|
Brer Rabbit’s quest for adventure and his rival’s
plot to do him in launch Walt Disney World guests on an action-filled
journey with a thrill-packed, five-story “splashdown” finale on
Splash Mountain in the Magic Kingdom.
Based on animated sequences in Walt Disney’s 1946 film “Song of
the South,” the 87-foot high Splash Mountain boasts one of the world’s
longest flume drops and promises guests a 40 mph descent -- faster
than any other attraction in the Magic Kingdom.
The attraction, which opened in summer 1992, occupies a 9.2 acre
site next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland. It features
special effects that give the show its animated quality and heighten
splashdown into the briar patch during the ride’s heart-stopping
finale.
Splash Mountain stars a cast of 68 Audio-Animatronics characters
-- one of the largest groups of animated figures ever assembled
in a Walt Disney World attraction.
To begin the 11-minute adventure, guests climb aboard eight-person
logs (hollowed out by sharp-tooth beavers, as the story goes) to
travel the canals of the flooded mountain.
Soon, they join Brer Rabbit, who is looking for some fun on a “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah”
kind of day. But his antagonists, Brer Fox and Brer Bear, are scheming
to catch the happy-go-lucky hare and put an end to his carefree
rambling.
All three principal characters from “Song of the South” appear
by means of an advanced version of the Audio Animatronics technology
used in newer Walt Disney World attractions such as The Great Movie
Ride at the Disney's Hollywood Studios.
To bring the classic Disney story “Song of the South” to life,
wizards at Walt Disney Imagineering -- the company’s creative design
and engineering division -- created a magnificent mountain chock-full
of backwoods swamps, bayous and waterfalls.
As guests proceed on the log ride, they meet the show’s stars and
a number of critter characters who help weave the tale of “Song
of the South.” Against the advice of Mr. Bluebird, Brer Rabbit leaves
his briar patch home in search of adventure. Brer Fox and Brer Bear
seize this opportunity and begin their legendary pursuit of the
rabbit.
Along the way, the guests’ boats dip and turn through brilliantly
colored scenes featuring musical selections that include “Laughin’
Place” and “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” one of Disney’s most familiar tunes.
Spooky caves, hollowed trees and skulking silhouettes of Brer Rabbit’s
pursuers lend mystery and magic to the show as the story unfolds.
At first, the clever rabbit outsmarts his bumbling pursuers, but
as guests proceed along the winding flume ride, they soon discover
Brer Rabbit is heading for trouble.
The rollicking adventure is loaded with twists, turns and splashes
of excitement. It culminates when guests, tucked into their flume
logs, plunge over the top of a steep spillway, whizzing from the
mountaintop to a briar-covered pond five stories below.
From the start, guests are drawn into the Splash Mountain legend
when they enter an old critter building -- part barn, part silo.
From there, they wind their way to a secret passageway leading to
the Critter Cave.
After meeting Brer Frog, who begins to narrate the tale of Splash
Mountain, guests board their flume logs to complete the exciting
journey.
Along with the special effects and state-of-the-art animated characters,
the attraction features one of the biggest animated props ever.
The showboat in the rousing final scene is 36 feet wide and 22 feet
high and carries 12 animated characters singing “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah”
as the ship rocks in time to the music.
This thrilling log flume attraction culminates with a watery, 50-foot
drop into the briar patch and Brer Rabbit's triumphant return home.
You will get wet!
Type - flume ride
When to go - Very popular, visit when park
first opens, during parade, or just before park closes.
Where to sit - If you want to get wet, sit
up front. If you prefer to stay dry, sit in the second or third
row, on the left side (facing forward), and duck your head for the
big drop.
Duration - 11 mins
Fastpass
Restrictions
Must be 40 inches tall to ride.
Guests should be in good health and free from motion sickness, back
or neck problems, heart problems, or other conditions that could
be aggravated by this adventure; expectant mothers should not ride;
this is transfer accessible. Adult supervision required.
Tips - If you ride in the front seat on Splash
Mountain, you will get wet, other riders in the log will get splashed,
but usually not as wet.
Close your eyes on the big drop, it won't feel as bad.
View from the top just before the big drop
Facts/History
The ride features over 65 Audio Animatronics. Songs featured include
"Everybody Has a Laughin' Place" and "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah". There
are five drops in the ride, which ends with a 40mph drop down a
5-story, 45 degree slope. The ride can run up to 54 logs at once.
