Splash Mountain
Encyclopedia
Splash Mountain is a themed log flume
attraction at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland
, and the Magic Kingdom
at the Walt Disney World Resort
, based on the characters, stories and songs from the 1946 Disney
film Song of the South
. Although there are variations in the story and features between the three locations, each installation of Splash Mountain begins with a peaceful outdoor float-through that leads to indoor dark ride
segments, with a climactic steep drop into a "briar patch" followed by an indoor finale.
, a mischievous rabbit that leaves his home in the briar patch to look for his "laughing place." Unfortunately for him, Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear
, the antagonists of this story, are determined to catch and eat him.
at a cost of $75 million. Imagineer Tony Baxter wanted to attract guests to the often empty Bear Country land and make use of the Audio-Animatronics from America Sings
, which was receiving poor attendance. According to Alice Davis
(wife of the late Marc Davis
), when America Sings closed in April 1988, production of Disneyland's Splash Mountain had gone far over budget. The only way to recover was to close down America Sings and use the characters from that attraction.
Baxter and his team developed the concept of Zip-a-Dee River Run, which would incorporate scenes from Song of the South. The name was later changed to Splash Mountain after then-CEO Michael Eisner
's mostly-ignored suggestion that the attraction be used to help market the film Splash
. The characters from America Sings were used in many scenes, though all of the main characters were specifically designed for Splash Mountain.
Dave Feiten was then brought in to animate and fix story and staging problems. Feiten then moved nearly all of the animatronics to new locations and then took out 10 animatronic figures and removed them from the ride completely to improve the show. A version of the popular attraction was planned for Disneyland Paris, but was scrapped due to budget reasons and the cold weather in Europe.
Passengers ride aboard six-seater logs with six single-file seats. The log departs the loading area and ascends two conveyor-type lifts before floating gently through scenery designed to evoke the feeling of a river in the southern state of Georgia. The homes of the three main characters and aged farm equipment are incorporated into the landscape, along with an instrumental version of "How Do You Do?" emanating from hidden speakers along the waterway.
Before the logs enter the indoor portion, snoring is heard emanating from Brer Bear's cave. The snoring is a tribute to the original entrance to Bear Country (the former name of Critter Country) where a bear named Rufus was heard snoring from a cave.
After a short drop down "Slippin' Falls", guests enter the indoor portion of the attraction, where various Audio-Animatronic animals, such as geese, frogs, and opossums sing the attraction's first musical number, "How Do You Do?". Most of the animals on Splash Mountain were reused from the closed attraction America Sings. Brer Rabbit (voiced by Jess Harnell
) is seen laughing at Brer Bear's misfortunes, preceding a "dip-drop" into the surreal Rainbow Caverns, where characters sing "Everybody's Got a Laughing Place."
Brer Fox then manages to trap Brer Rabbit in a beehive. The mood turns ominous as two mother characters sing the "Burrow's Lament." The logs begin climbing up the final and longest lift hill, passing beneath two vultures that taunt guests and tell of foreboding danger. Shortly before the attraction's climactic drop, Brer Rabbit is seen alongside the hill, about to be eaten by Brer Fox.
But Brer Rabbit outsmarts
Brer Fox and Brer Bear by tricking them into throwing him into the briar patch (where he was born and raised). Riders are sent down the final drop into the briar patch, mimicking his fall. The top half of the drop is highly visible from the adjacent areas of the park. A photo is taken as the log begins to fall, and it can be purchased after disembarking from the ride. From the top of the hill, riders looking toward the splashdown point will notice a full pond of water ahead of them.
The log then 'dives' under the water into an underground runout. The collective weight of the riders generally determines the degree to which they get wet here. An indoor segment follows the drop, after which the logs make a final entrance into a section of the mountain named "Doo-Dah Landing", where a full cast of Audio-Animatronic figures sing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and the respective fates of Brer Rabbit (reclined happily at home) and the antagonists (fending off a hungry alligator) are seen.
Before the return to the loading area, riders are given a preview of their picture that was taken on the final drop via an overhead screen. Professor Barnaby Owl, an overhead Audio-Animatronic, calls the riders' attention to the screen with various phrases describing the looks on their faces. After disembarking from the log, riders enter a "dark room," where they preview their on-ride photograph, before exiting to Critter Country.
, across the way from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
. Construction of Splash Mountain necessitated the demolition of the existing railroad
station and temporarily turning the railroad into a shuttle between Main Street, U.S.A.
and Mickey's Toontown Fair.
