Splash Mountain's Unique Boat Design Explored

Splash Mountain is a log flume ride at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. The boats used in the ride are designed to look like logs and can hold up to eight passengers. The ride features a climactic steep drop of 50-52 feet, during which riders are photographed. The ride is based on the 1946 Disney film Song of the South and features characters and music from the film.

Boat sinking incidents

On August 3, 2020, a log flume boat at Disney World's Magic Kingdom sank, as seen in a viral video posted on Twitter by a user named Sky. The video showed submerged seats, and Sky claimed in the caption that they were told by a Disney employee to remain inside the sinking boat. However, they decided to evacuate, and the boat sank as soon as they stepped out. Other Twitter users shared similar footage and photos of the sunken boats, corroborating the incident.

This incident occurred just over a month after the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks reopened on July 11, following a three-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While log flume rides are popular attractions at amusement parks, they are not without their risks. Historically, log flumes were used in logging to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain using flowing water. Working on these flumes was dangerous, with reports suggesting that falls resulted in numerous injuries and deaths.

Today, log flume rides are designed to provide an entertaining way for people to get wet and cool off, especially during hot summer days. The rides usually involve a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats that are propelled by the flow of water. The ride often ends with a rapid descent and a splashdown, providing a fun and thrilling experience for riders.

The ride's development

The idea for Splash Mountain was first conceived in 1983 by Imagineer Tony Baxter. Baxter wanted to attract guests to the often-empty Bear Country land in Disneyland, which only featured the Country Bear Jamboree and a souvenir shop. He also wanted to make use of the Audio-Animatronics from the poorly attended America Sings attraction.

Dick Nunis, then-president of Walt Disney Attractions, insisted that the Imagineers create a log flume ride for Disneyland. Initially, the Imagineers were unenthusiastic about the idea, believing that log flumes were too ordinary for a Disney park. However, Baxter eventually came up with the idea to theme the ride around the 1946 Disney film Song of the South, using the film's iconic song to differentiate it from similar rides at other amusement parks.

The original plan for the ride was called Zip-a-Dee River Run, but the name was changed to Splash Mountain after Disney CEO Michael Eisner suggested that the ride could be used to promote the film Splash. Baxter refused to include Daryl Hannah's mermaid character from the film in the ride, but he did agree to the name change.

Construction on the ride began in April 1987, with a budget of $75 million, making it one of the most expensive projects created by Walt Disney Imagineering. The ride was initially set to open in January 1989, but this was delayed due to technical issues and problems with the boats. The boats had to be redesigned to be lighter and hold fewer passengers to prevent riders from getting soaked.

Splash Mountain ultimately opened in Disneyland on July 17, 1989. The ride features a combination of outdoor float-through segments and indoor dark ride scenes, culminating in a climactic steep drop. The Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland versions of the ride opened in October 1992.

Song references

The ride Splash Mountain is based on the 1946 film Song of the South, and features songs from the movie. The ride's original name was Zip-a-Dee River Run, inspired by the song Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, which won an Academy Award in 1945 for the best movie song. The ride's name was changed to Splash Mountain to promote the film Splash, but the song Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah still features in the ride. Other songs from Song of the South that feature in the ride include How Do You Do?, Everybody's Got a Laughing Place, and Burrow's Lament. The ride's story is based on several Uncle Remus stories from the film, and the ride features over 100 Audio-Animatronics critters, including Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear.

The ride's characters

The characters in the Splash Mountain attraction are based on the 1946 film Song of the South, and include Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear. Br'er Rabbit is a mischievous trickster who leaves his home in search of adventure. Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear are the antagonists of the story, determined to catch Br'er Rabbit and eat him. Other characters include Professor Barnaby Owl, Pansy, Poppy, and Petunia, and various animal characters such as bees, alligators, and frogs.

Br'er Rabbit is a clever and witty character who manages to outsmart his foes at every turn. He uses reverse psychology on Br'er Fox, begging him not to throw him into the briar patch, knowing that it is where he was born and raised and he can easily escape. Br'er Rabbit's journey takes him to his "laughing place", where he encounters bees and other animals that join in on the fun.

Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear are portrayed as bumbling and inept, always one step behind Br'er Rabbit. They hatch a plan to capture Br'er Rabbit using a snare trap, but Br'er Rabbit avoids it and even uses the trap to catch Br'er Bear instead. Despite their determination, they are never able to catch the quick-thinking Br'er Rabbit.

The other characters in the attraction, such as the bees, alligators, and frogs, add to the whimsical and musical atmosphere of Splash Mountain. They join in on the singing and dancing, creating a festive and entertaining experience for riders. The animals are brought to life through the use of audio-animatronics, with over 100 audio-animatronic animals featured in the attraction.

The characters and story of Splash Mountain are based on the Uncle Remus stories, which originated from African-American folktales shared by enslaved people in the 19th century. The stories were adapted and published by Joel Chandler Harris in the 1880s, and they made a lasting impression on Walt Disney, who wanted to bring them to the screen. While the film Song of the South received mixed reviews and faced controversy, the characters and their adventures have endured and found a new life in the Splash Mountain attraction.

The ride's drops

The number of drops varies depending on the location of the ride. The Magic Kingdom version features five drops, while the Tokyo Disneyland version has four. The Disneyland version, meanwhile, has three.

The degree to which riders get wet depends on where they are seated. Those at the back may experience a sudden splash or spray, while those at the front can expect to get soaked.

Frequently asked questions