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

[WondersOfLife]

Perhaps, but the ride is still much more cohesive if you've already seen Song of the South or are familiar with the Brer Rabbit stories. For example, I bet the average guest doesn't realize that when Brer Rabbit is saying "Please don't fling me in that Briar Patch" that he's actually using reverse psychology. They probably think he genuinely doesn't want to be thrown in the Briar Patch and just assume he survived out of luck.

Yes, actually... they do. My dad literally told me that when I was like 7. And he’s never seen song of the south. If youre old, and you listen to the lyrics of the song, it makes total sense. “Bree Fox and Brer Bear are gonna get it today.” “Home sweet home is the lesson today.”

I also think the Magic Kingdom version does a better job of introducing the Brers to the uninitiated audience.

Agreed.

The Disneyland version seems made with the assumption that guests were familiar with SOTS.

I was under the impression that we were talking about WDW’s version since this is a WDW thread. I’ve never been on Disneyland’s.

Regardless, the ride is good enough without knowing about SOTS. And Tiana should go somewhere else.

 

[shambolicdefending]

If rumor is that Splash retheme plans aren't going well inside WDI, that should be the least surprising thing any of us hear all spring.

Of course they're not! There's almost no possible way they could go well.

At 2020s price points the retheme will almost surely cost several times more than the original construction. It will probably take just as long or longer than the original construction. And these things always seem to be complicated by stricter engineering processes and requirements.

The focus group studies have probably shown the idea to have mixed popularity with customers, and that's before anybody factors in the operational impact of shutting down a flagship attraction for two years or more. Possibly (probably?) right smack on top of the 70th Anniversary season.

Then we get to the small details of staffing shortages, supply chain delays, economic freezes in China, and workforce relocation that are taking up so much immediate bandwidth.

And has anybody checked to see how Disneyland Forward talks are going with the city?

With all the cost and operational headache it's going bring, and everything else the suits have to deal with right now, Splash is probably not a happy topic at HQ.

But, they'll get around to it, I'm sure. Maybe right after they get the Rocket Rods sorted out and running again?

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Perhaps, but the ride is still much more cohesive if you've already seen Song of the South or are familiar with the Brer Rabbit stories.

Completely absurd. I've been on Splash literally hundreds of times, and have never seen SotS. It's just a great attraction.

 

[G00fyDad]

Completely absurd. I've been on Splash literally hundreds of times, and have never seen SotS. It's just a great attraction.

He did not say that it was not a great attraction.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

He did not say that it was not a great attraction.

True, he stated that you had to have seen SotS in order to understand the context better. I say that's absurd because it is simply a great attraction.

 

[Dear Prudence]

Completely absurd. I've been on Splash literally hundreds of times, and have never seen SotS. It's just a great attraction.

Imagine!--actually paying attention and picking up on an attraction's clearly delineated plot! (especially since WDW has that great chase build up)

 

[LittleBuford]

True, he stated that you had to have seen SotS in order to understand the context better. I say that's absurd because it is simply a great attraction.

How is it absurd? It’s factually true that someone who’s seen the film (or knows the story) can better grasp the narrative of the ride. That goes for just about any attraction at Disney that is based on a movie.

 

[LittleBuford]

Imagine!--actually paying attention and picking up on an attraction's clearly delineated plot! (especially since WDW has that great chase build up)

As @Ghost93 noted, it’s impossible to deduce from the ride itself that Br’er Rabbit is using reverse psychology in order to be thrown into the briar patch at the end. Someone who doesn’t know this can still come away from the attraction feeling that the plot makes sense, but they are likely to think that Br’er Rabbit escaped death by chance rather than by design.

 

[Dear Prudence]

As @Ghost93 noted, it’s impossible to deduce from the ride itself that Br’er Rabbit is using reverse psychology in order to be thrown into the briar patch at the end. Someone who doesn’t know this can still come away from the attraction feeling that the plot makes sense, but they are likely to think that Br’er Rabbit escaped death by chance rather than by design.

It's really not impossible at all. Someone's inability to figure it out doesn't make it impossible for someone else

 

[LittleBuford]

It's really not impossible at all. Someone's inability to figure it out doesn't make it impossible for someone else

There is nothing in the dialogue or mannerisms of the animatronic to suggest that Br’er Rabbit wants to be thrown down. That’s not a criticism; there’s only so much an attraction can (or should attempt to) convey. And again, this observation holds true for any ride based on a movie.

 

[celluloid]

It's really not impossible at all. Someone's inability to figure it out doesn't make it impossible for someone else

Exactly. Someone of reasonable intelligence who is paying attention enough could deduce that, particularly if the show elements are in good working order.

