Recent announcements made by Tokyo Disneyland seem to confirm a That Park Place report from October which stated that, despite what other outlets were reporting, Tokyo Disneyland has no plans to close its Splash Mountain attraction anytime soon.
Tokyo Disneyland has the last Splash Mountain in existence, with both Disneyland and Walt Disney World shuttering the explosively popular attraction for the mediocre marvel that is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure via TheTimTracker YouTube
READ: Will Tokyo Disneyland Get Rid Of The Last Splash Mountain? Not According To Our Sources…
This ideologically driven move came from the Disney Stories Matter department, a division of the company charged with eliminating “problematic” elements from the Disney Parks and online platforms. Because of the ride’s association with the Disney film Song of The South, it was apparently racist and had to go.
This narrative was echoed all-too-happily by the Disney access media (and we hope the cupcakes they received were delicious!) with some referring to it as a “necessary downgrade.”
Splash Mountain via 4K WDW YouTube
Our sources indicated that Disney was trying to pressure Tokyo Disneyland to follow suit, but the Oriental Land Company, which owns the overseas park, had no interest in turning over one of its most popular attractions over Western identity politics.
Still, other more friendly outlets reported that a deal had been struck between OLC and Disney that would shutter the fan-favorite log flume and turn it into something else, even if that wasn’t the much maligned Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
However, when Tokyo Disneyland announced its upcoming 2025 schedule, fans noticed Splash Mountain’s annual Get Soaked MAX special presentation front and center. During the summer months, Tokyo Disneyland turns the water level up at Splash Mountain, creating a refreshing water-logged experience where guests can…well…get soaked to the max!
Courtesy Oriental Land Company via Press Release on TDR Explorer
READ: Rumor: The Final Splash Mountain In Japan Under Pressure To Be Destroyed By The Walt Disney Company
That Park Place sources have indicated that there’s no truth to rumors that OLC is even considering bending to Disney’s will on this. The Splash Mountain gift shop, however, will be closing. This could fit in with rumors that Disney threatened to pull the merchandise license for Splash Mountain to force OLC’s hand, but that’s unconfirmed at this time.
“Guys, I’ll just be forthright,” scooper WDW Pro of That Park Place said on an of The Pro Show, to a panel that included this reporter, “I don’t have anybody in my sources who says this is happening, and it’s for clear financial reasons.”
READ: Minecraft Theme Park Lands Announced From Legoland Developers
Pro then went on to say that there is no financial benefit to the Oriental Land Company making such a move.
“There is no upside to the Oriental Land Company doing this,” he said. “It would cost a lot of money, they have to pay it. It’s one of their most popular attractions by far.” Pro also stated that some of his sources have noted that the Lion King attraction coming to Disneyland Paris would not work in this space and it would not be an easy re-theme.
Splash Mountain is a ride in Disneyland based on the movie Song of the South. Photo Credit: Cd637 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
“Ultimately the Oriental Land Company has suffered greatly with their company’s value due to the Japanese stock market drop,” Pro said. “So there’s nothing lining up that would point toward the OLC being interested in doing this.”
Still, the original report from other outlets referenced a 2027-28 window for Splash Mountain in Tokyo closing, which gives them plenty of time for people to forget they ever said it in the first place.
Do you believe Tokyo Disneyland will ever get rid of Splash Mountain? Have you tried to Tokyo version of the ride? Sound off and let us know!
