Splash Mountain will be completely re-themed as a "Princess and the Frog" attraction titled "Tiana's Bayou Adventure," which is set to open in late 2024 at the Disney Parks in the United States.
The Splash Mountain characters are from the 1946 animated film "Song of the South," which has been criticized for its stereotypes of black men and romanticized view of the post-Civil War South.
Fans demanded that Disney redesign Splash Mountain's theme in 2020, in the midst of a racial reckoning in the United States.
The Walt Disney World Resort has already announced that its version of Splash Mountain will close on January 23, allowing fans of the attraction to ride it before the extended closure.
Disneyland, on the other hand, has yet to announce a closure date for its version of the ride, leaving fans in the dark about how much longer they can ride.
Numerous theme park bloggers shared their Splash Mountain predictions with KTLA, with many predicting that the park will close soon.
"The Magical Millennial," Megan Heneghan, believes Disneyland will announce a Splash Mountain closure date on or around Jan. 23.
"I believe Splash Mountain will close in late January or early February for this extensive ride transformation," Heneghan predicted.
"I wonder if we're getting a delay so that the closure of Splash Mountain doesn't overshadow the launch of Disney100," Vaughn speculated.
Carly Caramanna's prediction was influenced by the timing of Disney100 and other scheduled ride closures.
The theme park and travel journalist predicted that Splash Mountain would close in the spring to allow the park to accommodate an influx of guests attending the Disney100 celebration and compensate for the absence of other fan-favorite attractions.
Indiana Jones Adventure, another top-tier ride, is scheduled to close on Jan. 9 for an extended refurbishment.
Caramanna stated that closing two popular rides in such a short period of time could be an operational nightmare for the park.
Other rides and attractions are scheduled to be closed on various dates in January, according to the Disneyland calendar. Reopening dates vary because not all of the attractions on the list will be closed for the entire month.
- Haunted Mansion Holiday
- Indiana Jones Adventure:
- Tarzan’s Treehouse
- Grizzly River Run
- Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
- The Disney Gallery
- Radiator Springs Racers
When Splash Mountain reopens in 2024 as "Tiana's Bayou Adventure," Disney officials say it will pick up right where the "Princess and the Frog" film left off.
"During Mardi Gras season, you'll join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans," according to the Disney Parks Blog.
The ride will also include zydeco music, a Louisiana-born blend of rhythm and blues.