The Early Days
The story of Splash Mountain begins in 1983 when Imagineer Tony Baxter was tasked with finding a way to attract more guests to the often-empty Bear Country in Disneyland, which at the time only featured the Country Bear Jamboree, an import from Walt Disney World, and a gift shop.
Initially, Disney executives, including then-president of Walt Disney Attractions Dick Nunis, pushed for a log flume ride, a popular theme park staple. However, Imagineers were skeptical, feeling that a log flume was too ordinary for a Disney park. While brainstorming solutions, Baxter was inspired by an animated sequence in the 1946 Disney film, Song of the South. He proposed a ride that combined the thrill of a log flume with the film’s animated characters and catchy tunes.
Originally, Baxter planned to name the ride Zip-a-Dee River Run, a nod to the film’s famous song. Around the same time, the success of the 1984 mermaid film Splash, starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, led then Disney CEO Michael Eisner to suggest calling the attraction “Splash Mountain” and incorporating characters from the movie, specifically Daryl Hannah’s mermaid character, into the attraction. While Baxter did not agree with incorporating the mermaid characters, he did agree to rename the attraction Splash Mountain.
Construction and Opening
Plans for Splash Mountain at Disneyland were unveiled in January 1987. The project, initially budgeted at $75 million, became one of the most expensive undertakings by Walt Disney Imagineering. By the time America Sings closed in April 1988, its character figures were repurposed for Splash Mountain to help manage costs. Bear Country, home of the Country Bear Jamboree, was renamed Critter Country in anticipation of the ride’s opening.
Scheduled to open in January 1989, Splash Mountain faced delays due to technical issues and boat redesigns. Test rides revealed that the boats soaked guests too much, leading to a redesign that included a lighter build, seating for seven instead of eight, and an underwater scoop to reduce water intake.
Finally, on July 17, 1989, Splash Mountain opened at Disneyland, coinciding with the park’s 34th anniversary. The opening was celebrated with a TV special, Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain, featuring actor Jim Varney as Ernest.
Expansion to Other Parks
Splash Mountain’s success led to plans for new versions at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. Construction for both began in 1991, with the Tokyo and Magic Kingdom attractions opening within a day of each other in October 1992. Since neither park had an America Sings attraction, all animatronics for these versions were created specifically for Splash Mountain.
Reimagining
In June 2020, Disney announced that Splash Mountain would be reimagined. The new theme, inspired by The Princess and the Frog (2009), will be called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and will take guests on a musical journey through the Louisiana bayou.
While we look forward to the future, let’s take one last trip on Walt Disney World’s Splash Mountain. Thanks for joining me! Hit that subscribe button for more. Share your memories and opinions in the comments below. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon for more deep dives into Disney history. Until next time, keep the magic alive!
