Splash Mountain, a popular flume ride at Magic Kingdom theme park, offers big thrills to big kids, teens and adults.
Say goodbye to Br'er Rabbit; he's leaving his home in search of a little more adventure, a bit of fortune and his laughing place-where he can live the life that suits him best. Watch as he outwits Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox, escapes their clutches and slips out of sticky situations. Plummet into dark caves and tumble over gentle waterfalls... until Br'er Rabbit's taunting catches up to him-and he's finally caught!
From the confines of Br'er Fox's cave at the top of Chickapin Hill on Splash Mountain, Br'er Rabbit tricks Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox one more time. Don't throw me down, down, down into the briar-brimmed pond, he pleads. Anyplace but there! Of course, this is exactly what they do. Follow him as he plummets over the mountain peak on a 5-story (52.5 feet) fall that ends in a massive splashdown into the refreshing pond: Br'er Rabbit's home, his laughing place. After this ultimate plunge, drift past more southern critters aboard a lively Mississippi riverboat. Sing along with them, for it's a zip-a-dee-doo-dah day! Everyone has a Laughing Place, maybe Splash Mountain is yours.
The long queue takes you through the insides of Chickapin Hill until you reach the loading zone. An eight-passenger log (four rows of two seats), hollowed out by sharp-toothed beavers, will carry you on your 11 minute journey along the flume.
The story goes that against the advice of Mr. Bluebird, Brer Rabbit leaves his briar patch home in search of adventure. Brer Fox and Brer Bear seize this opportunity and begin their legendary pursuit of the rabbit. At first, Brer Rabbit outwits his pursuers, but as you proceed you soon discover Brer Rabbit is heading for trouble. For the grand finale, you plunge with Brer Rabbit from the top of Chickapin Hill, down five stories into the briar patch.
Riders board eight-passenger logs, seated two by two. Logs are now equipped with lap bars for safety reasons following a January 2011 renovation. The log departs the loading area, where Br'er Frog provides introductory narration. The log ascends two dual-chain lifts before floating gently through scenery designed to evoke the feeling of a river in the Southern United States, particularly Georgia, where Song of the South was based. The homes of the three main characters and aged farm equipment are incorporated into the landscape, along with an instrumental version of "How Do You Do?" emanating from hidden speakers along the waterway.
At the top of this third lift hill, the log descends the 52-foot (16 m) drop at a 45 degree angle, reaching a maximum speed of 40 mph. After another outdoor flume segment, the log returns to the mountain, where critters at "Doo Dah Landing" are singing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" in celebration of Br'er Rabbit's return, while Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear attempt to fend off an alligator. At the end, Br'er Rabbit sings with Mr. Blue Bird, telling guests that he learned his lesson. After exiting the log, riders may purchase a picture of their log falling at the final drop.
Touring Tips
- This is one of the most popular rides in the Magic Kingdom. Lines for Splash Mountain build the minute the park opens (especially in warmer weather).
- It is highly recommended you use FASTPASS.
- On busy days long winding queues are opened, beginning outside in partial shade and leading into the cool cavern where your journey begins.
- You will get wet on this ride! To minimize your exposure, you might want to wear a rain poncho, or ask to be seated in the middle of the log.
- The twists, turns and 3 dips that lead to the grand drop down 5 stories of rushing water will either get you damp or drenched. If soaked is your goal, request a seat in the front or sit on the right side of the hollowed-out log.
- After exiting the ride you'll find Brer Rabbit's house, a place where kids can play that also makes a great photo op!
- Just as your log begins to tip down the 45 degree waterfall, flashes go off capturing your expression! Be sure to view your photo at Splashdown Photos as you exit. If you decide to purchase your photo, remember you can use Disney Package Delivery to have the photo sent either to your resort or the main entrance of the park so you don't have to lug it around.
- There is a bridge where you can watch your family and friends plummet down Chickapin Hill and wind their way to the conclusion of the attraction. This is a great place for photos! Be aware, however, that splashes from the plummet can sometimes soak the viewing area.
