Recently, I visited the only Disney park on Earth that still features an “old school” Frontierland — Tokyo Disneyland. Known there as Westernland, it’s home to Tom Sawyer Island, the Rivers of America, and even an old-fashioned shooting gallery. Just steps away in Critter Country lives the only remaining version of Splash Mountain.
On paper, that sounds like a dream for anyone nostalgic for the old days of the Disney parks. But after seeing it for myself, I can confidently say it’s not. In fact, it’s the weakest part of an otherwise incredible resort.
A Trip Back in Time — But Not in a Good Way
Tokyo Disneyland is a strange mix of familiarity and originality. It’s operated by The Oriental Land Company rather than The Walt Disney Company, which means it often keeps attractions long after they’ve been removed elsewhere. That independence is part of what makes it so beloved — but it’s also what keeps parts of it stuck in the past.
When Disney announced in 2022 that Splash Mountain would be reimagined as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Tokyo Disneyland didn’t follow suit. And just like that, it became the last Disney park in the world where you can still find the original log flume inspired by Song of the South (1946) — a film that’s been buried by Disney for its racist, white-washed depiction of post-Civil War life.
In fairness, Tokyo Disneyland no longer markets Splash Mountain in the same way it used to. The park’s website simply calls it a “thrilling trip on a log boat” with “a 45-degree drop down a 16-meter-high waterfall.” No mention of Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, or the source material. Still, it’s become somewhat of a pilgrimage for Disney Parks fans who disagree with Disney’s decision to retheme the ride in the United States.
Ok, so for someone who went on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and did Splash Mountain less than 48 hours later, I can objectively say TBA is a much better/immersive attraction. Although the theming at Tokyo’s SM is superior to all versions
Ok, so for someone who went on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and did Splash Mountain less than 48 hours later, I can objectively say TBA is a much better/immersive attraction. Although the theming at Tokyo’s SM is superior to all versions pic.twitter.com/XpoIipSA0e
— Nate (@worldparks365) June 25, 2024
What Nostalgia Looks Like Up Close
Here’s the thing: I didn’t go to Tokyo Disney because it still had Splash Mountain. Honestly, I planned to skip it. Even on a rainy weekday, the wait time never dropped below 100 minutes. Hundreds of guests paid extra for Disney Premier Access passes — about 1,500 yen, or ten U.S. dollars — just to skip the wait. I figured my time was better spent on things I couldn’t do anywhere else, like The Happy Ride With Baymax or The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast.
That turned out to be the right call. Throughout the day, I barely thought about Westernland (or the nearby Splash Mountain). It just didn’t have the same pull as the rest of the park. Between the unmatched magic of Fantasyland and the incomparable charm of World Bazaar, the Wild West area felt static, like a piece of Disney history frozen in amber.
By the time I finally wandered over near closing, I realized why I’d been subconsciously avoiding it. Westernland isn’t bad because it’s old; it’s bad because it hasn’t evolved. The Westernland Shootin’ Gallery is a paid relic that feels out of place in a modern Disney park. The Mark Twain Riverboat looks impressive, but lacks the wow factor of the SS Columbia ship next door at Tokyo DisneySea. And while Splash Mountain is probably still fun (and a nice break from the summer heat), its outdated themes feel disconnected from the rest of the park’s energy.
The Case for Change in Frontierland
Ironically, my visit made me more excited for what’s coming to Magic Kingdom Park. In Florida, Frontierland is transforming — the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Belle are all gone, soon to be replaced by Piston Peak National Park, a Cars (2006)-inspired expansion. Some Disney Parks fans may be mourning those closures, but after seeing Tokyo’s “preserved” version, I think the change is overdue.
Westernland proves that nostalgia isn’t enough to sustain an entire land. You can only repaint wood and rehash old stories so many times before they stop feeling magical. The beauty of Disney is that it evolves, that it learns, adapts, and builds new ways to tell timeless stories.
So yes, Frontierland needs to change. It has to. Because after standing in Tokyo Disneyland’s unchanging Westernland, I realized sometimes, holding onto the past does more harm than good.
Which Disney park has the best Frontierland? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
