The notorious free-falling log ride prepares for its newest makeover.
Walt Disney Imagineering divulged plans on Thursday to redesign the attraction to its 2009 animated movie “Princess and the Frog,” a film that stars the Disney’s first Black princess.
Splash Mountain will be renovated at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort. The re imagined ride has been planned since the start last year.
Disney fans will be engulfed in the magic of the Princess’ musical adventures and set in her backyard of New Orleans.
“We pick-up this story after the final kiss, and 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,” the Disney Parks Blog reads.
“We continually evaluate opportunities to enhance and elevate experiences for all our guests,” said Carmen Smith, Creative Development and Inclusive Strategies executive with Walt Disney Imagineering. “It is important that our guests be able to see themselves in the experiences we create. Because we consider ourselves constant learners, we go to great lengths to research and engage cultural advisors and other experts to help guide us along the way. I am incredibly proud to see this work continue to move forward with great support from leadership across Disney.”
The neighboring areas of Splash Mountain vary at Disneyland park and Magic Kingdom park. Disney’s Imagineers are incorporating ideas for both parks that allow a more integrated story for its setting. At Anaheim’s Disneyland park, the attraction is next to New Orleans Square; at Florida’s Magic Kingdom park, the ride rests on the Rivers of America, an area that is located on the Mississippi.
Although the ride has yet to be named, the reveal will be include the reprisal of Anika Noni Rose as Tiana and Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis.
The opening date is highly depending on the reopening of the theme park’s entirety. The COVID-19 pandemic has halted the reveal and it continues to push back its original opening date after Disneyland announced on Wednesday that its planned July 17 opening is now delayed.
Both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom will reopen with the original Splash Mountain attraction.
