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

[Kirby86]

For what its worth, I'm always grateful for anything that shines a spotlight on PatF. It was unfairly deemed a flop, in my opinion.

Looking at its box office returns it definitely underperformed. Disney was expecting more than a 269 million gross at the worldwide box office. That has nothing to do with quality since I personally like the film.

 

[Bleed0range]

As of this second it has the second highest wait in the world’s most popular theme park, so I would say it’s far from stale. If anything, inserting a princess theme could push the teenage and older crowds away from the attraction.

I think it is so popular because it is a water ride with a big drop and lasts a decent amount of time. I would argue the IP associated with it has never really been that big of a reason why people love Splash Mountain. A lot of people like the song at the end, but otherwise I don’t know if the IP really had ever had much to do with it. I love the ride and I could care less about it. I certainly don’t want to watch Song of the South.

 

[UNCgolf]

I think it is so popular because it is a water ride with a big drop and lasts a decent amount of time. I would argue the IP associated with it has never really been that big of a reason why people love Splash Mountain. A lot of people like the song at the end, but otherwise I don’t know if the IP really had ever had much to do with it. I love the ride and I could care less about it. I certainly don’t want to watch Song of the South.

It's not the IP -- it's the overall quality. The IP is basically irrelevant.

If it was like the Little Mermaid ride inside, it wouldn't be nearly as popular.

 

[DCLcruiser]

It's not the IP -- it's the overall quality. The IP is basically irrelevant.

If it was like the Little Mermaid ride inside, it wouldn't be nearly as popular.

I don't agree. The draw is the drop, not the old animatronics of possums.

If the animatronics were underwater creatures and Ariel was singing about thing-a-mabobs at the end, it would be just as popular. Maybe more since people would recognize the IP.

 

[Bleed0range]

It's not the IP -- it's the overall quality. The IP is basically irrelevant.

If it was like the Little Mermaid ride inside, it wouldn't be nearly as popular.

I agree. I don’t think the retheme will affect the popularity at all. In fact, I expect it’s going to be as popular as 7DMT when it reopens.

I think the ride will pretty much be the same with maybe less animatronics but still cool effects. I don’t think any of the animatronics on the ride are so amazing that it would be a big loss. The number of them are just a cost cutting measure from the past anyway.

 

[Ghost93]

I do think the ride should retain a gender-neutral title so that it isn't stereotyped as a "girl's attraction." To be clear, I love Disney princesses, but I know there's a large segment of male park-goers who would avoid a ride with a title like "Tiana's Magical Adventure!"

 

[Bleed0range]

I don't agree. The draw is the drop, not the old animatronics of possums.

If the animatronics were underwater creatures and Ariel was singing about thing-a-mabobs at the end, it would be just as popular. Maybe more since people would recognize the IP.

I am not sure if I misunderstood his question but I agree with your sentiment. Everyone loves the drop, the water… it’s Orlando.

 

[UNCgolf]

I don't agree. The draw is the drop, not the old animatronics of possums.

If the animatronics were underwater creatures and Ariel was singing about thing-a-mabobs at the end, it would be just as popular. Maybe more since people would recognize the IP.

You're not getting my point.

If it was a high quality version of the Little Mermaid it almost certainly would be a bigger draw because of the IP. I'm saying if it was like the Little Mermaid ride that actually exists -- which is poorly designed and nearly always a walk-on -- it would not be as popular as what currently exists at Splash because the quality would be much lower.

The drop is a big part of the draw, but it's not the only draw. If it was, there'd be no reason to bother with a theme at all -- just throw in a bare bones log flume and save money. The overall quality of the attraction is why it still gets among the longest lines in the park even on days when the water is not refreshing.

 

[Bleed0range]

I do think the ride should retain a gender-neutral title so that it isn't stereotyped as a "girl's attraction." To be clear, I love Disney princesses, but I know there's a large segment of male park-goers who would avoid a ride with a title like "Tiana's Magical Adventure!"

I don’t think they should even change the name. Maybe just add a subtitle to it.

 

[Ghost93]

I don’t think they should even change the name. Maybe just add a subtitle to it.

Splash Mountain: New Orleans
Splash Mountain: Dr. Facillier's Revenge
Splash Mountain: Under New Management
Splash Mountain: Bayou Edition

 

[DCLcruiser]

You're not getting my point.

If it was a high quality version of the Little Mermaid it almost certainly would be a bigger draw because of the IP. I'm saying if it was like the Little Mermaid ride that actually exists, which is bad and nearly always a walk-on, it would not be as popular as what currently exists at Splash because the quality would be much lower.

The drop is part of the draw, but it's not the only draw. If it was, there'd be no reason to bother with a theme at all -- just throw in a bare bones log flume and save money. The overall quality of the attraction is why it still gets among the longest lines in the park even on days when the water is not refreshing.

