BREAKING NEWS: Splash Mountain Permanent Closure Date Announced – More Details Released on New Theming

Walt Disney World announced a re-theming of Splash Mountain was in development some time ago without revealing a closure date for the existing version of the attraction. Following the re-theming Splash Mountain will reopen as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and feature a Princess & the Frog theme. Disney has finally announced a closure date for Splash Mountain.

Splash Mountain will close January 23, 2023 to begin the process of refurbishment and re-theming.

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Carmen Smith:

We’re getting closer to going down the bayou with Tiana and friends as progress continues on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Since the attraction was announced in 2020, Imagineers have been hard at work designing an immersive experience inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “The Princess and the Frog” and the heart and culture of New Orleans. We’ve shared additional details and some sneak peeks since then at events such as ESSENCE Fest and D23 Expo 2022, demonstrating how our research brought us to New Orleans in an effort to remain authentic to the story’s setting.

Today, I’m excited to give you a first look at a new scene and some of the brand-new characters we’re creating specifically for this attraction. In Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, you’ll join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis during Mardi Gras season as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans. This new scene is the thrilling moment you first drop into the bayou and encounter some friends both new and familiar.

As you can see here, fireflies will light up the night and invite you deeper into the bayou … almost like they’re waving you forward. What you can’t tell from this rendering – so you’ll just have to trust me on this one – is that beautiful zydeco music will fill the air. Zydeco is a special blend of rhythm and blues that was born in Louisiana, and when you hear it, you’ll feel like you’ve truly stepped into Tiana’s world.

Here you’ll find Louis, who explains where this amazing music is coming from. Tiana made some new friends out here – a band full of adorable critters, including an otter, a rabbit, a racoon, a beaver, a turtle and others. The band members sing and play instruments made of natural materials they found in the bayou. It feels like they may have a bigger role to play in this story … but we’ll just have to wait and see on that one.

Like so many musical genres, zydeco brings together the sounds and styles of many cultures. We wanted that spirit reflected in this scene (and throughout the attraction) so that all our guests feel welcome to join in the celebration. It’s emblematic of what we’re always striving for with our attractions – bringing people of different backgrounds together through timeless Disney stories. This new musical adventure provides us with a song sheet to write that concept into reality.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will take you on a journey inspired by the story and characters from the hit film, picking up where that story left off. In preparation for this new experience and the many exciting updates ahead, Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World Resort will be closed starting Jan. 23, 2023, so we can begin the next phase of this attraction’s development. Additional information about Splash Mountain at Disneyland Resort will be shared at a later date.

We will continue to provide updates on the new attraction as they become available.

RELATED ARTICLE: 9 Facts and Secrets About Splash Mountain at Disney World

by Christy Cabby

Splash Mountain is a beloved favorite, especially on really hot days when guests want to beat the heat and cool off.  The attraction is fun to watch from outside, as you can see the guests drop (and you might even get a splash of your own), but the ride is even more fun to ride!  Here are several awesome facts and secrets about Splash Mountain.

Editor’s Note: Disney has announced that Splash Mountain will be reimagined to a Princess and the Frog theme – Tiana’s Bayour Adventure. The new attraction is set to open in late 2024. The current version will close January 23, 2023 for the reimagining.

9 – You drop just over 52 feet!

Yes, you read that right!  You get to drop 52 thrilling feet during the longest drop on the attraction.  If you time your ride just right, you could also see the amazing fireworks from the Magic Kingdom as you drop, too!  You will definitely get a bit wet after you reach the bottom, too!

8 – Splash Mountain almost took a completely different turn.

The original planned name for this attraction was actually “Zip-a-Dee River Run.” So how did we end up with “Splash Mountain”? Michel Eisner considered changing directions and wanted to promote “Splash,” the new (at that time) mermaid movie with Tom Hanks. He came up with the name “Splash Mountain” as part of the concept for that direction. The idea never took off, but the name stuck around!

7 – Brer Rabbit and Wakko Warner are the same voice.

Wakko Warner is a popular character from Animaniacs (Warner Brothers). Jess Harnell is the voice for both Wakko Warner and Brer Rabbit!

6 – The attraction is based on a movie that Disney has since tried to distance itself from.

Have you ever heard of or seen “Song of the South”? If you haven’t, you won’t be able to find this one in stores and will have to look for a copy from another country. This movie received a lot of bad press over the years for being a racially offensive movie to African Americans with various considered to be racist slurs. The ride is the only reminder left of the movie that Disney has kept going. The ride doesn’t include any controversial issues and focuses on one of the stories Uncle Remus tells.

5 – Brer Rabbit’s attempted demise is changed from the movie.

In the original story from the movie, Brer Fox uses a “tar baby” (a doll made from turpentine and tar that appears to resemble an African-American baby) to trick him and resulting in him getting stuck in the tar. In the attraction, Brer Rabbit gets caught in a honeycomb instead. We are glad they didn’t recreate the original story for the attraction, as it likely wouldn’t have gone over very well.

4 – Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah is the only remaining Song of the South song that Disney plays.

So we already talked about how Disney really wants to forget about the movie “Song of the South” and what was included in it. However, the song Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah is still a popular Disney fanfare that is played in the parks and appears on various soundtracks. It is the only song from the movie that you can find on soundtracks, even though other songs are heard during different sections of the attraction.

3 – The drops are different at all 3 of the Disney parks.

The height of the drops at each of the three locations that have Splash Mountain (California, Florida, and Tokyo), but the amount of drops and the details of the drops themselves are different. The drops are at varying steepness, creating different ride experiences depending on which one you ride. I think this means that we all need to go to all of these locations and ride each one so we can decide which one is better!

2 – You will get wet!

There are actually a few different points where you could get wet. There are geysers that shoot, waterfalls that could drench one side of your log vehicle, backsplash from the drops, and more. To give you an idea, there are around 950,000 gallons of water in this attraction, so plenty of water can end up giving you a big splash!

1 – What does the flashing street lantern in the loading area mean?

You may have noticed that there is a lantern that flashes from time to time in the area where you are boarding your log vehicle. Well, the big secret is…. It lets cast members know that the logs are about to move in the station so that they are prepared for guests to move out and the next guests to disembark. You will actually notice this in place on many attractions if you keep an eye out in the loading area.