DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Disney Resorts across the globe are full of so many stories and surprising details that Guests are always discovering new secrets when they go on vacation.
Disney Guests are always searching for hidden Mickeys, crazy secrets, and Imagineer tidbits around the Parks, with many already knowing about Disney’s Utilidors at Magic Kingdom and the Mickey shape in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park map.
But what about Splash Mountain’s wild secret?
Credit: Disney
Both Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Parks closed on January 10, 2022 for refurbishment, with Walt Disney World’s version of the popular ride reopening on February 10. Disneyland Guests have to wait for Splash Mountain to reopen on March 7, 2022.
Each year, the water flume ride closes down for routine maintenance. The many animatronics that reside within the ride, including Br’er Bear and Br’er Rabbit, require some attention to maintain the magic.
The attraction at Magic Kingdom is usually scheduled for closure during the colder months of January and February when Guests would otherwise be plummeting into cold water.
Some Disney fans wondered if this closure would be for the large retheme that was announced for the attraction. Disney has not yet announced when either Disney World or Disneyland will be seeing the newly updated Princess and the Frog (2009) attraction, and this week, fans were confused when the Splash Mountain ride landing page changed.
Originally the ride’s website stated, “An exciting new refresh is coming to this attraction.” with a “Read More” link that took Guests to details about The Princess and the Frog retheming. Now, though, that message is completely gone. Interestingly, Disney Parks Blog still shows details of the transformation, so we are unsure what the note’s removal means for the future of the attraction.
We didn’t see any sign of Tiana or Naveen on our recent visit to Magic Kingdom, but we can reveal a wild secret behind the design of the Splash Mountain attraction.
This may be common knowledge for some Disney fans, but the fan-favorite attraction Splash Mountain is actually not inside a mountain.
Mind-blowing, right?
Even though the mountain looks big enough to house an attraction that lasts as long as Splash Mountain, there are hidden show buildings behind the attraction’s facade.
Look at Walt Disney World on an aerial map, and you will be able to see the giant industrial building located behind the facade of the Frontierland ride. Half of the ride’s animatronics, scenes, and drops are actually inside the massive building behind the mountain.
Imagineers do a fantastic job at hiding these buildings from Guest view to preserve the magic of the theme park, and Splash Mountain’s is no different. Walls, trees, and the mountain facade itself cover up the large white building, not dissimilar to how Imagineers tied the design of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror into the Morocco Pavilion in EPCOT.
Of course, if we’re going down this route, then here are some other big secrets of Walt Disney World we should discuss. Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest is not actually on Mount Everest, EPCOT’s Soarin’ doesn’t go around the world, and Haunted Mansion isn’t even inside a mansion.
It would be pretty amazing, though, if there really was a giant mountain in the middle of Magic Kingdom!
More on Splash Mountain
Credit: Disney
At Magic Kingdom, if Guests are looking to conquer the thrill challenge, they must complete all three mountains: Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Splash Mountain’s Song of the South (1946) theme was announced to be removed to provide a more “inclusive” ride experience. Guests then petitioned to keep the ride with its famous songs like “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” and “Ev’rybody’s Got a Laughing Place.” The official Walt Disney World description of the ride reads:
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.
For Guests looking to ensure their personal items remain dry, lockers are available to rent near the Main Entrance
