Splash Mountain was a water ride at Magic Kingdom. You floated around in a boat and eventually dove down a steep hill, in which many walked away soaking wet.
The ride permanently closed on January 23, 2023 to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
While the attraction is no longer in operation, below are historical facts, including what the ride included, why a change was necessary, and more.
In this article
Splash Mountain Quick Facts
- Location: Magic Kingdom, Frontierland
- Height requirement: 40 inches
- Suitable for: Everyone who was tall enough to ride
- Attraction length: Was about 10 minutes
- Did we recommend? Yes
- Lightning Lane available: Prior to closing – yes
- Eligible for Early Entry: Prior to closing – no
- Scheduled Refurbishments
Description: What started as a gentle boat ride through cheery scenery ended in a steep drop and a splash. Throughout the 11-minute ride, you encountered 3 lifts and 5 drops (most of them were mild, except for the 1 big one).
Location
You could find Splash Mountain in Frontierland to the left of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Here was the location on the official Disney World map.
How you could ride Splash Mountain
When it was open, guests could access Splash Mountain by entering the Standby Line or the Lightning Lane (only available with the purchase of Genie+).
Rider Switch/Child Swap
Rider Switch was offered for Splash Mountain. This is Disney’s system allowing guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.
As for aSingle Rider Line (meaning you’d ride alone and enter this queue, instead of the Standby Line), it was not available for Splash Mountain.
Learn more about Rider Switch.
History
Splash Mountain first opened in 1992 and quickly became a fan-favorite. There were several milestones with the opening of the water ride, including:
- Featuring more than 70 audio-animatronics, making it one of the largest animated cast ever designed for a Disney attraction
- Has one of the biggest animated props ever built with its 35-foot-wide showboat at the end of the ride
- The 52 ½-foot drop speeds guests at up to 40 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest speeds achieved on a Disney attraction
As beloved as the ride was, it didn’t come without controversy and racially-insensitive depictions. Splash Mountain was inspired by the 1946 film Song of the South, which is a problematic and racist text.
So much so that Disney announced in June 2020 that Splash Mountain was being rethemed as a Princess and the Frog attraction (same for Disneyland Park’s Splash Mountain.)
The name of the reimagined ride is: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which Disney confirmed in July 2022.
The updated attraction picks up after the end of the 2009 movie, meaning guests get to see Princess Tiana in human form rather than as a frog.
The ride also follows Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance. There’s also music from the movie.
At the time of the retheming announcement, Disney stated, “The new concept is inclusive – one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.”
Queue
The majority of Splash Mountain’s queue was outside with parts of the line going inside prior to guests being loaded onto the boats.
There were also a set of stairs that you had to climb.
And with a big portion of the line wrapping around outside, it could get very hot during those warmer Orlando days.
Motion Sickness
Overall, Splash Mountain was a slow-moving boat ride. There were several little drops, but the big one was right at the end, which sometimes caused motion sickness. If you’re worried about motion sickness for any Disney World attraction, check out ourguide on motion sickness.
Ride Vehicles
Each boat had a total of four rows, which could fit two adults or possibly two adults and a small child.
Depending on your group size, there was a chance you could have a party of eight in one boat.
There was also a lap bar to pull down for safety.
Was It Kid-Friendly?
Splash Mountain was a slow-moving boat ride with several drops, including both small and big.
The most thrilling (and biggest) drop happened at the end and it could easily frighten little ones. The drop was fast, but could still be scary for some.
There were also some darker scenes throughout the ride that may have scared scared children. And if your little ones didn’t like getting wet, we always recommended avoiding.
We have a full guide on several otherthings that might scare little ones at WDW.
PhotoPass/On-Ride Photos
When riding Splash Mountain, your photo was taken on the attraction.
When you rode with a MagicBand and a linked Memory Maker entitlement, your photo was automatically uploaded to your My Disney Experience account. The same was said for Annual Passholders.
