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

[Animaniac93-98]

“The Princess and the Log”

Or, would that be the Tangled Toilets?

"The Princess and the Mog"?

I think that's Spaceballs

 

[GoneForGood]

I saw the video yesterday and couldn’t believe how much they’re stretching the “mountain” part of things.

They’re apparently taking inspiration from the salt domes of Avery Island (aka where Tabasco Sauce is produced).

Avery Island is on the other side of the state, about 2-3 hours away from New Orleans.
View attachment 650265
That’s like having Amish Country represented at Liberty Square because “it’s all Pennsylvania”.


Also they came out with the claim that the Avery Island salt domes had the highest elevation in Louisiana is patently false.

That would be Driskell Mountain, out halfway between Shreveport and Monroe and a stone’s throw from the Arkansas border.


Dey done drop de ball here, Cher.

I WANTED to say just this. With how they are touting it being authentic...Yeah red flag for me.

Look. I get that this is an overlay for Splash Mountain, so they kind of HAVE to make these stretches. Personally, IF they keep the underground scenes and try to pass them off as a salt mine (Which as shown above is hours away from NOLA, where the story is centered and to honor). Eeeeh, not sure how i'll feel about that..It would strike me as...lazy?

But I want to hear more of this first. Perhaps they'll get other "cultural" aspects of this right, here's hoping.

 

[Br0ckford]

Cool. I'm ready for the re-theme. Out with old in with the new.

 

[JEANYLASER]

Cool. I'm ready for the re-theme. Out with old in with the new.

I'm ready for the re-theme too! Br0ckford!

 

[FettFan]

But I want to hear more of this first. Perhaps they'll get other "cultural" aspects of this right, here's hoping.

Even that falls apart because culturally, Avery and the Lafayette area is worlds apart from New Orleans.

That part of our state is very much Cajun, predominantly rural and French. Mardi Gras there is more community based and features folks dressed in French clown costume.

New Orleans is Creole, with heavier Spanish and Afro-Caribbean influence.
Plus the fact that Nola is a port city makes it more of a cosmopolitan melting-pot thanks to immigrant influx from Germany, Italy, and Ireland (collectively known as the Yats) and give the “Eastern New Orleans accent” that distinct New York sound.

 

[Kirby86]

I WANTED to say just this. With how they are touting it being authentic...Yeah red flag for me.

Look. I get that this is an overlay for Splash Mountain, so they kind of HAVE to make these stretches. Personally, IF they keep the underground scenes and try to pass them off as a salt mine (Which as shown above is hours away from NOLA, where the story is centered and to honor). Eeeeh, not sure how i'll feel about that..It would strike me as...lazy?

But I want to hear more of this first. Perhaps they'll get other "cultural" aspects of this right, here's hoping.

Honestly that's the issue with this retheme from a creative standpoint you're limited by what you can do. You can't change the flume its set in place. All the sets are made of concrete so minus the Imagineers going in with sledgehammers the sets are going to look similar. That brings this question up now in the Laughin Place/ salt mines part of the ride is the water still going to shoot once the retheme is open? If it does how long do you think Disney will keep it running before they decide its not worth fixing that effect? These are the questions I'm wondering about.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I wonder if Brer Frog will still narrate. He can be the bridge between both iterations of the ride since he fits into both worlds.

No, they’re going to hang a picture on the wall of Brer bear and Fox handing the deed of splash over to Tiana

 

[networkpro]

Let's just leave it as "a hot mess in progress" as the highest elevation in New Orleans is 6.5 feet above sea level while most of the (currently) reclaimed swamp lands are 4.92 to 9.84 feet below sea level. Could they change the story to address the hazards of building below sea level (WDW) or where there isnt sufficient water (DL) ?

 

[Smiley/OCD]

It is a horrible name. The logo is the antithesis of what a water thrill ride should be. They recorded a "research trip" from two weeks ago to try to market this. The whole things stinks to high heavens and the company is actively devouring its own legacy. I'd leak what they're up to but they still haven't solidified anything other than three animatronics.

This has Journey Into Imagination written all over it.

That’s my biggest concern…that this is going to be turned into another MMRR, with screens out the wazoo and the AA’s added to someone’s collection with Buzzy.

With TWDC’s reputation as of late, I don’t believe for one second that this will be reopened when they say in ‘24.

