Though Splash Mountain has been transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in the domestic Disney Parks, Japan has not been so quick to make the change. But Disney CEO Bob Iger might be putting the squeeze on the company that runs Tokyo Disneyland.
Note: The following article speaks of potential future decisions and changes under consideration by multiple companies. It is derived from reports from sources whose identities we are protecting. As a result, this article should be considered rumor and speculation.
Despite the domestic Disney Parks changing their Splash Mountain attractions following an announcement during the “Summer of Love” protests of 2020, the Oriental Land Company that owns and operate the Japanese Disney Parks has thus far not made any change to their ride. In fact, they’ve actually gone so far as to celebrate the attraction with additional promotional efforts even as Disney gleefully destroyed their rides.
Courtesy Oriental Land Company via Press Release on TDR Explorer
But the fun of Tokyo Disneyland’s final Splash Mountain might be coming to an end if our sources are correct…
According to a source who reached out around two weeks ago, The Walt Disney Company may have been attempting to push Oriental Land Company to get rid of their Splash Mountain attraction through a couple of means. First, it appears that Disney has restricted the use of Splash Mountain songs in any of the other locations around Tokyo Disneyland other than the attraction. We’re told that means no Laughing Place nor Zip-a-dee-doo-dah being played elsewhere in the parks. Though that might seem superfluous, removing the audible reminder of an attraction folks might want to ride is, in fact, somewhat impactful. But far more powerful is the rumor that we’ve been told Disney may be now going a step further by restricting Tokyo Disneyland from using the Bre’r characters in merchandise at some point in the future. That’s a much steeper penalty for keeping the ride if it is true: the Bre’r characters are very popular in Tokyo. If OLC can’t monetize the ride, that’s a problem.
Another source reached out, totally independent of the first. The second source is directly linked to Walt Disney Imagineering. And according to what they had to say, we’re now hearing that Disney might be looking to send Imagineers to Tokyo to start redoing the ride int the future. According to the Imagineer, it won’t be long before Tokyo changes Splash Mountain to something else.
What’s fascinating about this is that Princess and the Frog was an absolute bust in Japan. It’s not a property that will drive attendance whatsoever. And the Splash Mountain critters are extremely popular in Japan. They have no stigma whatsoever and the change would likely be very poorly received. Because OLC is unlikely to want to change from a very popular IP to a very unpopular franchise with their park, a contact we have who is familiar with some of the relations between Disney and OLC has said that Disney would likely have to offer to foot the bill. And even then, it’s still no win for Oriental Land Company. That may be why they’re waiting until Tiana’s opens in Magic Kingdom to assess whether or not they’re willing to take the plunge and destroy what might be their most popular water attraction.
Of course, Disney’s efforts to turn Splash Mountain into a Tiana socialist coop probably won’t help.
Courtesy La Reina Creole
So what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and keep reading That Park Place for all the latest news that should be fun!
Disney should offer a compromise. Duffy Bear ride.