Tag: splash mountain

Categories
Disney Movies Disney News Disney Parks

Fans Call For Disney to Re-Imagine Splash Mountain With ‘Princess and the Frog’ Theme

Fans Call For Disney to Re-Imagine Splash Mountain With ‘Princess and the Frog’ Theme

Petition Calls For Disney to Re-Imagine Splash Mountain With ‘Princess and the Frog’ Theme. The Disney Parks have rarely shied away from the idea of re-theming or re-imagining outdated and poor performing attractions in their theme parks, but the recent spark in social justice movements have caused fans to revisit the idea of replacing rides deemed “problematic”.

Hands down, the biggest scandal in the Disney Movie Library is Song of the South. A film filled with so much controversy it is the only title that has been opening banned from streaming via Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+. The Walt Disney Company has also shared previously there is no intention to ever release the film in any capacity ever again.

Though Disney knows this to be a sore spot in the history of TWDC, that hasn’t stopped the Disney Parks from featuring the films animated characters in one of the most iconic attractions: Splash Mountain. The water log ride does not feature the more controversial human characters, but some Disney fans have pointed out the attraction is still reminder of the film and is in need of some major re-theming.

The forefront of that discussion follows the idea that Princess and the Frog should replace Song of the South as the theme for the ride. This makes sense given Disney could use various elements that already exist in the attraction as well as add new and exciting thematic elements that would immerse guests into the wonderful story featured in the Princess and the Frog animated feature film.

The idea has primarily been featured on Twitter, and here are some of the thoughts and even attraction concept pieces from various fans who are ready for a change:

The Walt Disney Company: Re-theme Splash Mountain to Princess and the Frog – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/xl2sWoKHbD via @Change

— Alyssa (@AlyssaIlovespn) June 10, 2020

Princess and the Frog Splash Mountain retheme for Disneyland thread. Just put on the soundtrack and a splash ridethrough while reading this. pic.twitter.com/8z5wOalyB7

— Frederick Chambers (@FreddyFromBatuu) June 9, 2020

Thread cont. pic.twitter.com/stRu5WR1TL

— Frederick Chambers (@FreddyFromBatuu) June 9, 2020

Thread cont. pic.twitter.com/CaGfVrUy6N

— Frederick Chambers (@FreddyFromBatuu) June 9, 2020

I disagree on the Splash Mountain change idea. The Princess & The Frog concept is absolutely genius and incredible but it deserves its own space and not as a cover up. SM is one of a kind and one of the best in the park (the CA DL), rebranding it won’t do it any good

— Jonathan (@jonathizzzle) June 10, 2020

Thread – I remember watching Song of the South on the Disney channel in the early 80s. To say it’s problematic is an understatement. I didn’t realize Splash Mountain was still tied to it. https://t.co/y1wRGX0Gk7

— Tracy Shields (@tcshields) June 10, 2020

Princess and the Frog is not the only re-theming fans are interested in.

With #songofthesouth trending today I believe that #splashmountain will soon get a re-theme in the not so distant future! I am proposing we change it to the water slide based on The Emperor’s New Groove!

— JohnReilly3 (@JohnReillyIII) June 10, 2020

Not familiar with the iconic ride at the Disney Parks? Check out this attractions description from Disney about Splash Mountain:

“A Hare-Raising Ride – Gently drift through a colorful Southern bayou along with happy-go-lucky Br’er Rabbit as he looks for his “laughing place.” But be warned: Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox are in hot pursuit of this wayward hare.

Glide by over 100 adorable Audio-Animatronics geese, frogs, raccoons, possums, bees, alligators and other down-home critters as they sing classic Disney ditties, including “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” and “Ev’rybody’s Got a Laughing Place.”

Then hang on to your hats—this delightful musical cruise ends in an exciting 5-story splashdown into a thorny Briar Patch!

