Splash Mountain to become Princess and the Frog ride

[ChipnDale79]

The list of untouched things have become increasingly slim. And, I ask..."Isn't there ANYTHING you can save of the original house? Anything sacred? Anything untouchable?" And for them, the answer is no. For me, I would save all of it. But, if I can't save all of it, I would at least want to save SOME of it.

think of this way, that house is evolving. yes, there are old things that are going away, but 100 years from now the conversations will be.

So and so added this piece when they lived here, and then so and so did this. Everyone has a stamp on it.

by the way..family home passed down generations sounds cool!

 

[Mit88]

I understand that people don't like change, especially at Disney World. I think once people get past the grieving stage that they'll realize that there's still time to experience the attraction before it changes and maybe it will give them an excuse to go check out Tokyo Disneyland. I also think more people will be excited about it once they see whatever they come up with and the kids growing up with the new ride won't care one way or another. They'll just see a fun ride with a Disney Princess.

Disney World is not an museum, it's a theme park and rides change over time. Even popular attractions have to change. If rides don't change and everything stays the same, I think it would get pretty boring.

Personally, I do believe this was primarily a financial decision. Disney is in the business of making money and the biggest problem is that the current property just isn't very marketable. Personally, I don't remember the last time I saw someone in the gift shop actually buy something. While we don't know the ride's maintenance schedule, I think it's obvious that it was due for a major refurbishment, which would mean that Disney was going to have to make a major capital investment in the tune of millions of dollars no matter what. The ride would no more money after such a major investment if they just kept it the same, which is a problem if you're looking to recoup that investment.

I think they looked at the success of Frozen Ever After and said, hey, that ride is super profitable now after we added Princesses. Let's do that to this other log flume that also needs refurbishment. Maybe we can do a desert party and sell a bunch of Princess stuff.

You are 1000000% right. It is not a museum. Walt has said as much. Things will change. Your favorite attraction will probably not last forever. And thats a bitter pill to swallow, especially if you dont see it coming. People here saw this announcement coming. Not definitely, but there have been rumors. And often times those rumors come and go with nothing changed, but I think we can all admit that theres a problem with the IP that Splash Mountain is based on, and eventually, whether it was for this, or because it just needed a change in general, it was going to happen. It just happened at a time where people were caught off guard. And when people are caught off guard, its often times going to lead to stronger opinions and feelings.

I disagree with that this gives people a reason to go to TDL. People should be going to TDL regardless. Myself included. There are enough people from different walks of the theme park fandom that will tell you that DisneySea is the best theme park in the world. But yes, Splash Mountain being over there (for the most devastated fans of the attraction) does give an additional reason to head over there

 

[mmackeymouse]

think of this way, that house is evolving. yes, there are old things that are going away, but 100 years from now the conversations will be.

So and so added this piece when they lived here, and then so and so did this. Everyone has a stamp on it.

by the way..family home passed down generations sounds cool!

It IS pretty cool. But like I always say...What’s the good of living in an old house when you get rid of the old?

It also explains a lot about my sentimentality, attachment to things, dislike of change.

I’m an old soul, so I love Magic Kingdom, I love Main Street USA, I love the people mover, I love the boardwalk. I was just born in the wrong century

 

[DisneyDad1736]

Walt said Disneyland “isn’t a museum” and wanted it to keep changing over the years. Just saying

 

[BrianL]

I disagree with that this gives people a reason to go to TDL. People should be going to TDL regardless. Myself included. There are enough people from different walks of the theme park fandom that will tell you that DisneySea is the best theme park in the world. But yes, Splash Mountain being over there (for the most devastated fans of the attraction) does give an additional reason to head over there

Can confirm.

 

[SaintsManiac]

It IS pretty cool. But like I always say...What’s the good of living in an old house when you get rid of the old?

It also explains a lot about my sentimentality, attachment to things, dislike of change.

I’m an old soul, so I love Magic Kingdom, I love Main Street USA, I love the people mover, I love the boardwalk. I was just born in the wrong century

I'm from one of the oldest cities in this country. It was also a slave trading hub. The beauty of the city is preserved and the things that need to change will be changed. And I will still love it.

The people that love the city and give it breath are part of the change. That's why it will remain beautiful.