- Several times throughout the day characters are in the Splash Mountain Courtyard for photos and autographs. It is typical to find Brer Fox and Brer Bear, but very rare to find Brer Rabbit.
Facts
- Splash Mountain opened July 17, 1992.
- More than 65 Audio-Animatronics fill the attraction, which also has one of the largest animated props in the finale. The Showboat is 36 feet wide and 22 feet high, and rocks back and forth as a cast of 12 audio-animatronics sing and dance to "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah."
- To bring the classic Disney story "Song of the South" to life, Walt Disney Imagineers created a magnificent mountain chock-full of backwoods swamps, bayous and waterfalls.
- The concrete flume course is more than 2,600 feet long, or about 1/2 a mile.
- Splash Mountain has a 950,000 gallon water reservoir.
- Some of the animatronics used in Splash Mountain were taken from the old "America Sings" attraction at Disneyland.
History
The idea for Splash Mountain was originally conceived in the summer of 1983 by Imagineer Tony Baxter while stuck in rush hour traffic on his way to work. He wanted to attract guests to the often-empty Bear Country land and make use of the Audio-Animatronics from America Sings, which was also receiving poor attendance. It was Dick Nunis who insisted that the Imagineers create a log flume for Disneyland, but the Imagineers were initially unenthusiastic about it, insisting that log flumes were too ordinary a theme park attraction to include in a park like Disneyland. While trying to solve the problems of including a log flume, bringing people into Bear Country and reusing the America Sings characters, Baxter then thought of Song of the South.
At the time it was built, Splash Mountain was one of the most expensive projects created by Walt Disney Imagineering at a cost of $75 million. According to Alice Davis (wife of the late Marc Davis), when America Sings closed in April 1988, production of Disneyland's Splash Mountain had gone far over budget. The only way to recover was to close down America Sings and use the characters from that attraction.
Baxter and his team developed the concept of Zip-a-Dee River Run, which would incorporate scenes from Song of the South. The name was later changed to Splash Mountain after then-CEO Michael Eisner's mostly-ignored suggestion that the attraction be used to help market the film Splash. The characters from America Sings were used in many scenes, though all of the main characters were specifically designed for Splash Mountain. Coincidentally, the two vultures seen just before the final drop at the Disneyland version are the same vultures used as the Boothill Boys in America Sings.
Hidden Mickey
- As you are approaching the area where you actually enter the lines, on the ground there are a bunch of cracks and on the left a set of cracks make a hidden Mickey.
- In line, there is an acorn house in one of the trees. As you pass the house, look at the side of the house, just below the roof there is a large acorn with two smaller ones forming the classic Mickey.
- When you are just about to board one of the logs, turn and look at the wall behind you. There are several large holes that look like a boulder crashed into it. Three holes come together to make the impression of a giant Hidden Mickey.
- In the "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" scene, lying on his back in the pink clouds to the right of the riverboat.
- Just before the big drop is a Hidden Mickey. It isn't the "traditional" Hidden Mickey (Face on) but a side view.
- There is a hidden Mickey just after the frog sitting on the alligator fishing. It's easy to see. Near the picnic basket is a Mickey shape formed by three red and white fishing bobbers.
- Just as you are entering the room where Brer Bear is caught in the trap and hanging from the tree, look back and to your left at the last house in the previous room. On the side of the house, there are three frying pans hanging that form Mickey's head (one large pan in the middle and two smaller pans acting as the ears).
- After you see the Castle (outside) and you reenter the mountain, to the left of your log are "purple-blue" rocks. Mickey's head is "stamped" into the rocks.
- In the projected scene (on your right) where Br'er Fox and Bear chase Br'er Rabbit over the hill, at the very end of the projection, Br'er Bear appears to be a Mickey. I saw this just as the boat was rounding the corner, and when the projection repeated. I also found it was difficult (but not impossible) to see closer up.