Tell me about splash mountain

[musketeer]

Simple question: Is Splash Mountain in Disneyland like the one in Florida? If different, how?

Thanks

 

[xfkirsten]

DL's Splash Mountain is quite different than WDW's. It is MUCH shorter, and the log moves through the scenes very quickly. I also feel like DL's is much less detailed. The scenes are not as elaborately done. Also, a minor difference, but instead of 4 rows of 2 seats each, the logs at DL have 5 seats, one behind the other.

-Kirsten

 

[Merlin]

WDW's version is MUCH better. Don't get me wrong, DL's is an awesome attraction in my opinion. But one thing that has always kind of bugged me is that when you're riding it, if you look up, it's obvious you're inside a show building because all you see is the ceiling and the lighting. At WDW, the illusion is much better. They hide the ceiling with tree branches and stuff. It also has my favorite show scene, which is Brer Rabbit hopping along the picket fence (the DL version doesn't have that). There's also a hidden Mickey that I've seen countless times on the WDW version, but I've never seen it on the DL version...It's a cloud formation of Mickey lying on his back floating behind the showboat at the end. It might be in the DL version too, but I've never seen it (and I've looked for it).

 

[Merlin]

Oh, one more thing...There's a detail that USED to be in the DL version that was really cool, but they changed it about a year after the attraction opened. Before Splash was built at DL, the space it occupied was part of what used to be called "Bear Country". This was unique in that WDW never had a Bear Country. At the entrance to Bear Country, you used to pass a cave up on a hill to your left. In the spring, summer and fall, you would hear music coming out of the cave that was supposedly being played by a bear band (i.e. the Country Bears). But in the winter, all you would hear was snoring...because bears hibernate in the winter. A little known fact was that the bear in question was named Rufus. When Splash first opened at DL, you used to pass a cave, right before the first drop, that had snoring coming out of it. The mailbox outside the cave read "Rufus". I always thought that was so cool. But apparently hardly anyone got it, so they changed the name on the mailbox to Brer Bear. As far as I know, the one on the WDW version has ALWAYS been Brer Bear.

 

[Maliboomer4617]

Merlin,

Thanks for the little trivia surrounding the snoring bear at the DL Splash Mountain! The hidden Mickey at the DL S.M. is before you go into the whole blacklight bee section. On the right of the log there are some circular green flowers, and if you look close you can see Mickey. So next time you go, look for it!

 

[LadyDarling]

I actually like both rides, for different reasons. DL's seems busier and more colorful to me. It also (like most things between DL and WDW) has a little extra history behind it! It contains more audio-animatronic characters and many of them were "recycled". DL used to have a show in its revolving theater in Tomorrowland (which is now Innoventions) called "America Sings". Many of the birds and other characters you see are from that attraction, decked out in southern costume for the Song of the South based ride.

One thing I did enjoy in WDW especially was a slightly more coherent story where Brer Frog made many apperances (practically like your "guide" or "narrorator"). He only makes a couple of appearances (3 tops) in the DL version, so the story is more open to your imagination.

Both are great rides and well deserved thier headliner status. You won't be disappointed!

Edited to include: Merlin - that snoring is still there! A hold over from the famous unseen bear mascot of Bear Country. I'm not sure about the mailbox's name though. It's been a while since I've been on it. More on that next month after my visit!

 

[NemoRocks78]

DL's is cool....but I hate the fact that the logs move so fast.

WDW's is the greatest attraction on the planet.

 

[stranger]

DL's is cool....but I hate the fact that the logs move so fast.

Do they really? I've never noticed. Which version do you have in your avatar? I can't tell because it moves too fast...ah, nevermind, It's disneyland. :lol:

Merlin, thanks for sharing the story on Rufus. I love small details like that, but too bad it's no longer there.

 

[netenyahoo]

I agree that WDW's version is better. I like the logs much better at WDW. The ride is also longer. DL's is still great and they are supposed to get new logs when the ride goes down for its refurb this fall. The new logs will have one more seat, so there will be more ride capacity to help with the loooooong line.