Riders board eight-passenger logs, seated two by two. Logs are now equipped with lap bars for safety reasons following a June 2011 renovation. The log departs the loading area, where Br'er Frog provides introductory narration. The log ascends two dual-chain lifts before floating gently through scenery designed to evoke the feeling of a river in the Southern United States
, particularly Georgia, where Song of the South was based. The homes of the three main characters and aged farm equipment are incorporated into the landscape, along with an instrumental version of "How Do You Do?" emanating from hidden speakers along the waterway.
After a short drop down "Slippin' Falls", guests enter the indoor portion of the attraction, where various Audio-Animatronic animals, such as geese, frogs, and opossums sing the attraction's first musical number, "How Do You Do?". Several vignettes establish the story of a restless Br'er Rabbit leaving home and being pursued by Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear.
"Everybody's Got a Laughing Place" begins to play as the log reaches a dark tunnel followed by a "dip-drop" into the Laughin' Place. There, singing turtles and dancing water fountains guide the log to a dark area in which Br'er Rabbit has been caught by Br'er Fox in a cave of stalactites and stalagmites. Two vultures taunt riders as they begin their ascent up the final lift. A scene to the side shows Brer Fox menacing Brer Rabbit, with Brer Rabbit pleading not to be thrown into the briar patch.
At the top of this third lift hill, the log descends the 52 feet (15.8 m) drop at a 45 degree angle, reaching a maximum speed of 40 mph. After another outdoor flume segment, the log returns to the mountain, where critters at "Doo Dah Landing" are singing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" in celebration of Br'er Rabbit's return, while Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear attempt to fend off an alligator
. At the end, Br'er Rabbit sings with Mr. Blue Bird, telling guests that he learned his lesson. After exiting the log, riders may purchase a picture of their log falling at the final drop.
" style, fitting the attraction's proximity to New Orleans Square.
Animators took over 80 hours to synchronize each figure. To re-wire and test each figure took an additional three months before the attraction could open, as programmers were tasked with having to make characters "forget" their old America Sings
settings and then perform with a decent level of realism in accordance with the new settings. Each character can carry out 45 seconds of movement and dialogue before a loop function resets it and restarts the sequence from the beginning.
s and harmonica
s as the primary instruments. "Burrow's Lament" is in a minor key, and the vocal version is heard only at Disneyland.
In the order heard in the attraction's ride-through segments:
s and harmonicas. The vocals, however, are completely different between the two parks. Compared to the Magic Kingdom attraction, the specific verses sung within the show scenes are in different orders and the choruses and back-up vocals are arranged with different harmonies. Additionally, dialogue and lyrics in Tokyo are Japanese for "How Do You Do?" and "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah", but English for "Ev'rybody's Got a Laughin' Place". In both instances, "Burrow's Lament" is heard as an instrumental track, using the original Disneyland soundtrack, with dramatic orchestra and choir.
or Walt Disney World in general, as well as often bearing specific track attribution (such as "from Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain"), the country-western style soundtrack actually found at the Florida and Tokyo parks has at least managed to surface on the 2003 Walt Disney World CD entitled "The Official Album/Where Magic Lives". Banjos are heard for over halfway through the 7:57 length, as well as at the end. It is a very different musical arrangement when compared to many other "Walt Disney World", "Disneyland", or combination "Walt Disney World/Disneyland" CDs labeled as "The Official Album". The Disneyland ride does not incorporate this particular country-western themed soundtrack. Fan-credited versions of the country-western version from the Magic Kingdom have also surfaced as MP3 downloads online. Tokyo Disneyland versions have surfaced also, but have been harder to locate.
All of the tracks listed below represent arrangements or medleys of the Disneyland score.
Log flume (attraction)
Log flumes originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats...
attraction at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland
is a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983...
, and the Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Park is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort located near Orlando, Florida. The first park built at the resort, Magic Kingdom opened Oct. 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, the park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, California...
at the Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
, based on the characters, stories and songs from the 1946 Disney
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
film Song of the South
Song of the South
Song of the South is a 1946 American musical film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film is based on the Uncle Remus cycle of stories by Joel Chandler Harris. The live actors provide a sentimental frame story, in which Uncle Remus relates the folk tales of the...
. Although there are variations in the story and features between the three locations, each installation of Splash Mountain begins with a peaceful outdoor float-through that leads to indoor dark ride
Dark ride
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
segments, with a climactic steep drop into a "briar patch" followed by an indoor finale.