I get your point, but I don't expect the current animatronics to change much. They already fit the movie. Just replace the big bear butt with Louis stuck in the wall and a couple of new Tiana's and you have the ride. I don't expect a massive downgrade.

Splash Mountain: New Orleans
Splash Mountain: Dr. Facillier's Revenge
Splash Mountain: Under New Management
Splash Mountain: Bayou Edition

The name will probably not change much. Splash Mountain: Tiana's Bayou Adventure

 

[Texas84]

Has anyone tried to explain a "mountain" in the southern Louisiana bayou? Is it DISNEY MAGIC?!?

 

[LittleBuford]

Has anyone tried to explain a "mountain" in the southern Louisiana bayou? Is it DISNEY MAGIC?!?

I know the bolded was meant sarcastically, but I would say that’s a good answer to your question. People are being so literal-minded about the whole thing, ignoring the fact that we’re talking about a theme park in which animals walk and talk and a castle overlooks an American high street. If it’s OK to turn Chickapin Hill into a mountain, I see no problem with doing the same for Tiana’s bayou. It’s meant to be fun and fantastic, not a like-for-like representation of US geography.

 

[UNCgolf]

I know the bolded was meant sarcastically, but I would say that’s a good answer to your question. People are being so literal-minded about the whole thing, ignoring the fact that we’re talking about a theme park in which animals walk and talk and a castle overlooks an American high street. If it’s OK to turn Chickapin Hill into a mountain, I see no problem with doing the same for Tiana’s bayou. It’s meant to be fun and fantastic, not a like-for-like representation of US geography.

I think it would be a bigger issue in Animal Kingdom because of that park's strive for relative authenticity (or in the World Showcase, I suppose), but I agree that it really doesn't make much difference in the Magic Kingdom as long as it doesn't detract from the surrounding area.

 

[DisneyDodo]

My vote is still for "Splash Bayou"

My choice of name would be "Splash Bayou." It retains the "Splash" of the original and replaces one geographical feature with another. Using the word "mountain" would just feel so out of place for an attraction whose location in the swamps of New Orleans is so integral to its character (I know there are no mountains in SotS either, but Chickapin Hill is close enough, and the ride's general location isn't all that important anyway). It could still maintain "Disney mountain" status without "mountain" in the name, the same way the Matterhorn, EE, and 7DMT do.

Knowing Disney marketing, they'd have to append the obligatory subtitle, so something like "Splash Bayou: Tiana's Mardi Gras Adventure"

 

[GoneForGood]

My vote is still for "Splash Bayou"

I agree with this and your other comment. Lived in Louisiana all my life, 30 mins from NOLA.

While certainly fantastical and a little silly. I could understand Chick A Pin Hill being flooded. It isn't an actual mountain- but a title and one that due to the attractions "backstory" is linked to the world of the Brer animals in the current theme (It wouldn't make sense to keep the name due to this since they are on their way out). One of the things about the current story is how well the drops work into it.

It's just. I know its a theme park and for fun. But I am having trouble being excited for this because the plot just doesn't make sense *yet*. 5 drops with one of them being 50 feet is.. IMO asking too much in terms of suspension of disbelief. (Again, this is just my opinion as a native of where this attraction is supposed to take place- being told to just take it is something I'm not okay with. because to me that's like telling me to accept mediocrity. Especially when this project is supposedly being done to make guests more comfortable at their parks its not a good look.).

I often try to think of ways the story could go to be more palatable. But I guess that is Disney's job. I am going to wait and see how this turns out before I can make final judgement on it. Current not impressed. Hoping I get humbled and or proven wrong.

Er.. sorry for going off topic..

PS I think it is also worth noting, That Splash in Florida/Fronteirland it's rockwork is based more around Gloss Mountain in Oklahoma than Red Georgia Clay.

 

[DCLcruiser]

Perhaps the story is that the guests are transformed into frogs, and in that sense, everything seems very large to us.

 

[Dizmentia]

We are living in the worst timeline… chances this gets canceled at WDW now?

Zero chance, it is happening for sure in Walt Disney World. The artwork seems to hint that some of the critters from the original might be reskinned, but a little blue birdie has told me not to count on that.

 

[Bocabear]

Yes, they could do that. Again, Hulu provides a platform that is adult enough for the content.

Tiana could outpace the existing IP's revenue since it mostly exists in the parks. Tiana exists all over Disney; it can have a sequel, a Disney+ series, sell more toys/merchandise, increase sales for DCL Wonder thanks to new interest in the restaurant, Tiana's Place, and increase MK ticket sales by offering a "new" (updated) ride.

The Br'er IP cannot do that. Splash is a medium for delivering an IP. Tiana has a brighter future.

Do you work for the Disney Channel? Or Disney Marketing?

 

[LittleBuford]

IMO asking too much in terms of suspension of disbelief.

I'm struggling to understand this. No-one is being asked to accept either version of the ride as real or realistic. They both involve landscapes that don't look as they should and animals that talk.