience.

 

[EagleScout610]

They haven't announced dates because they don't know when they can go back to doing construction work

...but I think the idea of a princess ride, that's also a thrill ride, with a 40 inches height requirement... is an idea that may need to be reworked a bit

But it's on for Land, correct?

 

[Brer Oswald]

But it's on for Land, correct?

Seemingly. Based on what’s TP2000 said, the plan was designed around Disneyland’s mountain (the close proximity to NOS makes sense), and it was treated as an afterthought to add it to WDW (much like how they initially planned on cloning Mission Breakout to Florida’s Tower).

Typically how these rides and rethemes seem to work, based on what insiders say, is that they’re planned with Disneyland in mind, and then cloned to Florida as a way to easily add something new to both parks while conserving resources at the same time.

I do think this will happen eventually at WDW if reception is good at Disneyland, however, they have a lot less to gain from it by going ahead immediately. The ride will continue to remain popular in its current state, a huge part due to Florida’s heat. This isn’t to mention the fact that WDW is in the midst of a massive overhaul to Epcot, and some minor changes to MK, whilst they are steadily losing money due to the pandemic. Tourism isn’t just going to bounce back on the 11th. This will take years to recover from. It just makes no financial sense to go full steam with this right now.

The timing of the announcement was opportunistic. Had they of announced it any other time, the backlash would have been way worse, and they knew that. But the ride is still going to be popular, even if a few Twitter “warriors” are bent out of shape.

 

[Touchdown]

I think someone forgot how different WDW and DL splash was, it’s not a simple cut and paste copy over each has vienettes and AAs the other doesn’t.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I think someone forgot how different WDW and DL splash was, it’s not a simple cut and paste copy over each has vienettes and AAs the other doesn’t.

The interior settings are also wildly different from each other.

 

[lazyboy97o]

They haven't announced dates because they don't know when they can go back to doing construction work

They can do construction now but they’re nowhere near that point.

It’s the same as when people were pitching Winnie the Pooh, an IP I personally enjoy that would fit thematically.

The ride system doesn’t match the targeted audience.

Four year olds are tall enough to ride Splash Mountain.

But it's on for Land, correct?

He doesn’t know.

 

[Surferboy567]

Seemingly. Based on what’s TP2000 said, the plan was designed around Disneyland’s mountain (the close proximity to NOS makes sense), and it was treated as an afterthought to add it to WDW (much like how they initially planned on cloning Mission Breakout to Florida’s Tower).

Typically how these rides and rethemes seem to work, based on what insiders say, is that they’re planned with Disneyland in mind, and then cloned to Florida as a way to easily add something new to both parks while conserving resources at the same time.

I do think this will happen eventually at WDW if reception is good at Disneyland, however, they have a lot less to gain from it by going ahead immediately. The ride will continue to remain popular in its current state, a huge part due to Florida’s heat. This isn’t to mention the fact that WDW is in the midst of a massive overhaul to Epcot, and some minor changes to MK, whilst they are steadily losing money due to the pandemic. Tourism isn’t just going to bounce back on the 11th. This will take years to recover from. It just makes no financial sense to go full steam with this right now.

The timing of the announcement was opportunistic. Had they of announced it any other time, the backlash would have been way worse, and they knew that. But the ride is still going to be popular, even if a few Twitter “warriors” are bent out of shape.

First off TP2000, also claimed that Hamilton had to go the way of Splash Mountain since it was racist. Despite it growing app downloads of Disney + by 75%. I don’t think we should trust everyone. Also Hamilton is the least racist show I think I’ve ever seen.

Secondly, and this goes for EVERYONE in this thread. Just because an “insider” comes in here and offers you hope that Splash is staying doesn’t automatically make it true. This message isn’t targeted to anyone in particular but keep this in mind.

I mean nothing negative by this statement but we have to stop believing people blindly. I have made my opinions on this retheme very clear so I will not make them again.

WDW Pro & Marni are the two main sources here. Both have proven themselves, I trust them more then the average insider.

I still think the retheme is on for WDW for a lot of different reasons and it is NOT because I want the retheme to happen. Here are a couple of reasons why:

1.) The media coverage- notice how when Splash Mountain is covered in the media it is said it is racist (it isn’t) but to the people watching if someone tells you over and over again something is racist then you believe it. Disney cares very much about their image.

2.) The announcement- Disney wouldn’t announce it coming to WDW one week and then not follow though. They have proven time and time again they do not care about fan demand.

Again, I could be wrong and I love Splash but the damage has been done even by Disney themselves:



We should first wait and see what the insiders say and give us actual reasoning then we can see and make a judgement for ourselves.

 

[lazyboy97o]

2.) The announcement- Disney wouldn’t announce it coming to WDW one week and then not follow though. They have proven time and time again they do not care about fan demand.

I can’t wait to go shopping at Hyperion Wharf and watch a show in the Main Street Theater.