Story
The different versions of Splash Mountain feature similar stories, albeit with small differences. Each ride presents scenes taken from the animated segments of Song of the South. It tells the story of the adventures of Br'er RabbitBr'er Rabbit
Br'er Rabbit is a central figure in the Uncle Remus stories of the Southern United States. He is a trickster character who succeeds by his wits rather than by brawn, tweaking authority figures and bending social mores as he sees fit...
, a mischievous rabbit that leaves his home in the briar patch to look for his "laughing place." Unfortunately for him, Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear
Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear
Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear are fictional characters from the Uncle Remus folktales adapted and compiled by Joel Chandler Harris....
, the antagonists of this story, are determined to catch and eat him.
History
At the time it was built, Splash Mountain was one of the most expensive projects created by Walt Disney ImagineeringWalt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide...
at a cost of $75 million. Imagineer Tony Baxter wanted to attract guests to the often empty Bear Country land and make use of the Audio-Animatronics from America Sings
America Sings
America Sings was an attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California from 1974 to 1988. It featured a cast of Audio-Animatronic animals that entertained the audience by singing songs from various periods in America's musical history, often in a humorous fashion....
, which was receiving poor attendance. According to Alice Davis
Alice Estes Davis
Alice Estes Davis is an American costume designer. She is most famous for her work with Walt Disney, who employed her to develop costumes for films, television, and theme parks. She was married to Marc Davis, a Disney animator and Imagineer. Alice was named a Disney Legend in 2004.-Early life and...
(wife of the late Marc Davis
Marc Davis
Marc Fraser Davis was a prominent American artist and animator for Walt Disney Studios. He was one of Disney's Nine Old Men for his knowledge and understanding of visual aesthetics, the famed core animators of Disney animated films.-Disney Animator:Marc Davis was responsible for many Disney...
), when America Sings closed in April 1988, production of Disneyland's Splash Mountain had gone far over budget. The only way to recover was to close down America Sings and use the characters from that attraction.
Baxter and his team developed the concept of Zip-a-Dee River Run, which would incorporate scenes from Song of the South. The name was later changed to Splash Mountain after then-CEO Michael Eisner
Michael Eisner
Michael Dammann Eisner is an American businessman. He was the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 until 2005.-Early life:...
's mostly-ignored suggestion that the attraction be used to help market the film Splash
Splash (film)
Splash is a 1984 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Ron Howard and written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The original music score was composed by Lee Holdridge...
. The characters from America Sings were used in many scenes, though all of the main characters were specifically designed for Splash Mountain.
Dave Feiten was then brought in to animate and fix story and staging problems. Feiten then moved nearly all of the animatronics to new locations and then took out 10 animatronic figures and removed them from the ride completely to improve the show. A version of the popular attraction was planned for Disneyland Paris, but was scrapped due to budget reasons and the cold weather in Europe.
Disneyland
Guests enter the queue in front the main drop viewing area. The queue winds past the Critter Country sign into the main entrance where a number of machines with cogs and gears dominate. Various thoughts and sayings from Uncle Remus are featured on signs throughout the queue, which winds around a barn structure and reaches the loading area.Passengers ride aboard six-seater logs with six single-file seats. The log departs the loading area and ascends two conveyor-type lifts before floating gently through scenery designed to evoke the feeling of a river in the southern state of Georgia. The homes of the three main characters and aged farm equipment are incorporated into the landscape, along with an instrumental version of "How Do You Do?" emanating from hidden speakers along the waterway.
Before the logs enter the indoor portion, snoring is heard emanating from Brer Bear's cave. The snoring is a tribute to the original entrance to Bear Country (the former name of Critter Country) where a bear named Rufus was heard snoring from a cave.
After a short drop down "Slippin' Falls", guests enter the indoor portion of the attraction, where various Audio-Animatronic animals, such as geese, frogs, and opossums sing the attraction's first musical number, "How Do You Do?". Most of the animals on Splash Mountain were reused from the closed attraction America Sings. Brer Rabbit (voiced by Jess Harnell
Jess Harnell
Jess Q. Harnell is an American voice actor and singer, best known for voicing Wakko Warner on Animaniacs. Harnell has been the announcer for America's Funniest Home Videos since 1998.-Life and acting career:...
) is seen laughing at Brer Bear's misfortunes, preceding a "dip-drop" into the surreal Rainbow Caverns, where characters sing "Everybody's Got a Laughing Place."
