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Reminder: Disney World Icon Closes Forever This Week!

Splash Mountain Closing

Whether you were a die-hard fan or hated everything about it, one of the iconic Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Mountains will be closing for good at the end of this week.

After helping millions of Disney Park Guests have a Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Day, Splash Mountain will close forever at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom this Sunday, January 22, 2023.

Splash Mountain Closing Date

Splash Mountain in the Magic Kingdom within Walt Disney World Resort/Disney

While the closing date was officially announced in December, scores of fans have returned to the Disney Parks in pilgrim-like fashion to take one more log flume ride down Chick-a-pin Hill into the Briar Patch and say goodbye to a ride that has been a Disney staple for over 30 years.

Taking its place will be the Princess and the Frog-themed attraction Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and from what we know, it will essentially be a simple retheme for the same log flume ride system.

splash mountain

Related: OpEd: Disney Should Auction Off Pieces of Splash Mountain

Coming from the mind of Walt Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter, Splash Mountain first opened in Disneyland’s Critter Country and was later added to Frontierland at the Walt Disney World Resort. Inspired by Disney’s controversy-sparking film Song of the South, efforts to essentially “cancel” the ride finally won out as plans were unveiled for a retheme. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is set to open in late 2024. It should be noted that no other attractions, like the Walt Disney World Railroad, are expected to be affected by the construction.

For those who still want to go back to ride Splash Mountain while they still can, Theme Park Reservations for Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Park are still available at the time of this article’s publication.

Disney World describes Splash Mountain as the following:

A Hare-Raising Ride

Gently drift through a colorful Southern bayou along with happy-go-lucky Br’er Rabbit as he looks for his “laughing place.” But be warned: Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox are in hot pursuit of this wayward hare. 

Glide by over 100 adorable Audio-Animatronics geese, frogs, raccoons, possums, bees, alligators and other down-home critters as they sing classic Disney ditties, including “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” and “Ev’rybody’s Got a Laughing Place.”

Then hang on to your hats—this delightful musical cruise ends in an exciting 5-story splashdown into a thorny Briar Patch!

Splash Mountain Sign

Splash Mountain Sign portraying Br’er Rabbit. Credit- ollinsrace1.wordpress.com

Related: Here’s How Fans Can Still Experience Splash Mountain After January 23

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Disney Parks news and stories as more developments come to light.

About T.K. Bosacki

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, TK Bosacki is a professional writer, amateur adventurer, and lifelong Disney Fanatic. His Disney Park days include Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Nomad Lounge. He believes in starting at the Canada pavilion (IYKYK), and the Monorail is superior to all Ferry Boats.

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