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

[Tha Realest]

That is not correct. The theatrical run was a looser.

It grossed $271M world wide at the box office. It’s production budget minus marketing was $105M. Conservatively estimating a marketing budget of $50M, they would have need $310M world wide just to break even.

Likely the marketing budget was closer to $75M but let’s err on giving Disney benefit of a lower marketing spend.

It also killed live action animation. Some here have also pointed out home video sales, but again, they split those with retailers.

 

[monothingie]

It also killed live action animation. Some here have also pointed out home video sales, but again, they split those with retailers.

When this happened, it had a very limited home video window, before everything shifted to PVOD. At best that can bring in $10-$15M. Still not enough to make it profitable. Even with PVOD or DTC it wasn’t a driver of subscriber growth so it had minimal impact. Also because D+ was in house the profit associated with licensing it was like taking money from the left pocket and putting it in the right pocket.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

It also killed live action animation. Some here have also pointed out home video sales, but again, they split those with retailers.

The 2011 Winnie the Pooh film was probably more responsible for doing that than PATF. Though I don't think it's fair to say anything killed off hand drawn outside of corporate desire not to make them anymore. The entire industry was trending towards CGI unfortunately, and Disney execs were probably pleased with the opportunity to consolidate a lot of their tools and artists with what Pixar was using.

Disney's previous three in-house non Pixar CGI animated films (Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons and Bolt) did a lot worse than PATF. And yet they didn't kill off CGI as a result of those failures.

But whether PATF turned a profit or not (and again I believe the math shows that it did, albeit not Lion King numbers), no one's opinion but Disney's matters in this context. The fact is that THEY considered it a failure, and it was considered as such until only the past couple of years. Where the IP was revisited not because of its success (or a resurgence in its success even), but because of a lack of other options for their current needs.

 

[BrianLo]

PATF was still considered a failure up until 2019-2020 when Disney abruptly changed their tune on the film and began pushing it again. This reassessment of the value of the IP is not the sort of treatment most other "failed" movies would receive in this day and age. That is what people have been pointing out here. Out of social necessity and an absense of any other options, they made an exception.

I’d counter that Tangled is also undergoing the same current glow up.

I don’t think we can discount simply the sheer Princess branding. That is the special sauce.

Circumstances are leading to it batting above its weight (similar to Tron) and getting an E-ticket. But film popularity has never really seemed to drive attraction choices and rather luck, mixed with timing. We still lack a Lion King Ride, but they’ve never been shy with character/franchise representation.

At the end of the day Tiana is mildly batting above her weight, but is not the top dog. Park representation wise, she’s still several steps below the Frozen girls, Snow White, Belle, Ariel, sort of Cinderella/Aurora and Moana in short order. Maybe even Jasmine fleet and park wide (albeit she’s not the lead). Mulan and Merida are a bit under represented worldwide and Raya is too new. Pochahantas is getting downplayed In the opposite direction.

 

[lewisc]

For many, probably most guests, it will be a flume ride with character decorations. We're not the average guests. I'm sure a bunch of stuff will get sold

 

[Rich Brownn]

I don't think using the initial box office results are a good justification tbh. There's a high chance that it's gained more popularity over the years.

Fantasia was a big bomb that severely hurt Disney at the time. No one would question Fantasia getting this style of treatment nowadays though.

Sleeping Beauty bombed so bad that Disney actually reported a loss for the company for the year. And now....

 

[Rich Brownn]

Never judge the quality and popularity of a film by its box-office alone. If that were true the best picture of 1955 would not have been "Oklahoma!" or any other studio film. It would be "Cinerama Holiday" LOL

 

[Gusey]

I wouldn't say that PaTF has been a failure for Disney and that they've now started to use the film in the last couple of years. This is a list of everything PaTF offering at the Disney Resorts:

1. 2011 - 2013: Princess Tiana's Mardi Gras Celebration @ Disneyland
2. 2011 - present: Disney's Believe on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
3. 2011 - present: Royal Guest Rooms : Disney's Port Orleans resorts
4. 2012 - 2021: Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom
5. 2013 - present: Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios
6. 2013 - 2020: Mickey and the Magical Map @ Disneyland
7. 2014 - present: Festival of Fantasy parade @ Magic Kingdom
8. 2015 - present: Mickey and the Wondrous Book @ Hong Kong Disneyland
9. 2016 - present: Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire @ Magic Kingdom
10. 2016 - present: Tiana's Place on the Disney Wonder
11. 2020/2023 - present: Magic Happens parade @ Disneyland
12. 2022 - The Bayou on the Disney Wish
13. 2022 - Eudora's Chic Boutique @ Disneyland
14. 2023 - Tiana's Palace @ Disneyland
15. 2023 - Jollywood Nights @ Hollywood Studios
16. 2024 - Tiana's Bayou Adventure @ Magic Kingdom & Disneyland

 

[gerarar]

In WDW's Fantasmic!, Princess Tiana replaced Megara (technically replaced Mulan's spot on the front of the steamboat next to Belle/Beast while Mulan moved to the bottom row/side) in 2013, four years after the movie was released in 2009. The lineup of characters on the boat in the finale rarely ever gets changed at WDW (compared to DL), so this was kinda an important reshuffling from Disney.

Then when F! came back in 2022, they doubled down on the movie and added Prince Naveen next to Tiana at the front. They also added some easter eggs paying homage to Hercules and Megara (ex-characters on the steamboat) as a new projection during the new action sequence.

All this just to say that there was some data way back in 2013 to make Disney put Tiana in the finale and that guests would enjoy and recognize her among the dozens of characters on the boat.

