Tiana's Bayou Adventure: Disneyland Watch & Discussion

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Forget it, everyone. It's El Super...

 

[Brer Panther]

Isn't the reason why Disney is doing this because they were afraid people would start boycotting Disney Plus if they didn't?

B.O. Numbers aside, SotS is a very weak film that very few people today could even sit through.

Isn't it kind of a popular opinion that the only good parts of Song of the South are the animated segments? Y'know, the things from the film that Splash Mountain is actually based on?

So yeah I’d rather have Frozen go in the Matterhorn than PatF go into Splash.

I wouldn't be surprised if they do that at some point. I wouldn't put it past them.

It’s weird that they made the sanitized Splash Mountain their top priority for changes when the “Cannibals” in Jungle Cruise, the Natives in Peter Pan, and Liverlips McGrowl remain currently untouched.

It’s kinda crazy how few people are commenting on the insincerity of this action. Like it’s somehow “enough” or was the main issue all of these years.

Splash Mountain should have been the least urgent thing they needed to address. But it’s going to be the first, and probably only, that they will touch.

I've said it before, but this is clearly just because Song of the South, the film that Splash Mountain takes inspiration from, is an easy target.

So, Disneyland is not for the people who care about Disneyland and the choices they make? OK...

As far as Bob Iger's Disney is concerned, Disneyland is for idiots who drool at the sight of anything Star Wars or Marvel-related, blow their money on anything that has Elsa's face on it, and are obsessed with posting Selfies on Instagram.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

So you’ll all want to take this with a grain (or even a pound) of salt but there is a rumor on the site that shan’t be named that Splash may actually close relatively quickly after the Park reopens, or possibly not reopen at all.

In essence the rumor being that they want to avoid a big “going away” event at Disneyland proper and quietly let the ride fade into oblivion without fanfare and more outrage. I would certainly hope this isn’t true with the ride seemingly still early in development, but the sudden removal of the soundtrack on the DtD/Esplanade loop does have me openly guessing whether they may just mothball the ride early.

I would be curious if any of our sources have heard anything since this rumor seems highly suspect at best.

 

[mickEblu]

So you’ll all want to take this with a grain (or even a pound) of salt but there is a rumor on the site that shan’t be named that Splash may actually close relatively quickly after the Park reopens, or possibly not reopen at all.

In essence the rumor being that they want to avoid a big “going away” event at Disneyland proper and quietly let the ride fade into oblivion without fanfare and more outrage. I would certainly hope this isn’t true with the ride seemingly still early in development, but the sudden removal of the soundtrack on the DtD/Esplanade loop does have me openly guessing whether they may just mothball the ride early.

I would be curious if any of our sources have heard anything since this rumor seems highly suspect at best.

It honestly wouldn’t shock me and yeah the fact they removed Zip a Dee Doo Dah from the music loop would support this rumor. RIP Splash. You ll live on in my memories, on YouTube, and on the back of the Brand New Disneyland 65th anniversary POPs that haven’t even been released yet which is odd since this “was being planned a year ago.”

 

[mickEblu]

With all of that said, I could also see them just opening DLR with Splash open for a few months to quietly give fans a last few rides without necessarily making it a big going away event with merch and all that.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

It honestly wouldn’t shock me and yeah the fact they removed Zip a Dee Doo Dah from the music loop would support this rumor. RIP Splash. You ll live on in my memories, on YouTube, and on the back of the Brand New Disneyland 65th anniversary POPs that haven’t even been released yet which is odd since this “was being planned a year ago.”

The apparent argument is that they want to get a jump start on “to take advantage of next quarters budget” prior to when the (COVID) cuts set in.

The conspiracy theorist in me believes almost sounds like some of these concerted efforts (from the petition, to the blog announcement, to cutting the esplanade music) may all be an internal coup to draw a line in the sand regarding the ride.

I still wouldn’t hold my breath, but just seems like an interesting (and believable) strategy, if true. It all seems like an organized effort some militant groups within TWDC find objectionable. Which concerns me, as a guy that is just crossing my fingers for a quality replacement and not a rush job.

 

[mickEblu]

The apparent argument is that they want to get a jump start on “to take advantage of next quarters budget” prior to when the (COVID) cuts set in.

The conspiracy theorist in me believes almost sounds like some of these concerted efforts (from the petition, to the blog announcement, to cutting the esplanade music) may all be an internal coup to draw a line in the sand regarding the ride.

I still wouldn’t hold my breath, but just seems like an interesting (and believable) strategy, if true. It all seems like an organized effort some militant groups within TWDC find objectionable. Which concerns me, as a guy that is just crossing my fingers for a quality replacement and not a rush job.

So if understand correctly you believe some of these things are being done by Disney purposely to get a major backlash from fans so they can say “our intention was to get rid of Splash but the people have spoken?” If so, the conspiracy theorist in me posted something very similar in late June/ early a July when this was announced. Seems a bit far fetched but

 

[SuddenStorm]

So you’ll all want to take this with a grain (or even a pound) of salt but there is a rumor on the site that shan’t be named that Splash may actually close relatively quickly after the Park reopens, or possibly not reopen at all.

In essence the rumor being that they want to avoid a big “going away” event at Disneyland proper and quietly let the ride fade into oblivion without fanfare and more outrage. I would certainly hope this isn’t true with the ride seemingly still early in development, but the sudden removal of the soundtrack on the DtD/Esplanade loop does have me openly guessing whether they may just mothball the ride early.

I would be curious if any of our sources have heard anything since this rumor seems highly suspect at best.

Um, if Disneyland reopens and Splash doesn't I'll go from "Really sad about the direction the park is headed" to really peeved at the complete lack of respect shown to the ride's fans.

