Countdown - 83 Days to Go!
- Jillian Wallin
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
🎢 83 Days to Go: Splash Mountain… I Mean Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Back in the 1980s, Imagineers knew they needed a way to bring crowds back into Bear Country—a lesser-loved corner of Disneyland. And apparently, log flumes were all the rage. So, Splash Mountain was born! Though let’s be honest: I’ll ride it once because it’s tradition to ride every attraction at least once per visit… but that’s it. I can pass on any ride that guarantees a soggy seat!
After much splashing and brainstorming, Disney execs finally got on board—literally—and realized they needed a gentler splash, not a tidal wave. Thus began the journey to create a ride that was thrilling but not drenching, and thus in the U.S., Splash Mountain became one of the iconic Disney “mountains,” which makes it wild to think that outside of Tokyo, there’s no international equivalent!
Fast forward to 2020, when Disney officially announced that Splash Mountain would be reimagined. While the Tiana takeover is a stunning artistic achievement, I’ll admit—I think Pocahontas could’ve been a perfect fit. (Cue the waterfall jump!) But alas, I’m not a Disney executive.
In 2023, Splash Mountain closed in the U.S. parks. I remember seeing the wait time for the final ride—over 200 minutes! Pure madness. But I get it: one last chance to ride a classic that, while never intended to be controversial, certainly became a conversation piece.
🗓️ Park Timeline
💦 Fun Facts You Might Not Know
In the 1990s, Splash Mountain earned the nickname “Flash Mountain”—not for the photo quality, but because some guests reportedly flashed the camera at the drop!
The ride holds nearly 950,000 gallons of water—and Disney can (supposedly) drain it in about 5 minutes, refill in 10. That’s some serious plumbing magic.¹
Lap bars weren’t added until 2011, not for safety, but because guests wouldn’t stay seated.²
All three versions of the ride were built within five years—Imagineers were busy bees!
Despite differences in layout, each ride features the same 52-foot, 5-inch drop.
The Tiana transformation includes a brand-new song. It’s lovely, though I kind of wish they’d used one from the movie!
🐘 Final Thoughts
While I tend to avoid Splash Mountain (aside from my one obligatory ride), my husband and daughter love it—so it ends up on our list more often than I’d like. But every time I ride, I notice something new. So no matter how many times you ride, take a moment to soak it all in… metaphorically, of course.
📚 References
TheTopTens. “Top 10 Interesting Facts About Splash Mountain.” TheTopTens, https://www.thetoptens.com/amusement-parks/interesting-facts-about-splash-mountain/.
Becky. “10 Things You May Not Know About Splash Mountain.” Disney in Your Day, 5 April 2017, https://www.disneyinyourday.com/things-may-not-know-splash-mountain/.
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