Some Disney fans are heartbroken about the pending permanent disappearance of Splash Mountain from the Magic Kingdom, and are mourning it like a human relative. Others are ambivalent about the news — and there are also others who are positively enthusiastic about the removal of the ride that has been called “racist” by many people.
If you feel a personal attachment to Splash Mountain and characters like Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear — not to mention the Magic Kingdom ride’s iconic vultures and its song Zip A Dee Doo Dah — then fear not! Apparently, some Disney fans have put two and two together and surmised that Disney is most likely reusing some of the Splash Mountain animatronics in the new Princess and the Frog ride (which has been called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure by Walt Disney Imagineering).
The Disney Parks Blog recently provided some updates about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, including the Walt Disney Imagineering ride’s premise and the story elements that Disney fans can expect to experience on the Magic Kingdom ride.
We already knew about some changes and the storyline’s main focus (as well as Princess Tiana’s new looks for the bayou adventure), but according to one Disney fan in the Tweet shown below, the blog post also emphasized that “Tiana’s new critter friends will be a large part of the story”.
The Disney fan then surmised that “these critters likely confirm that the famous “America Sings” Audio-Animatronics will survive the refurbishment”. Take a look at the concept art for the “critters” that befriend Tiana in the Tweet below — including possums, raccoons, beavers, and rabbits — and then take a look at the animatronic singers from the current Splash Mountain attraction, which are also shown below!
Today’s post on the Disney Parks Blog gave us new details on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, including that Tiana’s new critter friends will be a large part of the story. These critters likely confirm that the famous America Sings Audio Animatronics will survive the refurbishment! pic.twitter.com/ectVrztyHJ
— Remnants of Forgotten Disney (@DisneyRemnants) December 2, 2022
Gators like Louis (Tiana’s trumpet-playing friend) are, of course, a big part of the Louisiana environment, and they most certainly inhabit the New Orleans and Louisiana bayous, so it does seem possible that the gators and raccoon from Splash Mountain might end up playing a revised part in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure!
What are your thoughts on Splash Mountain? Would you like to see remnants of the ride scattered through the new Princess and the Frog ride, or do you think that it would add insult to injury?