Splash Mountain At Disneyland Now Permanently Closed

As the Walt Disney Company pushed for more inclusion, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Parks decided to permanently close the iconic attraction, Splash Mountain, and turn it into a "Princess and the Frog" -a themed attraction starring Princess Tiana.

Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World was permanently closed to Guests on January 23, 2023, and yesterday, May 30, 2023, Disneyland's version of the ride took its final plunge.

Disney recently announced that Splash Mountain at Disneyland Park would close on May 31, 2023, so the Parks can begin the next development phase for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the new attraction replacing Splash Mountain. That means that yesterday, May 30, was Splash Mountain's final day of operation.

Splash Mountain has been an attraction at Disney Parks for several years and is based on the film "Song of the South," which is highly controversial as many deem it racist. The 1946 film mixes live-action and animation, featuring an older African-American plantation laborer named Uncle Remus, who tells stories to a young white boy. Groups, including the NAACP, protested the film's initial release.

Within Splash Mountain, Guests can spot many of the characters from Song of the South, including Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear. The official Disneyland website describes the ride as, "Hop inside a hollow log and float through a colorful bayou as you follow happy-go-lucky Br'er Rabbit to his 'laughing place.' But be warned: Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox are in hot pursuit of this wayward hare."

The website also states, "Glide past over 100 talking, singing, storytelling Audio-Animatronics critters who inhabit Splash Mountain and offer up their slice of down-home culture. Sing along to classic Disney lyrics, including 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.' Then, brace yourself for the big finale—this musical cruise ends in a thrilling 5-story splashdown!"

As expected, the wait time for Splash Mountain has drastically increased over these last few weeks as many were trying to get one last ride in before the ride splashed into history forever. Yesterday, the wait time was incredibly long as it was the final day to experience the attraction.

Splash Mountain is shutting down permanently as the Walt Disney Company pushes for more inclusion. The ride will reopen as Tiana's Bayou Adventure, a new attraction based on the 2009 animated film, "The Princess and the Frog", which stars Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Jennifer Cody (Charlotte "Lottie" La Bouff), Jim Cummings (Ray), John Goodman ("Big Daddy" La Bouff), Keith David (Dr. Facilier), Bruno Campos (Prince Naveen), Michael Leon Wooley (Louis), Jenifer Lewis (Mama Odie), Terrence Howard (James), and Oprah Winfrey (Eudora).

According to Disney, the story for the new attraction will pick up after the final kiss in the movie as Guests join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure "featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance."

Fans can look forward to seeing many beloved characters from the 2009 film, including Tiana, Tiana's mother, Eudora, Tiana's love interest, Prince Naveen, and the iconic trumpet-playing alligator, Louis. "Walt Disney Imagineering is creating an original, next chapter story for Tiana," Disney Parks previously reported. "Within the attraction queue, guests will discover that she continues to grow her business with Tiana's Foods – an employee-owned cooperative. Combining her talents with those of the local community, Tiana has transformed an aging salt mine and built a beloved brand."

Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California sometime in 2024.