Disney Revamps Splash Mountain Ride Into New Princess and the Frog Concept
Disney’s World Princess Week kicks off with an exciting update for fans of the animated favorite, The Princess and the Frog. The park announced the coming attraction last year, but this is the first time images and details of the new ride concept have been shared with the public.
Disney unveiled new artwork and story details for its Splash Mountain revamp, revealing that the ride’s story will pick up where ‘The Princess and the Frog’ movie left off. https://t.co/BSDBwJuGMx
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) August 23, 2021
Splash Mountain, Disney’s log flume ride with a troubled history, will be revamped and reintroduced to the park as a brand new experience that celebrates diversity and perseverance. The Princess and the Frog follows Tiana, a young black woman in New Orleans, as she journeys to make a name for herself and follow her dreams.
Guests at both Disneyland and Disneyworld Parks will now be able to truly be a part of the magic of this beloved story. The ride continues after Tiana and her prince, Naveen, share the movie’s “final kiss.” Park-goers will be led through the “bayou” by Tiana and Naveen as they prepare to throw a huge Mardi Gras celebration with the help of new and familiar faces. Actors playing characters from the movie will make the ride immersive and somewhat interactive, much like the park’s very own Jungle Cruise.
We’re thrilled to share Splash Mountain at @Disneyland & @WaltDisneyWorld will be completely reimagined with a new story inspired by an all-time favorite @DisneyAnimation film, “The Princess and the Frog.” Learn about what Imagineers have in development: https://t.co/HyKfdDSH3j pic.twitter.com/DV6476KAVX
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) June 25, 2020
For many, this is a welcomed change and one that guests can really get excited about. Complaints have been lodged about the insensitive and outdated motifs surrounding Splash Mountain for years, so this re-theming is a much-needed development.
I slept in and am hours late but the thing that resonates for me most in the upcoming “The Princess and the Frog”overhaul of Splash Mountain is joy.
— 🍓✨carlye wisel (@carlyewisel) August 23, 2021
Tiana’s face, the animals, guests, Louis the alligator, even Sharika Mahdi’s art — all of it exudes deep, unbridled JOY🥰 pic.twitter.com/3mXghKC9Ar
Disney also posted a video to their YouTube of execs Carmen Smith, Charita Carter, and Marlon West sitting down to chat with Stella Chase Reese, whose mother Leah Chase was the inspiration for Tiana’s character. They discussed aspects of the project and the impact that it can have on the New Orleans community, like working with local artist Sharika Mahdi to create concept art or donating $50,000 to the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA).
Opening dates for the new attraction at both Disney parks have yet to be announced. For more updates about the new and improved concept for Splash Mountain, follow Disney’s official Twitter account.
