Dead's Theme Park Ride of the Day #5: Splash Mountain (Disneyland)

Take a musical journey aboard a hollowed-out log through a colorful
bayou populated with cheerful critters. One of the most elaborate Disneyland Park attractions, Splash Mountain culminates in a daring 5-story plunge down rustic Chick-A-Pin Hill.

Brer Rabbit's Adventures

During the approximately 9-minute water flume voyage, a cast of 103
backwoods critters tell the tale of carefree Brer Rabbit's plucky
escapades as he strikes out on his own in search of a little bit of
adventure.
Drift past unforgettable sights and sounds that recreate memorable scenes from the classic Disney film Song of the South — including the pursuit of the crafty Brer Rabbit by the scheming Brer Fox and his bumbling partner in crime, Brer Bear.

The Plunge

You can preview the climatic plunge from the front of Splash Mountain
and get a sense of what you are in for. Or can you? The logs appear to
race down Chick-A-Pin Hill towards the Briar Patch...and then
mysteriously disappear with a tremendous splash.

The Secret of the Briar Patch

Brer Rabbit pretends to be frightened by the Briar Patch, but he has a
secret. The Briar Patch is actually his favorite hideaway: his
laughing place. Take the plunge down Splash Mountain and discover Brer
Rabbit's laughing place for yourself!

Will I Get Wet?

Most riders will get wet during their excursion on Splash Mountain.
There are several smaller drops before the final plunge down Chick-A-Pin
Hill, all of which have the potential to spray and splash. Riders in
the front of the log tend to receive a more generous dowsing than riders
in the back — but you can never be sure, that's part of the fun!

History

Longtime Disneyland Park Guests might find many of the Splash
Mountain critters familiar. Much of the cast originally made their
Disneyland debut at the classic show America Sings, where they performed
patriotic melodies in Tomorrowland
from 1974 to 1988. When America Sings successfully completed its run,
the beloved performers were recruited to make the trip over to Critter Country for the opening of Splash Mountain in 1989.