You Will Get Wet – This attraction includes 950,000 gallons of water, 3 dips and a 5-story drop. Where you’re seated will determine how wet you’ll get. Riders in the back may experience a sudden splash or spray; those who opt for the front can expect to get soaked.“

Which attractions do you think could use an update or re-theming? What replaced or re-themed attractions do you miss the most? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for all things Disney Parks!

Featured Photo Credit: Disney

Source: Twitter

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Attractions, Disney Gossip, News, Disney Parks, Disneyland, Princess and the Frog, Splash Mountain, Walt Disney World

Categories
Disney Lists Disney Parks Other

The Top 10 Most Evacuated Rides in Disney World!

Disney World can seem like the perfect place in theory, but that’s not always the case.

Frozen Ever After

Sometimes things just happen to go wrong — yes, even in Disney World! It’s happened to most of us. We’re pumped for our favorite ride only to find that it’s inexplicably closed. Or perhaps we’re halfway THROUGH our favorite ride when it randomly STOPS! Whatever the case, we know big breakdowns happen. Let’s check out the top ten most evacuated rides in Disney World!

This data is pulled from an Orlando Sentinel report on the Reedy Creek Fire Department (Disney’s own!) reported evacuations from July 27th, 2016, through July 18th, 2018. Keep in mind that these dates WOULDN’T catch newer rides like the popular (and often reported to break down) Rise of the Resistance!

10. Spaceship Earth

Coming in at tenth place for most evacuations we have the most iconic and recognizable ride in Epcot — it’s Spaceship Earth! In the measured period, this ride had 15 evacuations. Not too bad, but there are a whole lot of rides that had fewer!

Spaceship Earth

Though the report does not include the causes for breakdowns, Spaceship Earth is an original 1982 attraction with some significantly complex ride pathways through the sphere. Its age and complexity could be part of the issue.

Is Spaceship Earth NOT closing for refurb now?? Click here!

9. Toy Story Mania!

Just BARELY beating out Spaceship Earth is the relatively new Toy Story Mania! in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This attraction racked up 16 evacuations in the two-year period.

Toy Story Mania

Toy Story Mania! is a super technologically advanced ride so a failure of the software could potentially be a reason for evacuation. Still, Disney doesn’t report the reason for evacuations (unless there’s an injury) so it’s hard to say.

Want to get the highest score in Toy Story Mania? Click here!

8. Splash Mountain

Next up on our list is Splash Mountain! This beloved attraction (one of the favorites among our readers) had 21 evacuations in the period reported. We’ve definitely been on this one more than a few times when it’s broken down for a while!

Does Everyone Want To Ride Splash Mountain??

Splash Mountain might be prone to big breakdowns simply thanks to the fact that it is a water ride. Log flume rides are notorious for being difficult to maintain. Maybe when things go wrong at Splash Mountain, the fixes aren’t so easy.

To learn how Splash Mountain stacks up with other attractions, click here!

7. Peter Pan’s Flight

A little bit of a jump here as this next attraction had about ten more full evacuations than Splash Mountain. Peter Pan’s Flight came in at 31 evacuations in the two years.

Peter Pan’s Flight

Surprisingly, this is the ONLY opening day attraction to make this list (guess those other OG rides really hold up)! Not only is Peter Pan’s Flight an older ride, but it also uses a unique suspended system. That’s why people love it so much, but it’s also what makes it a little more challenging to run.

Click here to check out some SWEET upcoming merch inspired by Peter Pan’s Flight!

6. The Barnstormer

The Barnstormer starring the Great Goofini (previously The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm) is a favorite for many little ones thanks to it being an easily conquerable rollercoaster.

Barnstormer

Still, despite not being as impressive as the other coasters of Disney, this one has some of the most evacuations with 32 in the period. Why? We’re stumped!

Want to see how our readers feel about The Barnstormer? Click here!

5. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Alright! We made it to the top five! Just barely edging out Barnstormer and Peter Pan’s Flight is The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh with 33 evacuations in the period.

Winnie the Pooh at The Crystal Palace

There are few incidents reported for this ride and it is a traditional dark ride. Maybe it’s just the wily Heffalumps up to no good!