Brer Fox then manages to trap Brer Rabbit in a beehive. The mood turns ominous as two mother characters sing the "Burrow's Lament." The logs begin climbing up the final and longest lift hill, passing beneath two vultures that taunt guests and tell of foreboding danger. Shortly before the attraction's climactic drop, Brer Rabbit is seen alongside the hill, about to be eaten by Brer Fox.
But Brer Rabbit outsmarts
Reverse psychology
Reverse psychology is a technique involving the advocacy of a belief or behavior that is opposite to the one desired, with the expectation that this approach will encourage the subject of the persuasion to do what actually is desired: the opposite of what is suggested...
Brer Fox and Brer Bear by tricking them into throwing him into the briar patch (where he was born and raised). Riders are sent down the final drop into the briar patch, mimicking his fall. The top half of the drop is highly visible from the adjacent areas of the park. A photo is taken as the log begins to fall, and it can be purchased after disembarking from the ride. From the top of the hill, riders looking toward the splashdown point will notice a full pond of water ahead of them.
The log then 'dives' under the water into an underground runout. The collective weight of the riders generally determines the degree to which they get wet here. An indoor segment follows the drop, after which the logs make a final entrance into a section of the mountain named "Doo-Dah Landing", where a full cast of Audio-Animatronic figures sing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and the respective fates of Brer Rabbit (reclined happily at home) and the antagonists (fending off a hungry alligator) are seen.
Before the return to the loading area, riders are given a preview of their picture that was taken on the final drop via an overhead screen. Professor Barnaby Owl, an overhead Audio-Animatronic, calls the riders' attention to the screen with various phrases describing the looks on their faces. After disembarking from the log, riders enter a "dark room," where they preview their on-ride photograph, before exiting to Critter Country.
Magic Kingdom
Without a Critter Country in Walt Disney World, Splash Mountain is located in FrontierlandFrontierland
Tokyo Disneyland's instance is known as Westernland, as "frontier" does not adequately translate into the Japanese language. The Mark Twain sails this park's Rivers of America...
, across the way from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is an indoor/outdoor mine train roller coaster located in Frontierland at several Disneyland-style Disney Parks worldwide...
. Construction of Splash Mountain necessitated the demolition of the existing railroad
Walt Disney World Railroad
The Walt Disney World Railroad is a narrow gauge railroad circling the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. Operated by Main Street Operations, the gauge, 1.5-mile railroad circles the entire park with stations at Main Street, U.S.A. and Frontierland, and formerly at the...
station and temporarily turning the railroad into a shuttle between Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the main entrance of the many 'Magic Kingdom'-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world....
and Mickey's Toontown Fair.
Riders board eight-passenger logs, seated two by two. Logs are now equipped with lap bars for safety reasons following a June 2011 renovation. The log departs the loading area, where Br'er Frog provides introductory narration. The log ascends two dual-chain lifts before floating gently through scenery designed to evoke the feeling of a river in the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, particularly Georgia, where Song of the South was based. The homes of the three main characters and aged farm equipment are incorporated into the landscape, along with an instrumental version of "How Do You Do?" emanating from hidden speakers along the waterway.
After a short drop down "Slippin' Falls", guests enter the indoor portion of the attraction, where various Audio-Animatronic animals, such as geese, frogs, and opossums sing the attraction's first musical number, "How Do You Do?". Several vignettes establish the story of a restless Br'er Rabbit leaving home and being pursued by Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear.
"Everybody's Got a Laughing Place" begins to play as the log reaches a dark tunnel followed by a "dip-drop" into the Laughin' Place. There, singing turtles and dancing water fountains guide the log to a dark area in which Br'er Rabbit has been caught by Br'er Fox in a cave of stalactites and stalagmites. Two vultures taunt riders as they begin their ascent up the final lift. A scene to the side shows Brer Fox menacing Brer Rabbit, with Brer Rabbit pleading not to be thrown into the briar patch.
At the top of this third lift hill, the log descends the 52 feet (15.8 m) drop at a 45 degree angle, reaching a maximum speed of 40 mph. After another outdoor flume segment, the log returns to the mountain, where critters at "Doo Dah Landing" are singing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" in celebration of Br'er Rabbit's return, while Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear attempt to fend off an alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
. At the end, Br'er Rabbit sings with Mr. Blue Bird, telling guests that he learned his lesson. After exiting the log, riders may purchase a picture of their log falling at the final drop.
