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

[BobPar]

Not typically to this degree. Rethemes typically don't change much from public released concept art to finish. And installation and demo and construction is not even underway yet.

I think we all know why in this instance….

 

[celluloid]

I think we all know why in this instance….

Either way, the point earlier stated remains. Budget cut concerns are totally well founded.

 

[LittleBuford]

At the very REAL risk of being censored, I will only say this…it’s not a myth. That’s it…let’s wait until it opens…

Multiple people in this thread (myself included) have criticised the latest announcements concerning the retheme without being labelled racists. I'm not sure what further evidence you require. If the retheme is poorly executed (and I sincerely hope it isn't), I'll be the first to say so.

 

[James Alucobond]

At the very REAL risk of being censored, I will only say this…it’s not a myth. That’s it…let’s wait until it opens…

I'm sure certain kinds of criticism would be unwelcome, but the idea that it could very well be an objectively "worse" ride experience than Splash with fewer animatronics and a questionable narrative is not a controversial argument at all.

 

[HoustonHorn]

I've been pretty open about the fact that the announced storyline seems pretty poor, and no-one's labelled me anything. It's a total myth that people aren't allowed to voice criticism. The bad reactions arise only when criticisms are kneejerk or disingenuous.

It is a myth....I've had a post deleted (as I presume this will be).

 

[LittleBuford]

It is a myth....I've had a post deleted (as I presume this will be).

My posts are still there, which I suppose makes me mythical.

 

[BobPar]

Either way, the point earlier stated remains. Budget cut concerns are totally well founded.

And I agree 100% with you. Maybe that will be the excuse people use when it doesn’t shine Splash Mountains shoes

 

[_caleb]

Why would you assume anything but budget cuts?

It’s what they do.

What was the budget for this originally? What is it now?

 

[_caleb]

Multiple people in this thread (myself included) have criticised the latest announcements concerning the retheme without being labelled racists. I'm not sure what further evidence you require. If the retheme is poorly executed (and I sincerely hope it isn't), I'll be the first to say so.

Because you are kind, respectful, and thoughtful even when you offer criticism.

 

[_caleb]

It is a myth....I've had a post deleted (as I presume this will be).

You’re convinced that your posts were deleted because you were critical of the retheme?

 

[UNCgolf]

I don't think one can measure a ride's popularity by the number of animatronics it has. Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is more popular than its forerunner, as is Cosmic Rewind.

I honestly don't know whether Tiana's Bayou Adventure will match Splash Mountain in popularity. I suspect it will be wildly popular even if it isn't as good.

I'm not sure this is true -- Touring Plans data suggests the average wait times for MMRR are roughly the same as they were for Great Movie Ride. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if the wait times for GMR at the end of its life were shorter than the Touring Plans average times, because maintenance was lacking and the overall experience had lessened due to changes.

Regardless, that's not a factor of the number of AAs in the attraction, so your overall point still stands.

 

[LittleBuford]

Because you are kind, respectful, and thoughtful even when you offer criticism.

 

[Incomudro]

I think it has much more to do with the execution than the IP itself. My favourite Disney film is The Little Mermaid, but Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is most certainly not my favourite ride. And as you yourself acknowledge, one doesn’t have to like Avatar to really enjoy Pandora.

Splash Mountain is popular in spite of its IP, not because of it. Whether the rethemed version will be worth (re)riding is impossible to say at this stage.

I wouldn't quite say "in spite of its IP."
More, in spite of its IP being generally unknown.
The animated critters from Song of the South, and the wonderful music make it an excellent IP for the ride and are instrumental to its appeal.

 

[Incomudro]

To me, Splash and ToT are still the high water marks of post-Epcot WDI. Yes, even including Rise and FoP. That said, there’s nowhere for this overlay to go but down. I have no faith in modern Imagineering to improve it, nor any faith in the company not to budget cut it to death.

Every moment when I think "Yeah, maybe they can pull this re-theme off," is beaten back by a moment of the belief that re-themeing this ride is a crime.
That second realization was brought back to me when I watched the recently posted video of Splash in its prime.

 

[BobPar]

Every moment when I think "Yeah, maybe they can pull this re-theme off," is beaten back by a moment of the belief that re-themeing this ride is a crime.
That second realization was brought back to me when I watched the recently posted video of Splash in its prime.

It would never happen but if the company is really looking to cut back & looking to save money for whatever reason they have a fiscal responsibility to their shareholders & whats best for this company’s future health and growth they can easily hide behind that and simply put this on “hold” just like they have with so many announced refurbs & attractions.

 

[LittleBuford]

I wouldn't quite say "in spite of its IP."
More, in spite of its IP being generally unknown.
The animated critters from Song of the South, and the wonderful music make it an excellent IP for the ride and are instrumental to its appeal.

That's a fair distinction.

 

[MaximumEd]

Every moment when I think "Yeah, maybe they can pull this re-theme off," is beaten back by a moment of the belief that re-themeing this ride is a crime.
That second realization was brought back to me when I watched the recently posted video of Splash in its prime.

Yep. Super long ride time, high capacity, great story, catchy music, tons of AA’s, a freaking steam train running through the ride, and a decent thrill. If you don’t get off this ride with a huge grin, something is broken in you. PatF should 100% be represented in the parks, as it’s a really good animated movie…..just not at the expense of this.

 

[FettFan]

Every moment when I think "Yeah, maybe they can pull this re-theme off," is beaten back by a moment of the belief that re-themeing this ride is a crime.
That second realization was brought back to me when I watched the recently posted video of Splash in its prime.

Or just watch the Tokyo incarnation of Splash, which is still in primo condition. Even the “pogo stick” Brer Rabbit is functional, whereas at WDW, he’s usually turned off.

 

[FettFan]

Yep. Super long ride time, high capacity, great story, catchy music, tons of AA’s, a freaking steam train running through the ride, and a decent thrill. If you don’t get off this ride with a huge grin, something is broken in you. PatF should 100% be represented in the parks, as it’s a really good animated movie…..just not at the expense of this.

Aye. Perhaps instead of the Coco/Encanto area they want behind BTMRR, they should expand an East Coast New Orleans Square behind Small World/Be Our Guest.

They could even loop it around so that you could enter NOS through both Fantasyland and Storybook Circus, instead of SC becoming a dead end.

Added bonus: you already have the kitchen infrastructure in place thanks to BOG and Gaston’s Tavern. Expand it a bit and then build Tiana’s on the backside.

 

[Casper Gutman]

With how little actual artwork we’ve seen, how lackluster the sparse materials displayed have been, how relatively fast the redo will be, and how little ballyhoo there has been over what is arguably the most substantial makeover to a “legendary” ride in Disney parks history, I’m concerned that one of management’s primary goals with the conversion is to keep it as low profile as possible to avoid notice by certain news networks and other interested parties seeking to stir widespread controversy. Given recent events, it seems like management’s mandate is that the change be fast, low key, and under the radar - just get it done and hope no one important notices. That bodes ill for the quality of the redo, a project that should at least approach the scope of Cosmic Rewind. It’s disheartening to see the company this sheepish about a project in which they need to be fully invested.