Splash Mountain might be reimagined at Tokyo Disneyland, per the operator of Japan’s Disney parks. This publish covers feedback from OLC and why we expect the journey is unlikely to shut–plus images of Critter Nation, which is mainly “Splash Mountain Land.” (Up to date October 8, 2024.)
Tokyo Disneyland’s Splash Mountain is now the one operational model of the attraction on the planet, after the variations of the journey closed at each Walt Disney World and Disneyland and had been reimagined into Tiana’s Bayou Journey. The reimagined journey picks up the story of The Princess and the Frog after the movie, becoming a member of Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical journey as they put together for his or her first-ever Mardi Gras efficiency.
Tiana’s Bayou Journey additionally has a bunch of cute critters, creating an ‘expanded universe’ of kinds for The Princess and the Frog. The reimagined journey additionally options Audios Animatronics of acknowledge characters from the film, together with Tiana, Louis the Alligator and Mama Odie. As mentioned in our Tiana’s Bayou Journey Experience Evaluation: Failure, Flawed or Incredible?, the attraction is a blended bag.
Given the visitor reception and evaluations of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, in addition to the film’s lack of recognition in Japan, it’s extremely unlikely that the attraction will likely be cloned at Tokyo Disney Resort. There’s a near-certainty that representatives of Oriental Land Firm (OLC), which owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort, have already skilled and rejected Tiana’s Bayou Journey on that foundation by now.
Per information studies in Japan, Oriental Land Firm said that discussions had been underway on whether or not to alter the favored attraction at Tokyo Disneyland. An Oriental Land Firm consultant mentioned they had been conscious of the proposed change for the U.S. parks, including that consideration was being given about what to do with the journey at Tokyo Disneyland.
That occurred across the time when Tiana’s Bayou Journey was first introduced for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and there have been no subsequent bulletins, updates, and even rumors. Nonetheless, OLC has since began work on an overhaul of House Mountain, which is able to debut in 2027.
Not solely that, however OLC is reimagining the favored Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters right into a Wreck-it-Ralph journey and is giving “it’s a small world” an elaborate Marvel overlay. All of this means that overhauling Splash Mountain will not be excessive precedence for Tokyo Disneyland. If it had been, it might’ve occurred earlier than this trio of tasks–taking place shortly after Fantasy Springs opened at Tokyo DisneySea. Clearly, that didn’t occur.
For some purpose, this isn’t the top of the Splash Mountain ‘saga’ at Tokyo Disneyland, although, as there are new rumors as of Fall 2024…
Earlier than we get to that, some fast background that serves as vital context. For many who are unfamiliar with it, Splash Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland is basically its personal land. The attraction itself is basically a plussed clone (unquestionably the very best model of Splash Mountain), however the land that was constructed round it’s wholly distinctive.
It was one of many first main expansions embarked upon by Tokyo Disneyland, and its partaking and layered design represents an antidote to the massive expanses of flat pavement and large walkways all through the park’s early formulaic copy and paste years.
As famous above, Critter Nation may simply as effectively be referred to as “Splash Mountain Land” at Tokyo Disneyland, as every part is woven into the principle attraction. Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes, Rackety’s Raccoon Saloon, Hoot & Holler Hideout, and Grandma Sara’s Kitchen are all half of Splash Mountain.
These venues are all inextricably intertwined, and it’s unlikely one part may change with out the remaining following swimsuit. (See our look Inside Disney’s Splash Mountain Restaurant for extra.) In different phrases, if there’s a change, it’ll be your entire land that’s redone, not simply the journey.
We’re skeptical that Tokyo Disneyland will reimagine Critter Nation for a number of causes. The primary is simply in studying between the traces with an understanding of the dynamic between Oriental Land Firm and the Walt Disney Firm, coupled with how Japanese corporations function.
Japan’s company tradition (and social norms normally) may be very totally different than that of america. Japanese enterprise persons are recognized for being well mannered, and can specific eager curiosity and a spotlight within the proposals being offered to them. That is purely superficial and for the sake of conveying respect, however is commonly misconstrued by overseas enterprise companions as real enthusiasm.
There are amusing anecdotes of this occurring between executives of the Walt Disney Firm and Oriental Land Firm. In reality, American Disney leaders misreading their Japanese counterparts has been the genesis of a number of rumors through the years. Vehicles Land “nearly” being green-lit to exchange Westernland or MagicBands coming to Tokyo Disneyland are prime examples of this. Even earlier than that, Disney pitched OLC on a studios park as a second gate for years, pondering that OLC liked they thought. (Narrator: they didn’t.)