 

[JacknSally]

So, I am not comparing this to Splash Mountain directly. But, what I am trying to say is....this isn't Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. This isn't Aladdin's Flying Carpets. This is a major, major attraction. So, if this one is on the table, if this one isn't "untouchable," doesn't that essentially mean that all of it is on the table?

I appreciate the entirety of your post, and I am sorry about the changes to your eventual house; there’s definitely a fine line between maintaining charm and modernizing things. I hope you’re able to keep something around that will at least help make the other changes a little easier! Maybe a time capsule of sorts?

To address this one quoted section - yes. All of it is on the table. Walt said so from day one. Imagineers who worked directly with Walt said so. Imagineers who have worked since said so.

Walt said it will never be complete. Walt said when he went on his rides, he was always always looking for things that could be improved. Walt was willing to change things that didn’t work or could be better, no matter what they were.

I know change is hard. I’m not fond of it myself, and have a really hard time dealing with it in some cases. There are a lot of “new” rides and updates that I don’t prefer to the originals (to put it nicely ). Every time we ride Test Track I tell my husband how it used to be much better before they refurbed it LOL. I still watch videos of the Jeremy Irons Spaceship Earth all the time, and I’ve got my fingers crossed they’ll bring back the fiber optics on the descent one day. Not holding my breath on that one, though, lol.

That’s not to say people can’t or shouldn’t be sad about things changing. Not at all! Definitely be sad! I’m still sad sometimes about Disney-MGM Studios changing I just try to look at it now as “I’m glad I have those memories and can kind of relive them again on YouTube and through old photos, and I’m glad other people will be able to make new memories with something that is meaningful to them.” It’s easier said than done some days and with some announcements.

I completely share @Krandor and @DGsAtBLT and others’ concerns that they will end up cutting corners for one reason or another and we will get something subpar. Been through too many Disney refurbs not to have that fear. I also LOVE PatF and think the movie and Tiana deserve more than a retheme of an existing attraction - any attraction. But I recognize Disney’s SOP and know that right now especially, if we were going to get anything for her, we were going to get this lol. I hope for everyone involved that Disney realizes the pressure they’re under now and that they take it seriously and execute their plans amazingly.

I absolutely empathize with you and everyone who is sad to see another piece of nostalgia go away.

 

[BrianL]

Walt said Disneyland “isn’t a museum” and wanted it to keep changing over the years. Just saying

This is absolutely true, but that doesn't mean that everyone will like what they change any given thing to. I get hit with it all the time in the comic book shop - "You just hate change!" No, I only hate this change and would have preferred they do something else, which was alwyas an option. Some people never think it is though.

For the record I don't hate the Splash Mountain change but I am quite concerned that they won't pull it off as well as we all want them to.

 

[SaintsManiac]

This is absolutely true, but that doesn't mean that everyone will like what they change any given thing to. I get hit with it all the time in the comic book shop - "You just hate change!" No, I only hate this change and would have preferred they do something else, which was alwyas an option. Some people never think it is though.

For the record I don't hate the Splash Mountain change but I am quite concerned that they won't pull it off as well as we all want them to.

I'm going to put my faith in the team working on it, since all I heard was positive feedback about MMRR. It would have been nice to have more time to get more reviews on it!

 

[BrianL]

I'm going to put my faith in the team working on it, since all I heard was positive feedback about MMRR. It would have been nice to have more time to get more reviews on it!

The team's not the problem, it's the people who hold the purse strings.

 

[JacknSally]

The team's not the problem, it's the people who hold the purse strings.

Yeah, Bob the Thumb doesn't have the greatest track record. Ugh. How much of an input does Josh D'Amaro get with this? Any?

 

[SaintsManiac]

The team's not the problem, it's the people who hold the purse strings.

I honestly don't think it will be a problem, but I think it means it will be a while before this happens.

 

[DisneyDad1736]

This is absolutely true, but that doesn't mean that everyone will like what they change any given thing to. I get hit with it all the time in the comic book shop - "You just hate change!" No, I only hate this change and would have preferred they do something else, which was alwyas an option. Some people never think it is though.

For the record I don't hate the Splash Mountain change but I am quite concerned that they won't pull it off as well as we all want them to.