Tokyo Disneyland
Splash Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland is very similar to the Florida version of the ride, with a few exceptions. The ride's layout is a mirror-image of Florida's owing to the attraction's location on the opposite side of the river. The secondary characters are altogether different and the show scenes are in different orders. The Tokyo version also lacks a mill or barn-like structure on the second lift (although it is used as the main entrance to the ride queue). Instead, the logs venture into a cave-like opening to begin the second climb.Disneyland
Splash Mountain at Disneyland features music in a classic "big bandBig band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
" style, fitting the attraction's proximity to New Orleans Square.
- "How Do You Do?" - Recorded specially for the ride in 1988 by The Floozies, a 29 piece band from OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. The backing track of 'Bom, bom, bom, bom...' that can be heard coming from the bullfrogBullfrogThe American bullfrog , often simply known as the bullfrog in Canada and the United States, is an aquatic frog, a member of the family Ranidae, or “true frogs”, native to much of North America. This is a frog of larger, permanent water bodies, swamps, ponds, and lakes, where it is usually found...
s in accompanimentAccompanimentIn music, accompaniment is the art of playing along with an instrumental or vocal soloist or ensemble, often known as the lead, in a supporting manner...
to the lyrics sung by the Geese was sung by 13 of the 29 members. Walter Steven "Sim" Hurgle (b. 1963) is the band's lead vocalist, and his voice can be heard singing most of the words, while his fellow band members provide harmony and backing vocals. One of the bullfrogs is voiced by veteran voice actor Thurl RavenscroftThurl RavenscroftThurl Arthur Ravenscroft was an American voice actor and singer best known as the deep voice behind Tony the Tiger's "They're grrreat!" in Frosted Flakes television commercials for more than five decades. Ravenscroft was also known, however uncredited, as the vocalist for the song "You're a Mean...
.
- "Ev'rybody Has a Laughing Place" and "Burrow's Lament" - These songs are sung by Elisa, Georgia and Castell Newton, three sisters from CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
who worked for The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
at the time of the ride's construction. Castell and Elisa sing the words, while Georgia is responsible for the high pitched, operatic 'ahh's' in the background. The vultures above the third lift hill are voiced by Edward Conor and John Kelfreese, employees of The Walt Disney Company.
- "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" - A choir consisting of over 75 cast members was used to record this last score, recorded in the company's BurbankBurbank, CaliforniaBurbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
studios in 1987. Jess HarnellJess HarnellJess Q. Harnell is an American voice actor and singer, best known for voicing Wakko Warner on Animaniacs. Harnell has been the announcer for America's Funniest Home Videos since 1998.-Life and acting career:...
sings a solo as Br'er Rabbit as the logs take their final turn back into the station.
Animators took over 80 hours to synchronize each figure. To re-wire and test each figure took an additional three months before the attraction could open, as programmers were tasked with having to make characters "forget" their old America Sings
America Sings
America Sings was an attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California from 1974 to 1988. It featured a cast of Audio-Animatronic animals that entertained the audience by singing songs from various periods in America's musical history, often in a humorous fashion....
settings and then perform with a decent level of realism in accordance with the new settings. Each character can carry out 45 seconds of movement and dialogue before a loop function resets it and restarts the sequence from the beginning.
Magic Kingdom
The ride features the same songs heard at the Disneyland attraction, which are variations of the three songs found in the animated segments from Song of the South, though the attraction does not present these songs in the same order as the film. Because of the ride's location in Frontierland, the soundtrack features a country feel, with banjoBanjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
s and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
s as the primary instruments. "Burrow's Lament" is in a minor key, and the vocal version is heard only at Disneyland.
In the order heard in the attraction's ride-through segments:
- "How Do You Do?"
- "Ev'rybody's Got a Laughin' Place"
- "Burrow's Lament" ("Laughin' Place")
- "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-DahZip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is a song from the Disney 1946 live action and animated movie Song of the South, sung by James Baskett. With music by Allie Wrubel and lyrics by Ray Gilbert, "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song...
"
Tokyo Disneyland
Like in Florida, the main melodies consist of banjos, fiddleFiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
s and harmonicas. The vocals, however, are completely different between the two parks. Compared to the Magic Kingdom attraction, the specific verses sung within the show scenes are in different orders and the choruses and back-up vocals are arranged with different harmonies. Additionally, dialogue and lyrics in Tokyo are Japanese for "How Do You Do?" and "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah", but English for "Ev'rybody's Got a Laughin' Place". In both instances, "Burrow's Lament" is heard as an instrumental track, using the original Disneyland soundtrack, with dramatic orchestra and choir.
