Attraction Spotlight: Disney’s Splash Mountain

Caution! You may get wet! If you’ve ever experienced Splash Mountain at Disney’s Magic Kingdom near Orlando you may have seen this warning before. Several times in fact. Some of the many posters in the queue space for the attraction also reference the 50 foot plunge ahead. That’s 50 with a 5-0. Perhaps you accepted the challenge or maybe you just told your buddies you’d find them later. Whatever your decision then, I hope today’s choice will be easier. This post takes a dry and drop-free look at Disney’s Splash Mountain.

Let’s start with a little history.

History

Disney opened Splash Mountain at Disney World in 1992. It’s the third variation of the attraction, following the original at Disneyland in 1989 and a second at Disney Tokyo that preceded Magic Kingdom’s attraction by just one day. All three are water rides with steep drops that feature TONS of animated characters from Disney’s Song of the South.

If you’re not familiar with Song of the South it may have something to do with the film’s long history. Disney released the film shortly after the conclusion of World War II in 1946. Its subject matter, a collection of allegorical stories written by Joel Chandler Harris, dates back to the mid-1800s. The film blends live-action, animation and song, similar to Mary Poppins which debuted seventeen years later. In Song of the South, Uncle Remis, played by James Baskett, lives on a southern plantation and shares stories with his young friends about Brer Rabbit and his mischievous foes.

“Brer” is a nickname for brother, in case you were wondering.

I’m not sure I’ve ever watched the complete film, at least recently enough to remember all the details. Disney quit marketing Song of the South in the United States several decades ago. Portions of it, however, including the animated sequences and the Oscar winning song Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Da are much easier to find. These cheerful elements also serve as the basis for Splash Mountain’s southern style theming.

Overview

Speaking of southern theming, you’ll find Splash Mountain tucked into Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland between the Country Bear Jamboree and Thunder Mountain. It’s the perfect setting for this type of attraction because it combines elements of both: tons of animatronics, high thrills and plain, old-fashioned silliness.

According to Disney, there are 100 different animatronics throughout the attraction. I’ve never counted, but that feels about right given the number of jam-packed scenes included in the ride. Many feature Brer Rabbit trying to escape the antics of Brer Fox and Brer Bear. Others showcase frogs, geese and other creatures singing upbeat songs to ample amounts of banjo. I love the detail in the scenes like the dramatic lighting, playful character shadows and splashing water features.

The thrills, of course, are what makes Splash Mountain different from a traditional Disney dark ride. Guests rise and drop three times between the animatronic sequences, including the dramatic five-story finale I referenced above. The ride uses more than 950,000 gallons of water throughout, which is why you’re warned about getting wet so often before boarding. The signs are true, you probably will get splashed a bit, but it’s nothing like the deluge from Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom.

For me personally, it’s the silliness of the ride that makes the threat of getting wet worth it. I love the corny scenes, the peppy music and the well-executed theming throughout. Similar to so many Disney rides, it’s the meticulous details throughout the attraction that keep me coming back.

Riding

If you visit Magic Kingdom on a hot day, expect a fairly long wait to ride (60 minutes+). It seems like the length of the queue moves in direct correlation with the outdoor temperature.

If crowds are particularly heavy, your best bet is to ride first thing in the morning (if you don’t mind starting out soggy), during the Festival of Fantasy Parade (usually 2PM) or late in the evening. You can also try to snag a FastPass before your visit or after you’ve used up your first three (click here if you have no idea what I’m talking about).

If it’s raining or somewhat chilly (for Florida) when you visit, your wait will be minimal. Most people don’t want to ride Splash Mountain during either of these scenarios. I usually can’t resist the short wait times and jump in line anyway. I figure if you’re already soaked from walking in the rain, why not?

It may discourage you from looking at your on-ride photo afterward though.

Conclusion

Sometimes I wish life offered advanced warnings of the upcoming fifty foot drop, don’t you? At least in Splash Mountain’s case, the warnings are frequent and the pay off is worth it. The Song of the South characters may not be as familiar as Mickey and friends, but the combination of animatronics, thrilling drops and silly extras on Splash Mountain make it one satisfying (Satisfactual?) ride.

I hope you enjoyed today’s dry and drop-free look at this classic Disney World attraction.

Until next time, add a little (splash) magic to your world!