 

[gerarar]

I wouldn't say that PaTF has been a failure for Disney and that they've now started to use the film in the last couple of years. This is a list of everything PaTF offering at the Disney Resorts:

1. 2011 - 2013: Princess Tiana's Mardi Gras Celebration @ Disneyland
2. 2011 - present: Disney's Believe on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
3. 2011 - present: Royal Guest Rooms : Disney's Port Orleans resorts
4. 2012 - 2021: Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom
5. 2013 - 2020: Mickey and the Magical Map @ Disneyland
6. 2014 - present: Festival of Fantasy parade @ Magic Kingdom
7. 2015 - present: Mickey and the Wondrous Book @ Hong Kong Disneyland
8. 2016 - present: Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire @ Magic Kingdom
9. 2016 - present: Tiana's Place on the Disney Wonder
10. 2020/2023 - present: Magic Happens parade @ Disneyland
11. 2022 - The Bayou on the Disney Wish
12. 2022 - Eudora's Chic Boutique @ Disneyland
13. 2023 - Tiana's Palace @ Disneyland
14. 2024 - Tiana's Bayou Adventure @ Magic Kingdom & Disneyland

I would add..

2013 - present: appearance in Fantasmic! at WDW. Not exactly sure when she started in DL's but she appears there too (at least before the recent fire incident). Prince Naveen was added in 2022 at HS and also a regular in DL's.
2023 - entire segment with new song (cut from the original movie) in Disney Holidays at Hollywood show @ Jollywood Nights party at HS.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I would add..

2013 - present: appearance in Fantasmic! at WDW. Not exactly sure when she started in DL's but she appears there too (at least before the recent fire incident). Prince Naveen was added in 2022 at HS and also a regular in DL's.
2023 - entire segment with new song (cut from the original movie) in Disney Holidays at Hollywood show @ Jollywood Nights party at HS.

She also had a float in the Soundsational parade at Disneyland (2011-2019).

And

Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom (2009)

 

[MisterPenguin]

Again, PatF seemed to have a net loss in theaters. But not a big one.

That was more than made up for in VCR/DVD sales.

In the end PatF had a net profit for Disney.

 

[TeriofTerror]

Again, PatF seemed to have a net loss in theaters. But not a big one.

That was more than made up for in VCR/DVD sales.

In the end PatF had a net profit for Disney.

And more than a few movies that are considered "Disney Classics" weren't profitable in their original theatrical runs.

 

[bmr1591]

However Tiana (her IP) is not at fault for the parks seeing less growth in recent years. Disney was going to retheme Splash, it was just a matter of time and IP they chose.

It's comparing apples to oranges... You don't have to be excited, but to say "it's too much", is a stretch...

Disney was going to retheme Disneyland Splash, but WDW was going to escape the hit until 2020.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Disney was going to retheme Disneyland Splash, but WDW was going to escape the hit until 2020.

While I know this was the original rumor, I find it hard to believe that Disney wouldn't have eventually rethemed Splash at WDW. Maybe (very small maybe) they would've chosen a different IP.

I think what happened was, an imagineer came up with the concept of retheming DL Splash with Tiana since her story takes place in New Orleans and their Splash is adjacent to New Orleans Square. Disney heard the idea and was like "wow this is a great idea, how do we make it fit in both parks?" And then we wound up with the story and attraction that is coming real soon.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Again, PatF seemed to have a net loss in theaters. But not a big one.

That was more than made up for in VCR/DVD sales.

In the end PatF had a net profit for Disney.

Which goes to show that with enough exposure almost any Disney property can become profitable and/or popular.

See: Hocus Pocus

Mars Needs Moms coming soon to Space Mountain!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Which goes to show that with enough exposure almost any Disney property can become profitable and/or popular.

See: Hocus Pocus

Mars Needs Moms coming soon to Space Mountain!

Where's my Darby O'Gill ride!?!?

 

[monothingie]

Again, PatF seemed to have a net loss in theaters. But not a big one.

That was more than made up for in VCR/DVD sales.

In the end PatF had a net profit for Disney.

It lost at minimum $40M in its theatrical run. Billion Dollar blockbusters are lucky to make $50M post. There is NO way that this movie netted anything positive since it left theaters.

Netflix alone paid $1B to license Sony’s library. What makes anyone think this movie is worth anything more that $5-10M post?

But I guess losing $40+M these days for Disney would be considered a win.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

It lost at minimum $40M in its theatrical run. Billion Dollar blockbusters are lucky to make $50M post. There is NO way that this movie netted anything positive since it left theaters.

The sales figures cited on the film's wikipedia article claim that the DVD release of PATF sold over 4.5 million copies and made $71.8 million in 2010. And as of 2019, it has allegedly made $119 million from its home releases.

The Princess and the Frog - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

That's assuming the source is accurate. But I do find it to be perfectly believable. There's ample historical precedent with a substantial number of Disney animated films flopping initially in theaters but later going on to become impressive sales juggernauts with rereleases. Especially on home video.

 

[EagleScout610]

While I know this was the original rumor, I find it hard to believe that Disney wouldn't have eventually rethemed Splash at WDW. Maybe (very small maybe) they would've chosen a different IP.

I think what happened was, an imagineer came up with the concept of retheming DL Splash with Tiana since her story takes place in New Orleans and their Splash is adjacent to New Orleans Square. Disney heard the idea and was like "wow this is a great idea, how do we make it fit in both parks?" And then we wound up with the story and attraction that is coming real sosoon.

It was stated waaay back when this started that originally the plan was in fact to keep Splash Mountain as is in Florida and Tokyo, given this was supposed to be a way to blend Critter Country better with New Orleans Square, not to wipe Song of the South off the map. Then everything went to pot in 2020 and it became "Eradicate every trace of Splash"