OLC and Walt Disney Sights Japan groups will nearly all the time go to new additions to Walt Disney World and Disneyland and listen to gross sales pitches from Disney executives and Imagineering creatives. Disney desires to “promote” OLC on all of those additions, however the latter may be very choosy about what’s proper for its viewers. Once more, that is vital context for the the newest rumors as of Fall 2024.
That’s merely the character of the beast, with OLC being the purchaser and Disney the seller. (That places it in chilly phrases, however that’s exactly the dynamic right here and why Disney has a vested curiosity in making an attempt to promote OLC on cloned sights/land.) It doesn’t imply something will come of it.
If I had been invited for a weeklong journey aboard an excellent yacht below the situation that I take heed to an excellent yacht gross sales pitch and think about shopping for one, I’d completely do it. Nonetheless, even when I do “think about” it, there are apparent impediments to consummating the acquisition. Whereas OLC does have superyacht cash, they’ve flying pirate ship tastes.
Anyway, the newest rumors as of Fall 2024 are that OLC has agreed to exchange Splash Mountain. There are a variety of variations on this rumor floating round amongst each Japanese and U.S. followers, and truthfully, “rumor” must be in air quotes. For no matter it’s value, I’ve heard completely nothing in speaking to folks I do know within the U.S. and at Walt Disney Sights Japan (I don’t know anybody at OLC).
In a nutshell, the “rumor” is that Disney and OLC have agreed to phrases to exchange Splash Mountain. That OLC repeatedly refused earlier pitches, however ultimately acquired sufficient concessions and (supposedly) funding from the Walt Disney Firm to exchange the attraction.
Some variations of this have claimed that Disney has compelled OLC to exchange Splash Mountain. Others declare that Disney provided to foot your entire invoice. That’s fairly the vary of outcomes!
Truthfully, I nonetheless not consider it. Splash Mountain is vastly fashionable at Tokyo Disneyland, to the purpose that it has one of many longest wait occasions in your entire park and is a Disney Premier Entry attraction (their model of Lightning Lane Single Move). The attraction is in glorious form; it has a long time of helpful life left in its journey system and elements.
The notion that Disney can unilaterally require OLC to exchange sights is hogwash. If that they had that contractual capability, they already would’ve exercised it. Or, they might do it on a regular basis, requiring OLC to purchase new rides and lands at any time when Disney desires to unfold out improvement prices.
What Disney may do is forestall future licensure of the Brer characters for merchandising and different functions. I can’t recall the final time I noticed a significant presence of Splash Mountain merchandise at Tokyo Disneyland within the first place. The attraction doesn’t also have a present store–only a small kiosk. Disney may additionally forestall OLC from utilizing the music in new leisure. However that’s forward-looking; a completely totally different ballgame than requiring them to take away an operational attraction that meets or exceeds present requirements.
Conversely, there’s little or no incentive for Disney to foot the invoice, in all or partly, for what could be a $100 to $200 million undertaking. To no matter extent there’s controversy over the existence of a remaining Splash Mountain, it has handed. The information cycle moved on when Disney changed the 2 variations in Florida and California.
This isn’t going to be a cultural flashpoint or garner headlines within the mainstream media. Disney spending a single greenback to redo Splash Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland could be wasted cash. (Not that it actually issues–simply have a look at latest tasks from most exhibits on Disney+ to CommuniCore Corridor. Disney appears completely superb with misallocated sources.)
Regardless, there’s no reputational publicity threat in letting Tokyo Disneyland retain its Splash Mountain like there was within the home parks. The second for that’s over, and Tokyo’s model wasn’t a serious story even at its peak. The notion that both aspect is critically urgent for a alternative at this level strains credulity. Disney could be higher off pushing for a distinct cloned attraction to assist cut up improvement prices.
Mockingly sufficient, the chance of Tokyo Disneyland changing Splash Mountain truly may’ve been larger earlier than Tiana’s Bayou Journey opened. One in every of OLC’s large 10-year initiatives is making its parks extra distinctive and distinct from the U.S. parks, and it’s endeavoring to exchange or reimagine its cloned rides because of this.
That might’ve included Splash Mountain a number of years in the past. Now it doesn’t. That is the final Splash standing. I’m nonetheless skeptical that it might’ve been on the chopping block even then as, once more, Critter Nation was a purpose-built land for Tokyo Disneyland and never only a copy and paste clone. There are numerous different sights that may make extra sense for alternative previous to turning consideration to Splash Mountain.
