Should Disney have used The Lion King rather than Tiana as a Splash Mountain replacement?
As a seasoned Disney park enthusiast who has traversed the magical realms of Disneyland and Walt Disney World countless times over the past three decades, I can’t help but weigh in on this intriguing debate about whether The Lion King or Princess Tiana should have replaced Splash Mountain.
23D unveiled numerous significant updates planned for the Disney theme parks. One of the exciting revelations included a water ride based on The Lion King for Disneyland Paris, causing speculation among fans as to whether it could have replaced Splash Mountain.
The D23 event has passed, and there’s a lot of excitement buzzing around the announcements of numerous attractions set to arrive at Disney parks across the globe. These include California receiving an Avatar-themed land, while Frontierland in WDW is set to install Cars rides. Moreover, international parks also received attention with their own unique offerings.
Among them, it was revealed that the often criticized Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris is set to be revamped into Disney’s World of Adventure. In order to enhance this park, an announcement was made about the creation of a “Lion King” themed land, which will feature a flume ride similar to Splash Mountain.
Discussions among Disney enthusiasts have arisen over whether Disney should have chosen this movie instead of “The Princess and the Frog” to replace Splash. Although there are valid arguments for its potential success, there are also compelling reasons why Disney might have made the right decision in not using it, as it aligns better with a different park’s theme.
Why Disney should have used The Lion King rather than Tiana
A strong case can be made that Disney’s best choice for remaking or focusing on a classic film would have been “The Lion King,” given its significantly higher popularity compared to “The Princess and the Frog.” Since its release in 1994, the movie has remained a fan favorite and gained even more popularity with the 2019 live-action adaptation, ongoing Broadway musical, and extensive merchandising.
Tiana lacks a connection that this feature has, one which has proven effective in Disney parks previously. The concept of a river journey featuring these characters is logical, and as you approach the large drop, it’s simple to envision the hyenas taking over from the vultures. The tunes would be ideal, given the obvious choice to present “Hakuna Matata” alongside “Be Prepared” and other significant scenes, while also incorporating them with the drops.
Instead of finding the sequel predictable, an original tale could still be engaging. The allure of the property is simply stronger than Tiana’s appeal. Children would be drawn more towards Simba, Timon, Pumba, and their crew rather than Tiana and her friends, making it a clearer choice for Disney to focus on the former group.
Why Disney was right not to use Lion King
From a fan’s perspective, I must admit there were compelling reasons behind Disney’s decision not to transform The Lion King into a replacement for Splash Mountain. Primarily, it boils down to practicality. It’s far simpler to construct a new attraction based on The Lion King rather than reworking the existing Splash Mountain structure to fit the storyline. Alterations were necessary for Tiana already to accommodate the original Splash layout. Transforming that mountain into Pride Rock would be a costly and complex endeavor.
There’s also the brutal truth that the theme just wouldn’t fit. Tiana makes sense in Disneyland being close to New Orleans Square and in Frontierland in WDW. It fits the area and the swamp lands are a good backdrop for the ride. It really is amazing how easily the property slides into this and feels natural.
In a different context, The Lion King is uniquely African, making it seemingly misplaced in our current location. Adventureland or more specifically Animal Kingdom (a park that could benefit from it) might be more suitable for this attraction. Placing a jungle-themed ride within Frontierland seems incongruous and potentially disruptive.
1. It’s clear that this section is the heart of a whole Lion King-inspired territory, designed to enhance World of Adventure. To attract more visitors, creating a signature ride based on a timeless Disney classic like Splash Mountain with a storyline centered around The Lion King would be highly effective. Constructing an entire land dedicated to this movie is far more appealing than merely overlaying a ride in an area where it may not quite fit.
Ultimately, whether Disney should have used The Lion King instead of Splash Mountain from the beginning as a replacement is a decision some visitors might influence. Despite Tiana’s growth into an enjoyable ride on its own merit, opinions differ on whether The Lion King would be more successful. However, it’s crucial that this distinct attraction in Paris establishes itself independently and could potentially become a timeless favorite for guests to enjoy for years to come.
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2024-08-15 16:57