To find out which Tiger King person we matched up with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, click here!

4. Kali River Rapids

We’ve got a pretty big jump for this next one again — and get used to it, because the evacuation counts on the final three are gonna climb quick! Not quite in the final three is Kali River Rapids with 44 evacuations in two years.

Kali River Rapids

Kali could suffer from the water ride maintenance woes as part of the reasoning behind the frequent evacuations. There have also been reports of monitoring sensors being triggered on this ride. These are triggered when the ride system thinks someone isn’t where they should be or something is wrong and it automatically stops the ride, per WESH.

Click here to read about our Kali River Rapids MISTAKES!

3. Space Mountain

Okay folks, we’ve made it. Let’s talk about our top three. We’re talking about our BIGGEST breakdown offenders. Taking the third spot is Space Mountain with a leap up to 64 evacuations in a two year period!

Space Mountain

Though the ride had no reported injuries in the measured period, that doesn’t mean that there weren’t medical reasons for stopping the ride. Space Mountain can be intense and it has had some incidents reported in the past. Plus, Space has been around since 1975! That’s an old coaster! Sometimes, things just might need some extra attention for the ride to get up and running again.

PRO TIP: If this ride DOES break down for a prolonged period, hop on the PeopleMover. It travels through Space Mountain even if it’s closed and you can possibly get a really cool look at the ride with the lights on!

Want to see come collectible Space Mountain merch? Click here!

2. Pirates of the Caribbean

Our runner up for most breakdowns is Pirates of the Caribbean. Well, wouldn’t you know it! Another water ride — and an old one too. Pirates of the Caribbean has been around since 1973. That’s a lot of time, a LOT of animatronics, and a lot of water making some room for things to go a little sideways.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Maybe those are the reasons that Pirates of the Caribbean is dealing with a HIGH record of evacuations. We’re talking really high — like 72 evacuations in two years high. Maybe it’s that tricky ghost George that’s to blame! ? Shockingly though, there is one ride that has MANY more evacuations than even this number.

To learn how Pirates of the Caribbean makes us feel things, click here!

1. Frozen Ever After

Coming in first place, the NUMBER ONE MOST EVACUATED RIDE is Frozen Ever After! On paper, that might sound surprising since it’s so new, but most of us have witnessed Frozen Ever After closed for downtime at some point or another. Just how many evacs did it have, you ask? 113 evacuations in two years! Phew!

Frozen Ever After Ride

Again, Disney doesn’t release the reasoning behind these evacs but we have some theories. The ride ticks a LOT of the boxes that we’ve mentioned as breakdown potential.

Water ride? Check. Older ride? Frozen is new but it’s predecessor Maelstrom opened in 1988 so…check! Complex technology? Definitely check! This was the first ride to use the new animatronics (ever ridden the ride mid-breakdown and see Anna and Elsa with their faces TURNED OFF? We have!). That sounds like a pretty decent recipe for high evacuations to us!

Click here to learn how you can ride Frozen Ever After — after hours!

So now you know the top ten most evacuated rides at Disney! To quote a Disney statement, “Our rides operate at a high degree of reliability, and while occasional downtimes and full-ride exits are a part of normal operations, they represent a very small part of the total operating day and overall guest experience.”

Despite some of these trickier ride systems, Disney actually had a pretty great track record with keeping rides running smoothly. Still, it makes for a unique story if you’ve ever been evacuated from a ride! Maybe we’ll go hop on Frozen Ever After…

Love in-ride photos? Click here to see what rides we think NEED one!

Have you ever been caught on a broken-down ride? Tell us in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. We’ve Reached the End of Round THREE in the Disney World Rides and Attractions Throw Down! Which Attractions Made the Cut?
  2. Three Tips You NEED to Master Disney World’s FastPass+ Tiers in 2020
  3. Consider Making THESE Weird Choices On Your Next Disney World Trip.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, Frozen Ever After, kali river rapids, Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ride Evacuations, space mountain, Spaceship Earth, splash mountain, the barnstormer, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story Mania

Categories
Disney Food Disney Parks Other

Can You Conquer These 5 Disney World CHALLENGES?

