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A few weeks ago, Disney made the announcement that the Splash Mountain attraction both at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland will be rethemed to The Princess and the Frog. Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks chairman shared his thoughts on the reimagining of the ride.
Retheming of The Princess and the Frog
Walt Disney Imagineering’s Charita Carter, the Imagineer that brought us Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios, will be the lead on this new project where the attraction will pick up in The Princess and the Frog story after the final kiss.
How many times at the end of a Disney movie, have you yearned to find out what happens next? Well, we are in for a sweat treat on the rethemed attraction coming to both parks!
Guests will join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.
Josh D’Amaro’s Interview with CNN
In an interview for CNN Business, Disney Park, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro discussed Disney’s decision to retheme the popular Splash Mountain attraction.
CNN: Disney announced it would be re-theming Splash Mountain into “The Princess and the Frog” from the controversial “Song of the South.” What role did the Black Lives Matter protests and conversations about race in the recent weeks have in influencing the timing of the announcement?
D’Amaro: “We actually have been working on it for well over a year. In fact, I was a part of those conversations over a year ago. Listen, our stories evolve all the time. I mean, back from when Walt started Disneyland back in 1955, he stated that if we would continue to evolve our stories, that they’re never ending, that they’ll always be contemporary. And I think that that’s what you’re seeing with Splash Mountain.
I keep using the same word, but I’m really proud of this team and what we’re doing on this front. I think Splash Mountain, no doubt, is a sacred attraction to many of our guests. And I think you’re going to love what we’re doing in making the attraction even more contemporary.”
D’Amaro is also asked in the interview about reopening the parks at Walt Disney World. For the full interview you can read it here.
When Will Splash Mountain Close?
At this moment we do not have a closing date for the Splash Mountain attraction at Magic Kingdom or at Disneyland. Once we do, we will be sure to keep you up to date!
Personally, I’m hoping it is not until our visit at the end of the year!
Splash Mountain is my youngest daughter’s favorite ride so we are hoping to ride it at least a couple more times before its retheming!
It’s perfect and she’s excited because Princess Tiana is her favorite Disney princess!
Will you be riding Splash Mountain before the attraction closes? Are you excited for the retheming? Let us know on Kenny the Pirate’s Facebook Page, or join our crew and continue the discussion!
-Marisol White
Share the love!
Flora Nader
Sunday 12th of July 2020
I was not happy when they got rid of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. That ride held a lot of special memories for me. However, the new Winnie the Pooh ride is very cool. I didn't like that they got rid of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but I love the Little Mermaid Ride. I suppose I will love the new Tianna ride, too. I just hope I get the chance to ride it one more time before it closes.
Deb
Sunday 12th of July 2020
Make a new ride for Tiana and KEEP SPLASH MOUNTAIN THE WAY IT IS!
Deb
Sunday 12th of July 2020
Thanks Lucy, for expressing my sentiments. This makes me very sad for many reasons.
Walt Vino
Sunday 12th of July 2020
I've been asking for a Princes & the Frog attraction for years. My question about this decision revolves around placement. The movie created enough inspirational material for more than a new skin over an old mechanism, I'd love to see a ride-store-restaurant structure. I picture the ride exiting to the gift shop which is a waiting area for the Tiana's restaurant. It's an opportunity to flesh out the American experience in our Magic Kingdom; food (Cajun, Creole, & Southern cuisines), merchandise (clothes, cooking toys, stuffed animals, jazz themed items), & story (hard work & determination can make dreams come true). The planned re-theming sounds like so much less.
Marcy
Saturday 11th of July 2020
Totally agree! Everyone is trying to erase history and not only is everything not bad it shows us how far we far we have come. It is a classic and should stay!