I’m excited for the change and welcome it but the Parks and Resorts division is losing $1bn a month. I feel like if they do a re-theme soon it’ll be on the cheap. Hopefully that’s not the case

 

[OppR2nist]

I've addressed this a few times, but I think it's that Adventureland has different internal rules than Frontierland and other areas. I do think they can make it work, but they will need to be thoughtful about it as they were when they originally put in Splash.

Oh, absolutely. I imagine the whole area will ned a bit of a re-theme so you don't just plunk from the Wild West to Louisiana.

 

[Tonyz]

No it’s the same thing. Ride mechanics will be the same. Visuals will change. The end. You can be upset. But some of these posts have been disturbing.

And whoever said the PATF music is terrible needs to get some taste. And don’t come to New Orleans.So insulting.

The ride mechanics are the same for Winnie the Pooh when it was Mr. Toad. Is it the same ride?

Ride mechanics are the same for Frozen Ever After from when it was Maelstrom... is it the same ride?

We can be honest that it's a different ride.

And I do think the songs of PATF are kinda terrible. I love jazz and Randy Newman is probably in my top 10 artists of all time... but I think the songs are pretty weak. I do love "Almost There", but that's it.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This is absolutely true, but that doesn't mean that everyone will like what they change any given thing to. I get hit with it all the time in the comic book shop - "You just hate change!" No, I only hate this change and would have preferred they do something else, which was alwyas an option. Some people never think it is though.

For the record I don't hate the Splash Mountain change but I am quite concerned that they won't pull it off as well as we all want them to.

that's definitely a legit concern. I am optimistic that given the imagineering resources behind this and just knowing there will be a lot of eyes on this and will get on them if they "cheap" out that it will at least been really solid. Maybe not "all it could be if money was no obect" but this won't be a quick/cheap overlay. This won't be Journey into Your Imagination where they cut 40% of the ride length. They will do a good job
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(I hope)

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Zip a dee doo dah is my absolute favorite Disney song and I can’t imagine a trip to Disney without hearing that song. It’s a ride full of animals for gods sake, some people go through life just looking for things to be offended by. And those people are out in droves right now. Most people don’t even realize the ride is tied to a real movie and even less people have even seen the movie. Come on people. This ride is a classic and should not be touched. I’m all for a tiana attraction but not this one. Yes, things can and should change but this is absolute insanity. What’s next, what’s the next attraction that’ll offend someone?

 

[SaintsManiac]

The ride mechanics are the same for Winnie the Pooh when it was Mr. Toad. Is it the same ride?

Ride mechanics are the same for Frozen Ever After from when it was Maelstrom... is it the same ride?

We can be honest that it's a different ride.

And I do think the songs of PATF are kinda terrible. I love jazz and Randy Newman is probably in my top 10 artists of all time... but I think the songs are pretty weak. I do love "Almost There", but that's it.

You are unwilling to have an open mind. That is fine. Keep beating that drum. You don't like the music, fine. You don't like the movie, fine. You prefer for Splash to stay the way it is, ok. But it's not. It's being changed. The end.

 

[OppR2nist]

Zip a dee doo dah is my absolute favorite Disney song and I can’t imagine a trip to Disney without hearing that song. It’s a ride full of animals for gods sake, some people go through life just looking for things to be offended by. And those people are out in droves right now. Most people don’t even realize the ride is tied to a real movie and even less people have even seen the movie. Come on people. This ride is a classic and should not be touched. I’m all for a tiana attraction but not this one. Yes, things can and should change but this is absolute insanity. What’s next, what’s the next attraction that’ll offend someone?

This really isn't about people looking for something to be offended by. Disney was already working on the change before the petition. I'm pretty sure Zip A Dee Doo Dah will still have a presence in the park. Hell, I can imagine a world where it's still in the ride, just taken over by the PatF characters. This was, ultimately an issue that Disney recognized, put out to the world, and people seemed to be on board with it.

 

[SaintsManiac]

This really isn't about people looking for something to be offended by. Disney was already working on the change before the petition. I'm pretty sure Zip A Dee Doo Dah will still have a presence in the park. Hell, I can imagine a world where it's still in the ride, just taken over by the PatF characters. This was, ultimately an issue that Disney recognized, put out to the world, and people seemed to be on board with it.

The song is the problem. The song is toast.