I REALLY, REALLY hope I’m wrong and I will be the first one to admit such, but I just have a gut feeling that this will be a half *** job and it will be a mere shadow of splash.

 

[FettFan]

Let's just leave it as "a hot mess in progress" as the highest elevation in New Orleans is 6.5 feet above sea level while most of the (currently) reclaimed swamp lands are 4.92 to 9.84 feet below sea level. Could they change the story to address the hazards of building below sea level (WDW) or where there isnt sufficient water (DL) ?

Tiana’s Broken Levee Adventure?

 

[LittleBuford]

I really don’t understand why the actual elevation of New Orleans / Louisiana matters at all, whether to commenters here or to the Imagineers in the video. Do people care about such accuracy anywhere else in Magic Kingdom? We’re not talking about a World Showcase pavilion here, but a ride that’s always involved a huge leap of the imagination (there’s quite a difference between Chickapin Hill and Splash Mountain).

 

[networkpro]

I really don’t understand why the actual elevation of New Orleans / Louisiana matters at all, whether to commenters here or to the Imagineers in the video. Do people care about such accuracy anywhere else in Magic Kingdom? We’re not talking about a World Showcase pavilion here, but a ride that’s always involved a huge leap of the imagination (there’s quite a difference between Chickapin Hill and Splash Mountain).

Because its not even plausable.

 

[dreday3]

oh my god. Now we want the historical accuracy of the levees in the ride.
The ride about a girl who kissed a frog, became a frog, talked to fireflies, met a singing alligator and was pursued by a man who controlled (at least tried) voodoo spirits.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I really don’t understand why the actual elevation of New Orleans / Louisiana matters at all, whether to commenters here or to the Imagineers in the video. Do people care about such accuracy anywhere else in Magic Kingdom? We’re not talking about a World Showcase pavilion here, but a ride that’s always involved a huge leap of the imagination (there’s quite a difference between Chickapin Hill and Splash Mountain).

I don’t get it either. When I am thinking a ride that is authentic to New Orleans and the culture… it wasn’t based on the geography / mountains or lack of.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I bet the name Splash Mountain was dropped because a lot of times when you type the ride up on google, the word "racist" appears in the search results and Disney doesn't want people to associate this new version of the ride with Song of the South AT ALL.

While I think a retheme could be great and I support getting rid of the SotS theme, I'm a bit troubled that all of the marketing for the new ride has focused on "authenticity" and "inclusion" rather than "fun" and "thrilling." Don't get me wrong, they should be authentic in representing New Orleans, but I'm worried there won't even be an antagonist/threat in the ride. Splash Mountain — while fun — should have an element of danger about it. The name "Tiana's Bayou Adventure" seems to be lacking the thrill factor.

Maybe this will become the final nail in Chappy’s coffin…I hope it comes sooner, but…

 

[Kirby86]

oh my god. Now we want the historical accuracy of the levees in the ride.
The ride about a girl who kissed a frog, became a frog, talked to fireflies, met a singing alligator and was chased by a man who controlled (at least tried) voodoo spirits.

Also one of the fireflies was in love with the star from Pinocchio and when he died he turned into Neverland.

 

[networkpro]

oh my god. Now we want the historical accuracy of the levees in the ride.
The ride about a girl who kissed a frog, became a frog, talked to fireflies, met a singing alligator and was pursued by a man who controlled (at least tried) voodoo spirits.

At least get the sequence right, Prince Naveen was turned into a frog first, kissed Tiana sharing the Vodun curse turning her into a frog as well.

 

[LittleBuford]

Because its not even plausable.

View attachment 650281

Nor are flying elephants, singing bears, or ships floating over London.

 

[networkpro]

Nor are flying elephants, singing bears, or ships floating over London.

Then why even attempt the New Orleans cultural facade? Cultures evolve in the context of geography. You don't see a large surf culture in Schenectady or Des Moines do you?

 

[LittleBuford]

Then why even attempt the New Orleans cultural facade?

As I’ve already noted, the video’s emphasis on authenticity and accuracy seemed misplaced to me. The ride can evoke New Orleans and its environs without accurately representing them. It’s a Magic Kingdom attraction, for goodness’ sake—the whole point is to create something whimsical and different from our own mundane world.