We all have a little bit of a competitive streak (Disney board games are the bomb.)!

Cinderella Castle and Main Street, U.S.A. in Disney World

That’s why conquering Disney World challenges is so satisfying. These are some of the BIGGEST challenges out there that we dare you to complete during your next Disney vacation!

If you can complete them all, you can officially be deemed a seasoned Disney World pro! ?

Mickey Bar

Let’s take a look at what you’re in for!

All 4 Parks in One Day

Visiting all four theme parks in a day? Seems like a piece of cake, right?? Well… we’re making this a CHALLENGE for a reason!

Once you go to a park, you have to do four things: ride an attraction, watch a show or film, take a photo with a character, and get something to eat or drink before moving on to the next park.

Does Everyone Want To Ride Splash Mountain??

You could even make it MORE of a challenge by having to use a different form of transportation every time you go to a new park (and you can’t reuse the ones from before)! HINT: Start in Magic Kingdom and take the monorail to Epcot, before moving on from there. ?

Every “Mountain” in Disney World

Ain’t no mountain high enough, friends! So, that means it’s time to conquer ALL the attractions with mountains in Disney World. This challenge is especially fun since you’ll even get to visit both waterparks for a day of splashing around and soaking in some good ol’ Vitamin D!

While you’re in Magic Kingdom, you’re going to want to hop onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

Big Thunder Mountain

After you’ve made your way to Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you’ll want to hop on over to the waterparks.

First on the agenda, you’ll want to take a wicked ride on Mount Gushmore at Blizzard Beach and then visit Mount Mayday at Typhoon Lagoon.

Typhoon Lagoon

Seven mountain rides in one day is daunting but totally doable (if you’re up for the challenge!).

The BIGGEST Snacks on Property

You guys know that some of the portions are HUGE in Disney World (best bang for your buck, though!).
And, while we’re big fans of snack crawls, we think the biggest food challenge is trying to finish all of these MASSIVE sized snacks at the parks and resorts!

Samantha Sterling Punch Bowl

We’re talkin’ about The Edison Punch Bowl, Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream, Buttermilk Pancake Tower at STK Orlando, Gibson S’mores Baked Alaska at The Boathouse, and ALL the specialty Dole Whips on property (ok, these aren’t massive sized but there are massive amounts OF them!). Yeah, we’re totally drooling just thinking about them… .

Visit EVERY Country in the World Showcase

The World Showcase in Epcot is one of our FAVORITE places to stroll around when we’re in the parks. Each country has something special to offer, even if it’s just admiring the buildings (that architecture is so detailed!!).

The next time you’re in Epcot, spend some time at each of the 11 World Showcase Pavilions to say you’ve conquered them all. 

Mexico Pavilion

But, like all good challenges, there’s a rule! You have to either visit an attraction or show, take a photo with a character, or grab a snack or a drink once you visit a pavilion. You never know — you might find some hidden spot or details along the way (have you been lucky enough to spot the Viking sword in Norway??).

Eating ALL the Mickey Treats

There are SO many different Mickey treats on property (it IS Disney World after all. ?)! And, if you’re up to one of the ULTIMATE challenges, you can bring your friends and family members along with you to try them. Oh, did we mention there’s 19 of them?! PHEW. Keep in mind Disney is ALWAYS coming up with new Mickey-fied treats, so the list could keep growing!

Mickey Candy Apple

On top of the classics — Mickey Premium Bars, Mickey Candy Apples, Mickey Rice Krispies, and Mickey Waffles — you can also get unique treats like the Mickey House-made Pecan Praline and Mickey Chili Pepper Chocolates.

Pecan Praline

Since there are so many, you could spread the Mickey snacks over the course of your trip (instead of having to get them all at once). Plus, there are enough goodies to go around so you can share them and save some for later.