Like, that would be the breaking point for me. I'd never go back.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

So if understand correctly you believe some of these things are being done by Disney purposely to get a major backlash from fans so they can say “our intention was to get rid of Splash but the people have spoken?” If so, the conspiracy theorist in me posted something very similar in late June/ early a July when this was announced. Seems a bit far fetched but

Unfortunately no. To the contrary, the conspiracy theorist in me is saying the opposite... that essentially the committee responsible is ramroding these changes through to take advantage of a few countervailing events:

1) Selectively leaking this during the pandemic to get this to “hit” and go viral before the budget impacts were fully felt on balance sheets;

2) Jumping the gun on the announcement/approval and promoting on DPB pressuring management to approve and budget the project in a very public fashion before Iger’s (likely 2021) departure; &

3) piggybacking off the social justice as a PR “selling point” for the more reluctant (and more incrementalism and cost conscious) senior level management teams.

Likely seeing the fiscal effects of this pandemic on the horizon I would speculate there was a limited prospective window to get this project green lit over fan objections and internal company divisions. I think they used the three countervailing forces identified above to their advantage.

Personally. I do believe Splash 2.0 was discussed as long-term blue sky evolutionary project for Disneyland beginning in 2019 alongside other expansion ideas into the next decade or more. But I don’t believe it was ever initially planned until long until after the second phase of Avengers campus and perhaps even new TL or SWGE expansion.

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

I think they’ll keep Splash Mountain open then close it on either 2022 or 2023 to change it to PatF by Disneyland’s 70th anniversary.

 

[EagleScout610]

In essence the rumor being that they want to avoid a big “going away” event at Disneyland proper and quietly let the ride fade into oblivion without fanfare and more outrage. I would certainly hope this isn’t true with the ride seemingly still early in development, but the sudden removal of the soundtrack on the DtD/Esplanade loop does have me openly guessing whether they may just mothball the ride early.

Don't really think that one's possible. I know of one Facebook group that would literally rip Disneyland limb from limb if they close it quietly

 

[el_super]

So, Disneyland is not for the people who care about Disneyland and the choices they make? OK...

You can agree with the decisions they make, and still count yourself as a Disney fan. The weird gatekeeping here is pretty strong. I don't think anyone has any delusion that these Splash changes will result in a massive decrease in attendance or revenue, so clearly there are enough Disneyland fans that don't care what happens to Splash. I think the complaints people have about the removal of Splash, need to be in the proper context.

 

[el_super]

I still wouldn’t hold my breath, but just seems like an interesting (and believable) strategy, if true. It all seems like an organized effort some militant groups within TWDC find objectionable. Which concerns me, as a guy that is just crossing my fingers for a quality replacement and not a rush job.

I think it might depend on when the park gets the OK to reopen. The demand for Splash Mountain in the winter months is usually so low, they've been closing it for "refurbishment" for months without much complaint. Assuming that the attendance will be capped, they won't really need the capacity, and if the demand isn't there, there's no reason to reopen the ride.

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

Now I question whether or not Disney would remove Splash Mountain from Remember Dreams Come True for the Critter Country/Fantasyland/ToonTown segment.

 

[planodisney]

I don’t know guys. Can they really publicly acknowledge that this ride has racist roots, is offensive to certain groups so we are going to retheme the attraction, However, we are going to let the ride operate so that fans can enjoy it for the next year. How can they possibly make that work?
If you publicly admit an attraction is offensive and racist can you still operate the ride? As politically correct as Disney is, and their, for whatever reason, need to align with the latest pop-culture movement trending on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, I can’t see them reopening Splash.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I don’t know guys. Can they really publicly acknowledge that this ride has racist roots, is offensive to certain groups so we are going to retheme the attraction, However, we are going to let the ride operate so that fans can enjoy it for the next year. How can they possibly make that work?
If you publicly admit an attraction is offensive and racist can you still operate the ride? As politically correct as Disney is, and their, for whatever reason, need to align with the latest pop-culture movement trending on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, I can’t see them reopening Splash.

They’re doing it right now.

 

[el_super]

Everyone can only hope that the park changes course, but who knows.

Why would they change course? Their attendance has (had) pretty much maxed out. Their revenues kept increasing? How do you explain the supposed decrease in quality and continued financial success?

 

[jrhwdw]

Now I question whether or not Disney would remove Splash Mountain from Remember Dreams Come True for the Critter Country/Fantasyland/ToonTown segment.

Is RDCT even planning to come back with Mix Magic being in place now before COVID????


Now Hallmark is canning Mickey's ornament with Zip! I'm all for getting rid of bad cops but isn't this overboard?!?!?!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Unfortunately no. To the contrary, the conspiracy theorist in me is saying the opposite... that essentially the committee responsible is ramroding these changes through to take advantage of a few countervailing events:

We only know about this committee through a rumor... which may not be true or may have been portrayed in a way that is not accurate (whether by the leaker or the one receiving the leak).

Same source says this committee is pretty much disbanded indefinitely.

So... before one gets worked up about changes only vaguely rumored and now disrupted by a world wide pandemic and ensuing Second Great Recession...

The only thing to react to is what's announced: PatF replacing current Splash Mountain IP.

 

[Mac Tonight]

You can agree with the decisions they make, and still count yourself as a Disney fan. The weird gatekeeping here is pretty strong. I don't think anyone has any delusion that these Splash changes will result in a massive decrease in attendance or revenue, so clearly there are enough Disneyland fans that don't care what happens to Splash. I think the complaints people have about the removal of Splash, need to be in the proper context.

They'd love you over at MiceChat.