Year Opened: 1989
Ride length: 10-11 minutes (approx)
# of Drops: 4
Mountain Height: 84 feet
Track Length: 2,640 feet
Ride Footprint: 2.3 acres
Total gallons of water: 750,000 gallons
# of Audio Animatronics: 105
# of Total Logs: 46-50
Log Capacity: 5-6 passengers
Maximum Speed: 40mph.
Year Opened: 1992
Ride length: 11-12 minutes (approx)
# of Drops: 5
Mountain Height: 87 feet
Track Length: 2,600 feet
Ride Footprint: 9.2 acres
Total gallons of water: 950,000 gallons
# of Audio Animatronics: 68
# of Total Logs: 56-60
Log Capacity: 8 passengers
Maximum Speed: 40mph.
(Figures compiled from Scottware.com.au, Wikipedia, HiddenMickeys.org, and SongoftheSouth.net)
Rather than make two separate comparisons as I have for other rides, I'm going to discuss both of these together.
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As I discussed in another post, the mountain itself has only a few minor differences in the details. The color, rockwork, neighboring trees and the tree stump at the top of Chickapin Hill are slightly different at both parks. Although Disneyland's tree is slightly taller, the height of the mountain itself is a few feet shorter than the Magic Kingdom's.
The winner is... Tie!
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There are of course differences within the queue, and while both take you through a mill, it wasn't anything drastically different other than the overall layout of it (from what I can remember, at least). Also as I have previously pointed out, the logs at the Magic Kingdom seat two people side-by-side, rather than Disneyland's narrower one-behind-the-other seating style. I've debated in my head how significant of a difference this is to the overall experience, and I have a few points to make. First, the narrower logs at Disneyland seem to travel faster through the flume, and it makes for a more exciting ride - especially as you whiz through the interior of the mountain. It's also a more intimate feeling on Disneyland's version, if that's what you prefer, and the final drop seems just slightly scarier when you're alone.
The up-side to having the double seats on the Magic Kingdom's version of Splash is the fact that you are sitting next to someone, which made for the more perfect experience (in my opinion). After all, I go to the parks in order to experience it with someone else, and sometimes sitting behind someone feels like you're sitting in a completely different vehicle altogether.
The larger vehicle also meant a wider flume to travel through, and with it was a slower ride overall. Disneyland's Splash keeps you going once you travel down the first drop, while this version tends to slow down moments after each drop. The slower speed gave us a much easier time when trying to take in all of the beautiful details - and believe me, there's definitely a lot more to take in visually. There's also a great view of Cinderella Castle as you round the bend around the mountain.
The winner is... Magic Kingdom!
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There are a few other minor differences throughout the ride. Disneyland has an owl that pops up in a few scenes during the ride, while the Magic Kingdom has Br'er Frog telling us the beginning of the story that is about to unfold. Having Br'er Frog act as the narrator gives the rider a better sense of what is happening throughout the ride - which is especially good for people who haven't seen the movie, "Song of the South" which the ride is based on.
These aren't the only character differences though, as the Magic Kingdom also adds in Br'er Roadrunner.
A HUGE (and apparently very expensive) surprise at the Magic Kingdom is the addition of a hopping Br'er Rabbit animatronic. At first when I saw him hopping around into the bushes I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. It was a very small and quick addition, but it really went a long way towards enhancing the overall experience.
Even the vultures as you climb the final lift hill differ between both parks. For those of you who don't already know, the characters that fill Splash Mountain were originally reused from the old America Sings show. For the most part, these characters remained unchanged - as is the case with the undertaker versions of Walt Disney World's vultures. Somehow seeing them with top hats and suits on gives off an even more ominous feeling as you prepare for the final drop.
I'm not really sure which version of the Briar patch I like better. Disneyland's thicket looks a lot more realistic, and blends well with the surrounding forested area of Critter Country. It looks like a naturally tangled mess, and I was always afraid to ride the ride as a kid because I would imagine myself falling out of the log and landing right on top of it. The Magic Kingdom's definitely stands out as artificial, but you still can't help but be afraid of those gigantic thorns.
The winner is... Magic Kingdom!
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The finale at both parks is a spectacle to see, and always a relief when you realize "whew, I survived the drop!" I would have to say that I definitely enjoy Disneyland's finale a little bit more. It boasts the largest animated prop ever (at least it used to be) - a river boat which measures 50 feet long and 30 high. While the size isn't my main reason for liking it, I just prefer it to the more exaggerated looking 36x22 boat at the Magic Kingdom.
Another nice detail about the finale is the environment. Disneyland's Splash Mountain is set in a completely land than Disney World's. In California we have Critter Country, which neighbors New Orlean's Square. This area of the park is part bayou and park forest, so the theming tends to meet somewhere in the middle at times. The Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain sits right next to Big Thunder Mountain in Frontierland, and instead of feeling Southern, it has more Western characteristics.
As we round the corner past the "Zip-A-Dee Lady", we find Br'er Rabbit comfy and safe at his "Home Sweet Home". I would say that he looks much more comfortable at Disneyland, laying atop pillows and next to a fireplace. He didn't have the same luck at the Magic Kingdom, and seemed to have gotten locked out of his house. Having the Mr. Blue Bird next to him is a great addition though, and gives him a better reason to mention him during the song.
The winner is... Disneyland!
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I didn't realize until writing this that I really do prefer the Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain to Disneyland's, though it's not by leaps and bounds. Even after my initial ride on it I found myself saying, "well, it's not THAT different than Disneyland's", but I guess it goes to show that even the smallest changes can go a long way towards improving something. The truth is that they're both great rides, and at the top of what I consider to be the best of what Disney has to offer. Both versions offer a very similar experience, and there's no notable drastic changes as there were with Pirates of the Caribbean. I'm looking forward to going back, as I have had a difficult time while writing this and trying to really remember everything about it.
Disneyland: 5 out of 5 rating
Magic Kingdom: 5 out of 5 rating
1 comments:
Nice comparison analysis! I find that I prefer the WDW version because of the larger and more detailed show scenes. However, as you point out, the difference is not gigantic (like with Pirates), and they're both top-notch regardless. Have fun at Disney!
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