Be sure to readmore on PhotoPassandhow Memory Maker works.
At the end of the ride, there was also a touch point for those without a MagicBand to tap their park ticket or Memory Maker card. Your photo was then added to your account.
Your photo was taken as your boat went down the big drop. The flash went off about one second down or so. The camera was on the left.
Video
Here’s what it was like to go down Splash Mountain’s hill.
Other Fun Details
- Easter Eggs: At the top of the big hill, if you looked closely, you could see a Hidden Mickey profile on the left. The rock juts out in the shape of Mickey’s nose.
- Play Disney Parks: N/A
- Movie Connections: Splash Mountain was inspired by the 1946 film Song of the South. Please note that this is a problematic and racist text, which is one of the reasons the ride was reimagined as a Princess and the Frog attraction.
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Allyson was able to take her lifelong love of Disney and her education (Bachelor’s Degree in English/minor in writing and a Master’s Degree in Print & Multimedia Journalism) and turn it into a career writing about all things Disney parks.
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As a Disney enthusiast with a deep understanding of the theme park experience, including an extensive knowledge of attractions, ride systems, and historical developments, I bring a wealth of expertise to the discussion. I've visited various Disney parks, keeping up with updates, changes, and the intricate details that make each attraction unique. Now, let's delve into the details of Splash Mountain and the concepts mentioned in the article.
Location: Magic Kingdom, Frontierland Splash Mountain was located in Frontierland, positioned to the left of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad within the Magic Kingdom.
How you could ride Splash Mountain Guests could access Splash Mountain by entering the Standby Line or utilizing the Lightning Lane, available with the purchase of Genie+.
Rider Switch/Child Swap Rider Switch, a system allowing guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, was offered for Splash Mountain. This allowed one group to wait with the child while others enjoyed the ride.
History Splash Mountain first opened in 1992 and quickly became a fan-favorite. It featured over 70 audio-animatronics, including a 35-foot-wide showboat, and a notable 52 ½-foot drop that reached speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Despite its popularity, the ride faced controversy due to racially-insensitive depictions from its inspiration, the 1946 film Song of the South.
In response to these concerns, Disney announced in June 2020 that Splash Mountain would be rethemed as a Princess and the Frog attraction, named Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The reimagined ride was confirmed in July 2022 and continued the story from the end of the 2009 movie, showcasing Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure preparing for their first Mardi Gras performance.
Queue The majority of Splash Mountain’s queue was situated outside, with some portions inside before guests boarded the boats. The line included stairs, and the outdoor portions could become hot during warmer days in Orlando.
Motion Sickness Splash Mountain was generally a slow-moving boat ride, but the final steep drop could cause motion sickness for some riders.
Ride Vehicles Each boat had four rows, accommodating two adults or possibly two adults and a small child. Parties of up to eight could ride in one boat, and a lap bar was available for safety.
Was It Kid-Friendly? While Splash Mountain was generally suitable for all, the thrilling and potentially frightening big drop at the end might be overwhelming for little ones. Some darker scenes and the possibility of getting wet were also considerations for families with young children.
PhotoPass/On-Ride Photos On-ride photos were taken during the big drop, and if guests had a MagicBand with a linked Memory Maker entitlement, the photo was automatically uploaded to their My Disney Experience account. The same applied to Annual Passholders.
Video A video link was provided to showcase what it was like to go down Splash Mountain’s hill.
Other Fun Details
- Easter Eggs: A Hidden Mickey profile could be spotted at the top of the big hill.
- Play Disney Parks: Not applicable for Splash Mountain.
- Movie Connections: Splash Mountain was inspired by the 1946 film Song of the South, leading to its reimagining due to concerns about its problematic and racist content.
This comprehensive overview provides insights into the location, history, ride experience, and the eventual retheming of Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom. The inclusion of practical details such as the queue, motion sickness considerations, and ride vehicles adds depth to the reader's understanding of the attraction.
