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

[Basil of Baker Street]

Universe of Energy had all of its carpets replaced a month before it closed permanently, and its closing had already been announced publicly.

It didn't matter that the ride was closing, that it was still open was reason enough to take care of it.

I really don't know what else to tell you. They aren't

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Just from the past two weeks-

- With the exception of the greenhouses (which is one of the only places on WDW property that is well maintained), Living with the Land is in deplorable condition and suffers very similar if not worse issues to Splash Mountain. Lighting fixtures are inoperable or heavily misaligned, a huge portion of the animals in the ride are either static or missing. Not one single figure in the rainforest scene was moving last week for instance, and a handful were missing outright. None of these are even remotely as complex or difficult to repair as Splash's AA's either, their movement is basically on the level of a classic Fantasyland dark ride.

- Small World received a fairly decent refurb not all that long ago and is at least still much cleaner than it had been in previous years. But in the past couple of months, dolls have started going missing or are stationary. A couple of the spinning ceiling fixtures are also broken again. Every week, I notice a new issue cropping up. And none of the issues are being fixed. Again, these also aren't remotely complex figures.

- On Big Thunder, every single figure in the flooded town scene is inoperable, everything is static. The bats in the cave also had no movement. Quite a bit of the the night time lighting is also broken. And of course, they never bothered to implement the new explosion effects added to the versions at California and Paris. The track is also in desperate need of a replacement.

- Don't even make me laugh about the condition of Space Mountain...

- The Progress City model has never looked worse.

- Both Zurg figures were static and the eye/mouth lights were malfunctioning, as well as the final Buzz figure. Even a number of the moving flat props were also static. No attempt has been made to clean and paint over the mold and water damage this ride has had for over a decade now. This may well be the nastiest ride at any Disney park currently.

Splash Mountain's horrible condition is not unique. There are a number of attractions on property that aren't in any danger of being closed down and are still being run to failure by park management. The only attraction i've noticed any IMPROVEMENT to over the past few months is Spaceship Earth. There's smoke again on some of the torches that have been inoperable for some time prior (though not in the Rome burning scene). And the steam engine has far more movement than it has had in years (not everything though, and the steam is still missing).

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

It's been mentioned that the main flume drop will be intimidating to younger children, does anyone know if Imagineering is doing anything to lessen that perceived peril making it appear less intense? Would they employ some type of inversed force perspective at ground level? Or strobe lights to create the illusion of moving in slow motion? I don't think it likely, but I wonder if Imagineering has thought of making such changes.

 

[Trauma]

It's been mentioned that the main flume drop will be intimidating to younger children, does anyone know if Imagineering is doing anything to lessen that perceived peril making it appear less intense? Would they employ some type of inversed force perspective at ground level? Or strobe lights to create the illusion of moving in slow motion? I don't think it likely, but I wonder if Imagineering has thought of making such changes.

What?

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

It's been mentioned that the main flume drop will be intimidating to younger children, does anyone know if Imagineering is doing anything to lessen that perceived peril making it appear less intense? Would they employ some type of inversed force perspective at ground level? Or strobe lights to create the illusion of moving in slow motion? I don't think it likely, but I wonder if Imagineering has thought of making such changes.

The final lift hill won't be as scary at least. I spotted Mama Odie's colored bottles inside the cave on the model, so I would guess the trek up to the top will be more upbeat and happy compared to the foreboding music and visuals that are currently there. There also won't be a briar patch at the base anymore, just swamp grass. Though there's probably not much you can do to alleviate children's fears at the peak and during the drop. I also very strongly hope they don't use strobe lights, they won't even work in the daytime. And they're even more likely to induce nausea and disorientation than not at night, it would also pose an ugly distraction to the scenery.

 

[RSoxNo1]

BTMR easily tops Guardians in that comparison, if you're talking about actual storytelling/show scenes/etc. -- Guardians is, of course, a more intense/thrilling coaster.

I think he was making the original comparison because there was an idea pushed that Guardians was going to be a lot more than just a coaster; that it was going to be like a coaster/dark ride hybrid. That obviously didn't happen.

Right, this is a point I was thinking about recently. I just rode Cosmic Rewind and Velocicoaster for the first time. While they are substantially better "coasters" than many of their predecessors if you're considering the whole scope of "themed roller coasters" I'd put Thunder Mountain as the best. There are no breaks / sacrifices to the theming and if that matters to you more than the thrills you have to appreciate how thorough Thunder Mountain actually is.

