Magic Behind the Music: Magic Kingdom – Frontierland – Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain

How do you do? Well if you’re listening to the Splash Mountain track on the D-COT Jukebox, pretty good, sure as you’re born! This track was added to the Jukebox on November 30, 2011 and showcases the ride audio from one of the most popular rides conceived by Walt Disney Imagineering. The first incarnation of Splash Mountain opened at Disneyland in California in July 1989. Some not so exact copies of the attraction were added to Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland in October 1992, but if you’re looking for the longest version of the ride and the one with the most drops, Magic Kingdom is where you need to go.

Splash Mountain was originally slated to be called Zip-a-Dee River Run because it is based on the 1946 Disney film, Song of the South, which combines live action with animated segments and made the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” immensely popular. The name was changed to Splash Mountain by then CEO, Michael Eisner, in an effort to promote the Touchstone film, Splash. The idea of promoting the touchstone film took a dive, but the new name stayed afloat. The animated segments of Song of the South form the basis for the ride. Guests approaching the ride for the first time are fooled into thinking it may be a traditional log flume ride where the boat goes up and comes right back down the 50-foot drop. Signs along the queue warn of the obvious possibility, “You may get wet.” In fact, guests float through (and occasionally drop into) scenes which tell the story of Br’er Rabbit looking for adventure as he tries to outsmart the villainous duo, Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear. There are a handful of small drops along the way that tease guests into thinking they’re at the big one, but when the plot crescendos with Br’er Rabbit finally getting caught and two vultures are making taunting remarks overhead, there’s no mistake the big plunge into the Briar Patch is next.

Our Jukebox track has been played over 23,200 times and holds an average rating of 4.8/5 with 148 votes. This makes it number 24 on the Top 25 Rated playlist and it sometimes floats onto the Top 25 Played Week playlist. Over 450 members have it as a favorite and D-COT supporters have added it to 42 custom playlists. It’s not bluffing to say it’s a fun track to listen to. It’s the truth, it’s actual, and as you listen, it will be satisfactual! Have a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah day!

RocketEAR99 is one of our contributors that specializes in Disney music in the series we call "Magic Behind the Music". You will find some fun and exciting information about the music you can listen to in the jukebox.

9 Comments

  1. This ride is one of my favorites, always a pleasure to listen to on the Jukebox. Pretty good, sure as you’re born! :heart: :heart:

    • I had a feeling you’d appreciate this one! :)

      • Fascinating! Never realized the plan for the name. Also surprised by just how popular it is! Once again, a neat little blog entry, with the clever wordplay I’ve come to expect in these! :up: :up: :wave:

  2. Fabulous article, for an awesome attraction and song :heart:

  3. I love this ride! Great article, thanks!

  4. I ride Splash Mountain once in a while especially during the hot weather in the summer.

  5. One of my all-time favorites! I can’t fault this ride! :heart: I love being able to listen to the audio whenever I want on the Jukebox :) I did not know the story behind the name, but I can definitely see similarities in the appearance of the Splash Mountain logo and the font on the Splash movie poster.

  6. Love the song, the ride, and your article! Thanks for writing it!

  7. Great article, great loop, even better ride! Thanks so much!

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