Like Haunted Mansion being a retirement home tour for ghosts, it literally is evident in the ride that you are alive on a tour, but some people never notice that. It is ok, but nowhere near impossible or absurd.

Carousel of Progress is not literally the same family, but a very Norman Rockwell style depiction of family live throughout decades. It is not impossible for someone to deduce that, it just takes some thinking. To say it is impossible is a silly hyperbole.

 

[celluloid]

There is nothing in the dialogue or mannerisms of the animatronic to suggest that Br’er Rabbit wants to be thrown down. That’s not a criticism; there’s only so much an attraction can (or should attempt to) convey. And again, this observation holds true for any ride based on a movie.

You should go back and listen to the music from the ride or read the ride dialogue again. A lot of inferences can and should lead one to that conclusion you say there is no evidence for.

You can also know how reverse psychology works without this particular example of the trickster character from the film. My seven year old gets it. I would understand if one says it is more difficult to appreciate or get, but not impossible by any means. You made a claim that somehow it is impossible to understand.

 

[Dear Prudence]

There is nothing in the dialogue or mannerisms of the animatronic to suggest that Br’er Rabbit wants to be thrown down. That’s not a criticism; there’s only so much an attraction can (or should attempt to) convey. And again, this observation holds true for any ride based on a movie.

I don't think it's that difficult to understand. The Disneyland version tells the story in the lyrics fairly explicitly?! Brer Rabbit says don't throw me in the Briar Patch, Brer Fox says that's just where you're going, and Brer Rabbit sings a verse at the end how home sweet home is today's lesson, and "what Brer Fox don't know is the Briar Patch is where my home is!" If you actually pay attention, it tells you what's going on.

 

[LittleBuford]

You should go back and listen to the music from the ride or read the ride dialogue again. A lot of inferences can and should lead one to that conclusion you say there is no evidence for.

You can also know how reverse psychology works without this particular example of the trickster character from the film. My seven year old gets it. I would understand if one says it is more difficult to appreciate or get, but not impossible by any means.

I’ve experienced the ride and watched the film multiple times. To my mind, what is clear in the film—that Br’er Rabbit cleverly engineers his escape through reverse psychology—is not at all clear in the ride. I suppose it isn’t impossible for someone to come up with this interpretation based on the attraction alone, and so I’m happy to take back my use of that particular word, but I think it’a pretty far-fetched to claim that any attentive viewer can arrive at such a conclusion without prior knowledge of the story.

 

[celluloid]

I don't think it's that difficult to understand. The Disneyland version tells the story in the lyrics fairly explicitly?! Brer Rabbit says don't throw me in the Briar Patch, Brer Fox says that's just where you're going, and Brer Rabbit sings a verse at the end how home sweet home is today's lesson, and "what Brer Fox don't know is the Briar Patch is where my home is!" If you actually pay attention, it tells you what's going on.

This. He starts in the Briar Patch, it ends with him back home in the Briar Patch.

Also, just to note, this is also the second trick he pulls on his antagonists within the ride. He already by that point has shown the audience he got them to go to The Laughing Place that was for his benefit.

 

[celluloid]

I suppose it isn’t impossible for someone to come up with this interpretation based on the attraction alone, and so I’m happy to take back my use of that particular word

Thank you.

 

[Brer Oswald]

The Splash Mountain retheme is going ahead as scheduled. I think some people seem to have forgotten (conveniently and/or purposely) that Disney moves at a snail's pace with these projects. Escargot anyone?

I’ve missed you Phil.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Carousel of Progress is not literally the same family,

 

[Brer Oswald]

This. He starts in the Briar Patch, it ends with him back home in the Briar Patch.

Also, just to note, this is also the second trick he pulls on his antagonists within the ride. He already by that point has shown the audience he got them to go to The Laughing Place that was for his benefit.

It definitely might be something most people don’t catch the first time they are going on the drop (if they have no experience with the story). But if you’re paying any attention, it’s obvious in the finale. It’s a “revelation” to the audience. It’s a common trick in storytelling. And it adds more context and enjoyment in repeat ride throughs.

 

[celluloid]

It definitely might be something most people don’t catch the first time they are going on the drop (if they have no experience with the story). But if you’re paying any attention, it’s obvious in the finale. It’s a “revelation” to the audience. It’s a common trick in storytelling. And it adds more context and enjoyment in repeat ride throughs.

Indeed and agreed. It is like turning the last page of a storybook where it all worked out. This was all great and intentional in design. Right down to the antagonist getting their come uppins and the hero understanding the moral. It also brilliantly mirrors our physical thrill and everything turning out ok.

Arguably, I think it does it the best of any classic storytelling attraction in Walt Disney's theme park history.