 

[RSoxNo1]

It's not a matter of "defending" but stating that no corporation in their right mind would spend money on an attraction then immediately demolish it.

Then close it now.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Just from the past two weeks-

- With the exception of the greenhouses (which is one of the only places on WDW property that is well maintained), Living with the Land is in deplorable condition and suffers very similar if not worse issues to Splash Mountain. Lighting fixtures are inoperable or heavily misaligned, a huge portion of the animals in the ride are either static or missing. Not one single figure in the rainforest scene was moving last week for instance, and a handful were missing outright. None of these are even remotely as complex or difficult to repair as Splash's AA's either, their movement is basically on the level of a classic Fantasyland dark ride.

- Small World received a fairly decent refurb not all that long ago and is at least still much cleaner than it had been in previous years. But in the past couple of months, dolls have started going missing or are stationary. A couple of the spinning ceiling fixtures are also broken again. Every week, I notice a new issue cropping up. And none of the issues are being fixed. Again, these also aren't remotely complex figures.

- On Big Thunder, every single figure in the flooded town scene is inoperable, everything is static. The bats in the cave also had no movement. Quite a bit of the the night time lighting is also broken. And of course, they never bothered to implement the new explosion effects added to the versions at California and Paris. The track is also in desperate need of a replacement.

- Don't even make me laugh about the condition of Space Mountain...

- The Progress City model has never looked worse.

- Both Zurg figures were static and the eye/mouth lights were malfunctioning, as well as the final Buzz figure. Even a number of the moving flat props were also static. No attempt has been made to clean and paint over the mold and water damage this ride has had for over a decade now. This may well be the nastiest ride at any Disney park currently.

Splash Mountain's horrible condition is not unique. There are a number of attractions on property that aren't in any danger of being closed down and are still being run to failure by park management. The only attraction i've noticed any IMPROVEMENT to over the past few months is Spaceship Earth. There's smoke again on some of the torches that have been inoperable for some time prior (though not in the Rome burning scene). And the steam engine has far more movement than it has had in years (not everything though, and the steam is still missing).

When did the, "If we can dream it, we can do it" Pepper's Ghost dialogue get removed from Progress City?

Maintenance is bad at WDW but the one thing that really surprised me was the printing press wheel was actually working at SSE last week.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

When did the, "If we can dream it, we can do it" Pepper's Ghost dialogue get removed from Progress City?

The Peoplemover got a brand new script in July this year, I assume that's when they removed it.

Maintenance is bad at WDW but the one thing that really surprised me was the printing press wheel was actually working at SSE last week.

There are still like three smaller gears/wheels on the red machine that aren't turning (and the steam, which has been MIA for a couple years now I think), but yeah there's a lot more movement on the machines than there has been in a long time. The large wheels and pistons on the green machine in particular were fixed I believe at some point between August-October. It's the only ride I can think of that maintenance has improved on at all recently. Um, thanks Chapek?...

 

[BubbaisSleep]

It's been mentioned that the main flume drop will be intimidating to younger children, does anyone know if Imagineering is doing anything to lessen that perceived peril making it appear less intense? Would they employ some type of inversed force perspective at ground level? Or strobe lights to create the illusion of moving in slow motion? I don't think it likely, but I wonder if Imagineering has thought of making such changes.

They're placing a tall water tower with a crown on it to make the mountain appear smaller than it is.

 

[Bocabear]

It's been mentioned that the main flume drop will be intimidating to younger children, does anyone know if Imagineering is doing anything to lessen that perceived peril making it appear less intense? Would they employ some type of inversed force perspective at ground level? Or strobe lights to create the illusion of moving in slow motion? I don't think it likely, but I wonder if Imagineering has thought of making such changes.

That would be ridiculous. The ride is popular and well loved for it's tall flume drop. There is no way to actually make the tall drop less intense nor would anyone really want to. Changing the drop to be less intense would involve completely rebuilding the ride which they are not doing... Now if they want to build a less intense water ride for toddlers, then that would be something in addition to the landmark ride that already exists...if kids are afraid of the drop there is always Pirates of the Caribbean and Small World for them to enjoy.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

That would be ridiculous. The ride is popular and well loved for it's tall flume drop. There is no way to actually make the tall drop less intense nor would anyone really want to. Changing the drop to be less intense would involve completely rebuilding the ride which they are not doing... Now if they want to build a less intense water ride for toddlers, then that would be something in addition to the landmark ride that already exists...if kids are afraid of the drop there is always Pirates of the Caribbean and Small World for them to enjoy.