As soon as once more, I do know nothing in any respect and haven’t heard something. However once I see these supposed rumors about Splash Mountain being changed at Tokyo Disneyland, they offer me flashbacks to the tales I’ve heard through the years about miscommunications between OLC, Imagineers, and Disney representatives. Maybe the latter consider that OLC loves a sure pitch…however that doesn’t imply they do. We’ve been by way of this earlier than.
This brings us to Japanese tradition, normally. Once more, Japan is clearly very totally different than america, and has its personal distinctive issues. Whereas it’s slowly beginning to change as demographics shift, Japan stays socially insular and conventional. (There’s way more to it than that, nevertheless it’s past the scope of this publish.)
The opposite half of that is that whereas Splash Mountain is a step faraway from its supply materials in america, it’s basically two steps faraway from that in Japan. The cultural baggage from Tune of the South simply isn’t the identical. For Tokyo Disneyland’s company, Splash Mountain is completely a cute singing animal attraction, which squares completely with kawaii tradition.
If Splash Mountain is modified at Tokyo Disneyland, we’d count on it to occur far down the street somewhat than within the near-term. There’s the notion that OLC has deep pockets and spares no expense on their two parks, however that’s solely a part of the story. (If not an entire false impression.) We’d contend {that a} extra correct view could be that OLC is extra deliberate and slower-moving than Disney.
There may be little or no tinkering with sights, toying with tech, or dangerous enlargement. Tokyo Disneyland by no means obtained interactive queues, its Haunted Mansion doesn’t have “plussed” scenes that now seem dated as a result of bleeding edge know-how that didn’t age effectively, and so forth. Well-liked sights seldom change with out a clear nexus between value and elevated attendance. (An excellent instance right here for a number of causes is Pirates of the Caribbean. Johnny Depp was added however no different scenes have modified in a long time.)
I can’t consider a single cloned attraction that was green-lit for Tokyo Disney Resort earlier than debuting and proving fashionable within the U.S. parks. On the contrary, many such additions come years after they’ve been added elsewhere, and are iterated upon to take away troubled results or to shine the expertise.
Indiana Jones Journey is a primary instance; most of the bold and envelope-pushing results had been eradicated, which could look like a matter of price range cuts. Surely, it’s as a result of these by no means labored reliably at Disneyland, so that they didn’t make the minimize when the journey was ported. Indiana Jones Journey remains to be a blockbuster attraction with its personal distinctive elements at Tokyo DisneySea. Similar goes for Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, and Hovering: Incredible Flight.
So maybe OLC has agreed to check out the Lion King log flume journey coming to Disneyland Paris, and may conform to that if it seems to be fashionable amongst company. However in that case, we’re speaking a couple of alternative for Splash Mountain within the 2030s. That’s not what the present rumors are suggesting.
Over a protracted sufficient timeline, I’m keen to agree that Splash Mountain will likely be changed at Tokyo Disneyland, certain. OLC has wrapped up its large enlargement cycle and is clearly centered on journey reimaginings going ahead. Land is proscribed, and it’s solely a matter of time earlier than Splash Mountain is the following logical goal for a reimagining that options characters and films which are fashionable in Japan. I’m simply personally skeptical that’s already occur–or will happen earlier than the 2030s. I may very effectively be fallacious, however my suspicion is that the present rumors are both hypothesis or a misunderstanding.
In the end, that’s our view of what the decision-making course of will appear to be at Tokyo Disneyland for Splash Mountain. It’s one factor for Oriental Land Firm to launch a quick assertion that they’re contemplating making the identical adjustments or to entertain Imagineering’s pitches for journey reimagining ideas. That’s the respectful factor to do, and Japanese businesspeople are all about respect.
Nonetheless, the eventual choice will possible come years from now–and it’ll not be Tiana’s Bayou Journey since that journey isn’t adequate and the IP isn’t fashionable in Japan. No matter OLC does will likely be largely predicated upon economics and the price versus advantages of creating a change. Is there an IP that’s sufficiently fashionable in Japan and works with the present journey to justify the change? Will OLC view investing important funds in redoing a number of elements of Critter Nation to be fruitful when the lovable animals are highly regarded? There’s a non-zero likelihood they are going to, however in all probability not way more than zero. Wanting extraneous forces, it’s tough to see a change inside the subsequent 5 years at Tokyo Disneyland.
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