Splash Mountain is 87ft tall.
Hidden Mickeys
In the "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" scene, look for Mickey lying on his back
in the pink clouds to the right of the riverboat.
Lyrics
Ev'rybody Has a Laughin' Place
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Reviews
"I've been to Disney World four times in my life.
The first three times I was too scared to even look at it, but the
forth time I said "I have to do this." So I got my fastpass, but
the whole time waiting i was really freacked out. Then I returned
when my ticket said to, and I went to the front. I got in the boat,
and i was scared. I kept on edge cause i was scared of a drop in
the dark. The first Mini drop came and i said that was nothing.
I kept on enjoying the ride, and going down the other mini drops.
Then it came. I started being lifted up the hill. I saw sunshine
at the very top. Then we apporched the top and went down. It was
so fun! That same vacation I went on two more times. I also bought
a ride photo cause it my favourite ride in all of Disney World and
its a great memory of the best ride ever! Oh and it turned out very
good! Go when the park opens, the after go right on Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad beacause there right beside each other."
(8/03) Beth M
"Certainly one of the best rides in the Magic
Kingdom, bar none. My only advice would to get a Fastpass for this
ride, because the lines can reach toward the extreme, and if you
go during the summer months, the heat can make the wait even more
uncomfortable. Just about every time I have been to Disney, there
has always been a wait, and it has always been long. If you have
some sort of thing about getting Fastpass, try to go at night, the
lines are significantly shorter and it makes the experience so much
more memorable... especially if you get stuck on that last ramp
for a while in the pitch black like I did (its intense)." (4/03)
Dan
"I loved Splash Mountain it is the coolest ride
!! When me and my cousin went on it last year , she loved and so
did I ( it was my cosin's first time to WDW and it was my 6th !!
).We didn't use Fastpass at first but the que was veeeeeeeeeeeeery
long although we enjoyed it very much I would recommend using Fastpass
. But I must say this the ques are only long as this ride is so
popular !! * Definately use Fastpass if you don't want to be queing
for ever ! * If you are riding with a first-timer don't tell them
where the drops are ! It'll take a while for them to trust while
on a ride again but the look on thier face is worth it ! I think
the theming on the ride is great ! I think there should be more
rides that are themed like this throughout WDW !" (1/03) Hayley
"It was one of the best rides in the Kingdom.
The only problem it had for our family is that we hve a handicaped
child and the wait toget to the attendant was far longer than any
of the other rides and almost to much for her. But she wanted to
ride it mutiple times anyway. She loved it. WE used the fastpass
on just about every ride in the kingdom and the wait even with the
fastpass was far longer. Shorten the wait for the handicaped children
and it will be the perfect ride!" (8/02) Nelson Wrinkle
"This ride is really fun. The first time I went
on it I was in second grade. If you sit in the front row you should
take/bring extra clothes. It starts out of course in a huge room
where there are people and you are about to go outside in to a small
drop about 10 feet. And then the fun feeling of the south and making
you realize that it isnt so scary. Then you see the story about
Brer rabbit. Then you get to know the plot and gets a little wild.
( It is not the drop) Then finally practically at the end you experience
the 5 story which is 50 feet drop. And then it calms down. Tip:
When the fireworks show is on go to the attractions you plan to
go to. There barely is a wait. People who also cannot handle big
drops should think of going on this. :-) (-; Also go on this later
in the night there also barely isn't a wait. It is a fun attraction.
and also bring extra clothes. I choose the front. If you want to
get wet sit in the front and second row. If you do not want to get
wet stay in the further back rows. Also remember to stop at the
end of the attraction for the photos there really are a great soveneir."
TJ S.
"If you go to the Magic Kingdom don't skip Splash
Mountain! It has got to be my all time favorite ride!! It is so
fun!! It is especially fun when you get to sit in the front. My
favorite seat was to sit in the front so my mother always asked
to sit in the front, and surprisingly they put us right in the front
in the next log! They are such nice people that work at the Disney
Theme Parks! Ask to sit in the front, it is much more exciting!!
" Jessica
What do you think about this attraction? Do you
have any tips or comments? Fill in the attraction
review form.
|