Music releases
Despite being released on CDs attributed to the Magic KingdomMagic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Park is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort located near Orlando, Florida. The first park built at the resort, Magic Kingdom opened Oct. 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, the park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, California...
or Walt Disney World in general, as well as often bearing specific track attribution (such as "from Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain"), the country-western style soundtrack actually found at the Florida and Tokyo parks has at least managed to surface on the 2003 Walt Disney World CD entitled "The Official Album/Where Magic Lives". Banjos are heard for over halfway through the 7:57 length, as well as at the end. It is a very different musical arrangement when compared to many other "Walt Disney World", "Disneyland", or combination "Walt Disney World/Disneyland" CDs labeled as "The Official Album". The Disneyland ride does not incorporate this particular country-western themed soundtrack. Fan-credited versions of the country-western version from the Magic Kingdom have also surfaced as MP3 downloads online. Tokyo Disneyland versions have surfaced also, but have been harder to locate.
All of the tracks listed below represent arrangements or medleys of the Disneyland score.
| Album | Track(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|
| The Official Album of Disneyland and Walt Disney World (1991 CD) | "Ev'rybody Has a Laughing Place" "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" | |
| Disneyland/Walt Disney World: The Official Album (1997 CD) Disneyland/Walt Disney World: The Official Album (1997 CD) Disneyland/Walt Disney World: The Official Album was the official album for Disneyland and Walt Disney World in 1997. Out of print.-Track listing:#"Fantasyland Castle Medley" - Fantasyland Castle – 5:48#*When You Wish Upon a Star#*Once Upon a Dream... |
"Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" "Ev'rybody Has a Laughing Place" | |
| Walt Disney World Resort: The Official Album (1999 CD) | "Ev'rybody Has a Laughing Place" | |
| Walt Disney World Resort: Official Album (2000 CD) | Medley attributed to Magic Kingdom | 7:00 |
| Official Album: Walt Disney World Resort Celebrating 100 Years of Magic (2001 CD) Official Album: Walt Disney World Resort Celebrating 100 Years of Magic (2001 CD) Official Album: Walt Disney World Resort Celebrating 100 Years of Magic was the official album for Walt Disney World during the 100 Years of Magic celebration in 2001. It is identical to the 2000 edition, except it has an extra CD with a new track... |
Medley attributed to Magic Kingdom | 8:00 |
| Disneyland Park: The Official Album (2001 CD) Disneyland Park: The Official Album (2001 CD) Disneyland Park: The Official Album was the official album for Disneyland in 2001. Two versions of this album were released with one containing the extra track "Parade of the Stars"... |
Medley | 8:00 |
| "The Official Album/Where Magic Lives": Walt Disney World (2003) | Country-western medley featuring banjos | 7:57 |
| A Musical History of Disneyland (2005) A Musical History of Disneyland (2005) A Musical History of Disneyland is a CD boxed set collection of music from Disneyland, spanning opening day to the present. Released on May 5, 2005 in honor of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, it is the biggest release in Walt Disney Records' history.... |
Medley | 12:00 |
| Disney's Happiest Celebration on Earth (2005) The Official Album of the Disneyland Resort The Official Album of the Disneyland Resort, subtitled The Happiest Homecoming on Earth, is an expanded, two-disc edition of theme park music available only for purchase at the Disneyland Resort. It is no longer being manufactured.-Disc 1:... |
Medley featuring: "How Do You Do?" "Ev'rybody Has a Laughing Place" "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" | 8:00 |
| Walt Disney World's Four Parks One World Album (2008) | "How Do You Do?" "Laughing Place" "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" | |
| Disneyland Resort Official Album (2008) | Medley, same as previous, but also includes "bee buzz" non-vocal rendition of: "Ev'rybody Has a Laughing Place" "Burrows Lament" | 10:30 |
Disneyland
| Character | Voice actor |
|---|---|
| Brer Rabbit | Jess Harnell Jess Harnell Jess Q. Harnell is an American voice actor and singer, best known for voicing Wakko Warner on Animaniacs. Harnell has been the announcer for America's Funniest Home Videos since 1998.-Life and acting career:... |
| Brer Fox | Jess Harnell |
| Brer Bear | Nick Stewart Nick Stewart Nick Stewart was an American television and film actor. Stewart was best known for his role as Lightnin' on the Amos and Andy television series.-Acting Career:... |
