By Memory Maker Diva
Splash Mountain is a log-flume ride that Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, and even Tokyo Disneyland have versions of. It is based on the 1946 Disney film “Song of the South”, and features the characters, stories, and songs from that movie. The rides at the various parks do differ, but each one includes gentle floats, dark portions, and a huge 5-story drop into the briar patch!
The Walt Disney World version of the ride is located in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom, across the way from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Guests board eight-passenger logs, seated two by two, and depart the loading area while Brer Frog narrates the introduction to the story/ride. After a short incline and drop into a small pond, the logs go up again to where they float gently through scenery designed to make you feel like you are floating on a river in Georgia. While listening to an instrumental version of “How Do You Do,” riders float by the homes of the three main characters. Then riders see farm equipment, and stagecoach wagons before heading down a short drop over “Slippin’ Falls.” Next comes the indoor portion of the ride. Here, various Audio-Animatronic animals sing the attraction’s first musical number, “How Do You Do?” and the story of how Brer Rabbit leaves his home in search of adventure while being and being pursued by Brer Fox and Brer Bear is told. There are several gentle twists and turns and a few small drops, which all lead to the climactic climb up a very large hill and a 5-story drop down into the briar patch!! After another outdoor segment, the log returns to the inside, where all of the critters are singing “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” in celebration of Brer Rabbit’s return! This ride is actually one of the longer rides at the Magic Kingdom, which makes the wait seem more worthwhile, although Fastpass is available.
The Disneyland version is located in Critter Country, and guests ride aboard six/seven-seater logs with six single-file seats (the last seat in each log is larger and allows room for larger guests or an adult and a small child). The log departs the loading area and ascends two conveyor-type lifts before floating gently past the homes of the three main characters. Before the logs enter the indoor portion, snoring is heard emanating from Brer Bear’s cave. After a short drop down “Slippin’ Falls”, riders enter the indoor portion of the attraction, where various Audio-Animatronic critters sing the attraction’s first musical number, “How Do You Do?” Guests float along as the story unfolds, the songs “Everybody’s Got a Laughin’ Place” and “Burrow’s Lament” are heard, and right before the drop Brer Rabbit is seen alongside the hill, about to be eaten by Brer Fox. But Brer Rabbit outsmarts his chasers by tricking them into throwing him into the briar patch (where he was born and raised) and passengers are sent down the final large drop into the briar patch, mimicking his fall. At the bottom, the collective weight of the passengers determines how wet everyone will get when the log dives into the full pond at the bottom – so take a look around you to see who else is riding with you, and then duck!! As you are drying off, the logs head back inside where the full-cast sings “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” and you can see a preview of the pictures that were taken during your descent. Fastpass is also available for this ride.
Guests must be at least 40 inches to ride Splash Mountain, and the ride has a SCREAM factor of 4 or 5. There are dark portions of this ride that may scare younger children, and you definitely feel the fall!! It is not recommended for women who are pregnant, or people with motion sickness or have bad knees/backs. But on a hot summer day, it is a great way to cool off!!
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Like what you read? Follow Cheryl, the Memory Maker Diva, at magicalmemorymaker.com!
Like what you read? Follow Cheryl, the Memory Maker Diva, at magicalmemorymaker.com!