Think you can tackle any of those challenges? Believe it or not, we’ve done them ALL, so we believe in you! The best part about these challenges is that you can not only challenge yourself, but make a little competition with your friends! Drinks at La Cava del Tequila on whoever loses?? ? For even MORE ideas, check out our DFB Video on ride challenges below!

And, if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel!

Have you done any of these Disney World challenges? Let us know in the comments below!

Related posts:

  1. When Disney World Reopens THESE Are at the Top of Our Must-Do List
  2. These 15 HUGE Disney World Snacks Are Totally Worth Wearing Your Stretchy Pants!
  3. Umm, Can We Talk For a Sec About These BIZARRE Snacks From Disney World?!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney dining tips, Disney Entertainment, disney parks, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, big thunder mountain railroad, Blizzard Beach, Disney, disney attractions, disney challenges, disney dessert, disney dining, disney food, disney mountains, disney news, disney rides, disney snacks, disney treats, Disney World, disney world challenges, Hollywood Studios, House-made Pecan Praline, Mickey Bars, mickey candy apples, mickey chili pepper chocolate, mickey rice krispies, mickey snacks, Mickey Treats, Mickey waffles, mount gushmore, mount mayday, seven dwarfs, seven dwarfs mine train, space mountain, splash mountain, typhoon lagoon, World Showcase, world showcase pavilions

Categories
Disney News Disney Parks Other

Going To Disney World in February? Here’s What You Need To Know!

Here’s the info you need to maximize the magic on your February trip to Disney World!

Valentine’s Day Cupcake

By February, many of us are feeling the winter blues. And a Disney World vacation can be the perfect cure! But before you start planning, you need to BE PREPARED — Scar might be a Disney villain, but that’s a solid piece of advice that we’re going to borrow! Here are all the deets you need to know in order to set yourself up for a fabulous February vacay!

Crowds at Disney World in February

In general, the crowds at Disney World in February tend to range from light to moderate. But there are a few holidays and happenings that can cause attendance to spike!

Typically the parks will be busier during President’s Day weekend since lots of guests take advantage of the long weekend for a quick getaway! And with the Epcot International Festival of the Arts running through most of the month (more on that later!), Epcot tends to be busier on the weekends with locals visiting for the festival.

Sunshine Seasons Cupcake

In addition to these more predictable crowd boosters, some schools around the country have Spring Break or Winter Break during February. Since these dates vary by school and change from year-to-year, unfortunately, they’re more difficult to account for while planning. So just be aware that if you’re planning a trip in February, you could run into some early Spring/Winter Break crowds!

Park Hours at Disney World in February

The parks hours throughout the month of February tend to be pretty steady! Most parks will open at either 8AM or 9AM, and close at either 8PM or 9PM.

Hollywood Studios

Magic Kingdom will usually stay open a little later (usually 10PM), but outside of that, Disney World park hours are pretty consistent in February!

Weather at Disney World in February

The temperatures tend to start warming up a little bit this month compared to January, which has the lowest average temps throughout the year! In February, the average high is 75 degrees and the average low is 54 degrees. So, typically the mornings and evenings are chilly, but the afternoons can warm up a bit!

Disney’s Boardwalk

February is also relatively dry — by Disney World standards! There are an average of 4 rainy days throughout the month, which is less frequent than you could expect during the summer months.

How to Pack for Disney World in February

Okay, we just touched on how the temperature can be chilly in the mornings and evenings, but warm up during the afternoon. So that means you’ll want to pack clothes you can layer for your February trip! We suggest bringing a sweatshirt or jacket, gloves, scarf, and hat so you can wear them out in the morning, and store them in your park bag when it starts to warm up!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

And don’t forget those closed-toe shoes! Even if you’re usually a sandals in the park kinda person, the frigid temps in the mornings and evenings can be especially hard on the feet. So make sure you come prepared!

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

If you’re traveling to Disney World in February, there’s a good chance your trip will overlap with the Epcot International Festival of the Arts! The event usually runs through late-February, so if your vacation lands at the end of the month, be sure to check the festival dates and plan your park days accordingly. Trust us, this isn’t an event you want to miss out on if you can help it!