| Brer Frog | James Avery |
| Brer Gator Boy | TBD |
| Brer Turtle | TBD |
| Brer Geese | TBD |
| Bullfrogs | Thurl Ravenscroft Thurl Ravenscroft Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft was an American voice actor and singer best known as the deep voice behind Tony the Tiger's "They're grrreat!" in Frosted Flakes television commercials for more than five decades. Ravenscroft was also known, however uncredited, as the vocalist for the song "You're a Mean... |
| Vultures | Edward Conor John Kelfreese |
| Brer Rooster | TBD |
| Brer Turkey | TBD |
| Mother Possum | TBD |
| Mother Rabbit | TBD |
| Professor Barnaby Owl | TBD |
Tokyo Disneyland
| Character | Voice actor |
|---|---|
| Brer Rabbit | Koichi Sakaguchi Koichi Sakaguchi is a Japanese seiyū. He is affiliated with 81 Produce.He also had a recurring role in both the Japanese and English language Pokemon anime which saw him voicing Jessie's Arbok up until Episode 6 of the Hoenn series which saw Arbok and its companion, Weezing being released to help protect a herd of... |
| Brer Fox | Yuji Tanaka Yuji Tanaka is a Japanese comedian. He is best known as half of the owarai duo Bakushō Mondai along with Hikari Ōta. He also played Mike in the Japanese dub of the Pixar movie Monsters, Inc. and Br'er Fox in the Japanese dub of the Disney movie Song of the South -References:... |
| Brer Bear | Hidehiko Ishizuka |
| Brer Frog | Yutaka Aoyama Yutaka Aoyama is a seiyū who was born January 30, 1965 in Aichi, Japan.-Notable voice roles:*Yasochika Iemura in Bleach *Conrad in Glass Fleet *Clockhouse owner in Haibane Renmei *Mael Radec in Killzone 2 *DJ Billy in L/R: Licensed by Royalty... |
| Brer Gator Boy | Toru Ohira Toru Ohira is a male Japanese narrator and voice actor from the Tokyo Metropolitan area. He is a representative of Ōhira Production.One of his most known roles is the dub voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars... |
| Brer Owl | Junpei Takiguchi Junpei Takiguchi , better known by the stage name , was a Japanese voice actor and narrator from Chiba Prefecture.Besides his many narration and dubbing roles, he was also known for his roles in Time Bokan , Yatterman , Mazinger Z , Tekkaman: The Space Knight and for his narration roles in Burari Tochūgesha no... |
| Brer Geese | TBD |
| Brer Turtle | Hiroshi Ito Hiroshi Ito is a seiyū born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan on March 15, 1933. He is employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce.-TV:* Alice SOS * Armored Police Metal Jack * Babar the Elephant... |
| Brer Turkey | Yuichi Nagashima Yuichi Nagashima is a Japanese voice actor and actor from Kōnosu, Saitama. His former stage name was . He is a graduate of the Nishogakusha University Department of Literature and received training at Bungakuza's research establishment and the Seinenza Theater Company before attaching himself to Production Baobab... |
| Bullfrog | Ken Yamaguchi Ken Yamaguchi was a Japanese voice actor. He was represented by OYS Produce.He was most known for the roles of Ashuraman, The Omegaman, Prisman , Genji Togashi , Flazzard , Tarantula Arachne , and Ein .Yamaguchi died on October 24, 2011 due to illness.-Notable voice... |
| Vultures | TBD |
In popular culture
- In the Disney Sing Along SongsDisney Sing Along SongsDisney Sing Along Songs is a series of videos, laserdiscs and DVDs with musical moments from various Disney films, TV shows and attractions. Lyrics for the songs are displayed on-screen with the Mickey Mouse icon as a "bouncing ball" Disney Sing Along Songs is a series of videos, laserdiscs and...
video Disneyland Fun, during "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," Splash Mountain was one of the thrill rides the kids rode on.
- In 1989, Ernest Goes to CampErnest Goes to CampErnest Goes to Camp is a 1987 Touchstone Pictures comedy film directed by John R. Cherry III and starring Jim Varney. It is the second film to feature the character of Ernest P...
aired during The Magical World of Disney. Prior to the movie, a special called Ernest at Splash Mountain aired. In this special, ErnestErnest P. WorrellErnest P. Worrell is a fictional character most principally portrayed by the late American actor Jim Varney in a series of television commercials, and later in a television series as well as a series of feature films. Ernest was created by the Nashville advertising agency Carden and Cherry and was...
was seen training for, and finally riding, the newly opened Splash Mountain. The end result had Ernest bewildered and collapsing to the ground, leaving guests to step on him while boarding the attraction.
- The Roger Rabbit animated short Trail Mix Up makes several visual references to Splash Mountain. At one point, though very briefly, it can be seen that the log Roger and Baby Herman are riding in has a bumper sticker that reads "We Visited Splash Mountain."
