Disney Surprises Fans With ‘Splash Mountain’ News

If you ask the average Disney fan about a classic Magic Kingdom attraction and ride called Splash Mountain these days, you will normally be faced with a very strong reaction. Splash Mountain is on its way towards a permanent closure, with the Princess and the Frog and Princess Tiana ride called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure taking over in its place — and even though some Splash Mountain fans are ambivalent about the change, others have been mourning the classic Magic Kingdom ride like a loved one. 

Many Disney Guests have reported signs of disrepair and neglect on the Walt Disney World Resort and Magic Kingdom version of Splash Mountain, indicating that Disney seems to be already abandoning the Disney Park ride in some ways — but one Disney Resort farther afield seems to be embracing Splash Mountain for as long as the ride will last!

At the Tokyo Disney Resort (which will have its 40th anniversary in 2023, and was the first Disney Park to operate outside of the United States of America), Splash Mountain has just made it into a category that seems to label the Disney Park ride as a priority.

Tokyo Disney Resort is actually owned by The Oriental Land Company, but Disney does have input creatively — and apparently, the Tokyo Disney Resort version of Splash Mountain has just become a Disney Premier Access service-qualified ride!

Tokyo Disney Resort is divided into lands, including the World Bazaar, Westernland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Adventureland. Its Disney Premier Access service is somewhat similar to Genie+, which is the service used in Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort and allows Disney Park Guests to prioritize certain rides — for a price.

Tokyo Disney Resort quietly shared the updated news on its website, confirming that Splash Mountain is joining the Disney Premier Access ranks as of December 1, 2022.

Riding Splash Mountain via the Disney Premier Access service will apparently cost Tokyo Disney Resort Guests 1,500 Japanese yen (which is about $10.80).

Perhaps Tokyo Disney Resort is hoping that Guests will frantically spend money to absorb as much Disney magic from Splash Mountain as possible — or perhaps this is a sign that Splash Mountain is going to linger at this Disney Resort longer than it will at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort!

What do you think the change in Splash Mountain’s status means for its future at this Disney Resort? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!