Walt Disney World Review: Splash Mountain

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Fun story and huge drop

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Amusement staple

Filled with animatronics

And coherent tale

A Coherent Story Gives the Disney World Version of Splash Mountain the Edge

One of the things I enjoyed most about my first trip to Disney World was riding the rides I knew well from Disneyland and looking for the differences.  Sometimes, the Florida version of the ride came out ahead, and sometimes my old favorite at Disneyland was the clear winner.  As much as I love the original Splash Mountain, the version at Disney World, which opened three years later, is the clear winner.

This ride is located in the Frontierland area of the Magic Kingdom.  Since it is one of the mountain rides, you can't miss it.  You can see the peak and hear the delighted screams of its victims from quite a ways away.  The entrance is near the entrance to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, another fun ride that will thrill guests.

Splash Mountain is your typical flume ride that is a staple of many amusement parks, but with a Disney twist.  As a result of the ride's thrilling final drop, there is a height requirement of 40 inches.  And it can make the lines quite long.  I was there in late September, and the line was never more than a few minutes.  But if the line is longer than you are willing to wait, you can get a Fast Pass, which reserves a place for you in a shorter line later in the same day, go enjoy something else, and come back to a much shorter wait.

Once you've made it to the front of the line, you'll board a boat designed for eight people.  These fiberglass "logs" have four rows, sitting two across.  Right there is a difference over the original.  Not sure if it is better or not, but there it is.

You start out floating around outside the mountain looking at some scenes that get you in the mood for the adventure ahead.

Once you take the first plunge, you are inside the mountain.  You float through several rooms as animatronics characters tell you a story from Disney's Song of the South.  And that's where the differences between this version and the original really stand out.  My only complaint with the Disneyland version is the incoherence of the story.  Here, it is very obvious what is happening.  Brer Rabbit has decided to leave his home in the briar patch to see the rest of the world.  But once he leaves, he runs afoul of Brer Bear and Brer Fox who are looking for lunch.  Can he out smart them and make it home safely?

As I said, you merrily float along watching this story unfold.  You get to hear some fun songs along the way, including "Everybody Has a Laughing Place" and the famous "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah."

But as Brer Rabbit's story grows desperate, we reach the foot of the mountain.  After a climb, we plunge over the top of a five story fall.  If you look quick, you get a great shot of the Magic Kingdom.  But smile quick because they take your picture.

But this isn't the final drop in the ride.  Granted, the last drop is more like a foot drop at a much smaller angle, meaning there is nothing to be afraid of.  Still, the group of friends I was with did trick somebody at the back of the boat into thinking it was bigger than it was.

There are signs all around warning that you will get wet.  And that is certainly true.  I didn't get soaking wet either of the times I rode it, but you certainly will want to make sure your electronics and anything else you don't want ruined are hiding in a backpack or other place where they won't get wet.

All told, the ride is in the 10 minute range, so you get your wait time worth.  It feels like it is over all too soon, however.

I love the Disneyland version of Splash Mountain so much, nothing will diminish that.  But if I had a choice, I really do with the story were more coherent like the version here at Disney World.