- In Scary Movie 4Scary Movie 4Scary Movie 4 is the fourth film of the Scary Movie franchise, directed by David Zucker, written by Jim Abrahams, Craig Mazin and Pat Proft, and produced by Craig Mazin and Robert K. Weiss. It is distributed by The Weinstein Company via its Dimension Films unit in the U.S. and Television, and...
, as Cindy is looking at pictures of the man and the woman, a photograph of them going down the drop at Splash Mountain can be briefly seen.
- In an episode of The Golden GirlsThe Golden GirlsThe Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida...
, Dorothy tricks her mother, Sophia, into going to counseling by giving her a life jacket and telling her they are going to Splash Mountain.
- In an episode of George LopezGeorge Lopez (TV series)"The George Lopez Show" redirects here. For the late-night program hosted by the same comedian, see Lopez Tonight.George Lopez is an American sitcom starring comedian George Lopez...
, George and his family visit Disneyland. Benny Lopez and George are shown taking the final descent on Splash Mountain.
- The attraction was parodied in My Life as a Teenage RobotMy Life as a Teenage RobotMy Life as a Teenage Robot is an American animated television series, created by Rob Renzetti for Nickelodeon. The series follows the adventures of XJ-9, better known as Jenny Wakeman, a female robot designed to protect Earth, who is excessively addicted to teen-related activities, which are almost...
where Jenny forces the robotic animals on the ride to leave the theme park and be free.
- Comedian Gabriel IglesiasGabriel IglesiasGabriel J. Iglecias , known professionally as Gabriel Iglesias, is an American standup comedian and actor, known for his shows I’m Not Fat… I’m Fluffy and Hot & Fluffy.-Early life:...
mentions Splash Mountain in his stand up act Hot and FluffyHot and FluffyHot and Fluffy is a comedy special performed by Gabriel Iglesias filmed live August 2007 at Bakersfield, California. The DVD of the performance became very popular and was shown on Comedy Central.-Gabriel Iglesias:...
, where he talks about him and his friend Mondo flashing the camera during the descent. He also talks about how they were caught, but were mistaken for two large women because of how they appeared at the speed and angle at which they were going down the hill.
- Despite Disney's great attention to detail and audience management, the monitoring represented by both security cameras and the strobe cameras have not proven wholly successful at eliminating one of the most salacious phenomena of the Splash Mountain experience. Hoping to make illicit use of the in-ride photographs that Disney later sells to ride patrons, some riders briefly expose themselvesExhibitionismExhibitionism refers to a desire or compulsion to expose parts of one's body – specifically the genitals or buttocks of a man or woman, or the breasts of a woman – in a public or semi-public circumstance, in crowds or groups of friends or acquaintances, or to strangers...
(e.g., a woman baring her breasts) during the descent. Collected on a website called "Flash Mountain" in the mid-to-late 1990s, the shots continue to circulate online. The "Flash Mountain" controversy at both Disney parks was used as a segment and was seen on TMZTMZ on TVTMZ on TV, or simply TMZ and TMZTV, is an American syndicated entertainment and gossip news television show that premiered on September 10, 2007. The program is generally aired on Fox, The CW and MyNetworkTV affiliates, though a majority of the stations that carry the series are Fox affiliates...
on May 5, 2009.
See also
- List of current Disneyland attractions
- Magic Kingdom attraction and entertainment historyMagic Kingdom attraction and entertainment historyThe Magic Kingdom is a theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Below is a list of the current attractions found therein, arranged by "land" and with brief descriptions...
- Tokyo Disneyland attraction and entertainment historyTokyo Disneyland attraction and entertainment history-Current attractions:* Snow White's Adventures* Pinocchio's Daring Journey* Dumbo the Flying Elephant* Cinderella Castle* Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall* Castle Carrousel* Alice's Tea Party* Peter Pan's Flight* Pooh's Hunny Hunt* It's a Small World...
- Incidents at Walt Disney World ResortIncidents at Walt Disney World ResortThis is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.Several people have died or been injured while riding attractions at Walt Disney World theme parks. Since 2001, Disney has been required to report incidents to state authorities...
External links
- Disneyland Park - Splash Mountain
- Walt Disney World Resort - Splash Mountain
- L.A. Times article about "Flash Mountain"
- The Unofficial Song of the South website: Splash Mountain page
- Walt Disney World Magic - Patent for reduced splash logs used in Tokyo.
- Disneyland Splash Mountain construction photos