That WOULD be ridiculous. Which is why I didn't suggest it. I asked if Imagineering had considered making it look less intimidating via visual techniques. But I can see the confusion. My ability to type a coherent sentence diminishes when sleep deprived. I didn't see the need of course, but did wonder they'd do anything to make it seem less intense for the littleuns.

 

[Bocabear]

That WOULD be ridiculous. Which is why I didn't suggest it. I asked if Imagineering had considered making it look less intimidating via visual techniques. But I can see the confusion. My ability to type a coherent sentence dimishes when sleep deprived. I didn't see the need of course, but wondered if they'd do anything to make it seem less intense for the littleuns.

I do think MK could use another water based ride... Always hoped they would do a flume ride, mostly indoors, based on Pocahontas...Just Around The Riverbend sequence...but I think now that IP has issues... but it would sure be nice in the expansion around the ROA...

 

[JohnD]

Then close it now.

Right and upset those who want to ride it one more time. But, hey, they're just rube guests. What do they know?

 

[Trauma]

Right and upset those who want to ride it one more time. But, hey, they're just rube guests. What do they know?

They are already slapping their guests in the face by shuttering one of the great themed attractions of all time.

Why stop there?

After all it’s kind of fun watching this company destroy itself.

 

[LittleBuford]

While I agree the ride should be properly maintained until the retheme, I don’t see the sense in closing it prematurely. I’d sooner ride it in its current state than not at all.

 

[EagleScout610]

The final lift hill won't be as scary at least. I spotted Mama Odie's colored bottles inside the cave on the model, so I would guess the trek up to the top will be more upbeat and happy compared to the foreboding music and visuals that are currently there. There also won't be a briar patch at the base anymore, just swamp grass. Though there's probably not much you can do to alleviate children's fears at the peak and during the drop. I also very strongly hope they don't use strobe lights, they won't even work in the daytime. And they're even more likely to induce nausea and disorientation than not at night, it would also pose an ugly distraction to the scenery.

If you pay attention to how Splash was advertised vs. TBA. What was the focus in every Splash ad, and the main thing discussed beside the critters? The drop. It was the main draw to the ride and had an air of almost reverence in the ads.

Now look, in comparison, at how Tiana's is being advertised: Tiana, the band, critters, Louis, New Orleans, Mardi Gras. Not once have they mentioned the 50 footer at the end of the ride. I'm guessing the drop will he going from "The culmination of the story and Ultimately escaping evil for a happy home sweet home" to "Woah wasn't that drop into the Bayou fun? Thanks Mama Odie"

Now how they're gonna pull THAT off I have no clue. Again, if they had indicated a threat of ANY sort, be it Facilier or not, instead of a happy happy ride through New Orleans it might be slightly easier.

 

[Tha Realest]

If you pay attention to how Splash was advertised vs. TBA. What was the focus in every Splash ad, and the main thing discussed beside the critters? The drop. It was the main draw to the ride and had an air of almost reverence in the ads.

Now look, in comparison, at how Tiana's is being advertised: Tiana, the band, critters, Louis, New Orleans, Mardi Gras. Not once have they mentioned the 50 footer at the end of the ride. I'm guessing the drop will he going from "The culmination of the story and Ultimately escaping evil for a happy home sweet home" to "Woah wasn't that drop into the Bayou fun? Thanks Mama Odie"

Now how they're gonna pull THAT off I have no clue. Again, if they had indicated a threat of ANY sort, be it Facilier or not, instead of a happy happy ride through New Orleans it might be slightly easier.

Put aside the wisdom of changing this ride - it really is a head scratcher that they decided to shoehorn a princess that appeals to the under-10 female set into one of the more imposing thrill rides in the park.

 

[drizgirl]

I never even considered that they might try to downplay the drop. I think it would be a huge mistake, and just emphasize the fact that they are shoehorning a theme this ride wasn't designed for.

 

[LittleBuford]

Now look, in comparison, at how Tiana's is being advertised: Tiana, the band, critters, Louis, New Orleans, Mardi Gras. Not once have they mentioned the 50 footer at the end of the ride.

I suspect one of the reasons for this is that the drop is now so iconic that it doesn’t need to be advertised. It’s also the one part of the ride experience that’s going to stay largely unchanged.