Festival of the Arts Sign

The Festival of the Arts has so much to see and do, including Food Studios, live entertainment, unique merchandise, complimentary seminars, and extra-ticketed workshops!

2020 Pop Eats! Food Studio

We looooove the festival Food Studios because the food is both delicious AND beautiful! Since it is the Festival of the Arts, there’s a huge focus on the presentation of the menu items at each of the booths.

In past years, we’ve seen favorites like the Sushi Donut, Smoked Salmon and Cream Gâteau, and Festival of the Arts Mini-Cake!

Sushi Donut

Festival entertainment includes Performing Arts like the  Disney on Broadway Concert Series, live music, living statues, and more! And the Visual Arts are represented as well! Guests can find Artful Photo Ops, chalk art, and character art throughout the park!

Peter Pan Photo Op

And guests can commemorate their time by picking up some festival merchandise! In addition to classic options like tumblers, clothing, and plushes, you can also purchase work by featured artists located throughout the park!

Festival of the Arts Merchandise

If you want to take your exploration of the arts to another level, check out one of the free seminars or extra-ticketed workshops offered during the event!

Trailblazing Ladies of Disney Animation Complimentary Seminar

Even though it’s the newest addition to the Epcot lineup, the Festival of the Arts is quickly becoming one of our favorite events! It’s definitely worth checking out during your February trip!

Annual Ride Refurbishments

Another thing to consider if you’re planning a February trip — several of the rides and attractions in Disney World will be down for annual refurbishments! This is particularly important if you’re a water ride enthusiast. Both Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom and Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom usually go down for refurbishment in mid-January and remain unavailable until mid to late-March.

Splash Mountain Refurbishment

And you’ll have limited access to the water parks as well! Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach go down for refurbishment in alternating months. So, if you’re traveling in February, only one of them will be open!

Valentine’s Day Treats

If you’re traveling in mid-February, you’ll see a lot of pink, red, and heart-shaped treats! We typically see Valentine’s Day themed snacks available at least a few days before and after the holiday.

Of course, there are plenty of Valentine’s Day Cupcakes available around the parks and resorts! And we’ve spotted some more inventive desserts as well — like the (almost too pretty to eat) Bella Notte Petit Cake at Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs!

Bella Notte Petit Cake

If you’re traveling in February, be sure to keep an eye on menus across Disney World for fun, Valentine’s Day menu options! For instance, in the past, Kona Cafe at Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort has offered Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Topping as a limited-time offering!

Red Velvet Breakfast Special

And there are plenty of places in Disney World to have a date night! Several locations in Disney Springs offer Valentine’s Day specials and menus for a romantic night out on the town! So if you find yourself in Disney World with your Valentine, you can have a Bella Notte, indeed.

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World in February, you have a lot to be excited about! The (usually) manageable crowd levels, super-fun Epcot Festival of the Arts, and delicious Valentine’s Day treats can make Disney World even more awesome! Just be sure to prepare yourself for the ride refurbishments and potentially chilly temps and you’ll be in for a magical vacay!

Are you planning a trip to Disney World in February? Let us know in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. Going to Disney World in January? Here’s What You Need To Know!
  2. Going To Disney World in November? Here’s What You Need To Know!
  3. Going to Disney World in December? Here’s What You Need To Know.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney parks, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, 2020 Epcot Festival of the Arts, 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts, attraction refurbishments, Blizzard Beach, Blizzard Beach Refurbishment, closed typhoon lagoon, crowd levels, disney valentine’s day treats, disney world crowd levels, Disney World crowds, disney world park hours, disney world planning, disney world planning tips, disney world valentine’s day, Disney World weather, disney’s typhoon lagoon, kali river rapids, ride refurbish, splash mountain, Splash Mountain Closure, valentine’s day menus, valentine’s day menus at disney world, valentine’s day specials, walt disney world planning, weather