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Credit: Andrew Dupont, FlickrWhen Disney first announced the closure of Splash Mountain back in 2020, it didn’t take long for things to explode.
What started as a quiet blog post suddenly turned into one of the most controversial decisions Disney had made in decades. The beloved log flume ride, which had anchored Frontierland for more than 30 years, was officially on the chopping block—and fans weren’t shy about how they felt.
At the time, Disney said the reimagining of Splash Mountain was inspired by the need to create a more “inclusive” experience. The company made it clear that the new attraction would be based on The Princess and the Frog (2009), bringing the story of Tiana to life in a whole new way.
There were no public surveys, no major fan input, and no real effort to ease guests into the transition. The announcement dropped during a tense cultural moment, and for many fans, it felt more like damage control than genuine innovation.
Over the next few years, the backlash never really died down. From petitions to social media campaigns and viral videos, fans continued to speak out. Their message was simple: Splash Mountain wasn’t just a ride, it was a memory. One that stretched across generations. And to many, the idea that it was being replaced—rather than updated—felt like a slap in the face.
Still, Disney held the line. Press releases and Imagineering updates were clear: Splash Mountain was going away, and Tiana was taking over. There was no talk of a “merger.” The attraction was being replaced. Period.
But now, just a year after the grand opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, it seems like Disney may be trying to rewrite history.
D’Amaro’s New Comment Raises Eyebrows
During a recent conversation, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro made a statement that’s catching a lot of attention online—especially among longtime Splash Mountain fans.
Here’s the full quote:
“We knew that our guests wanted to see more of Tiana. We knew that Splash Mountain was a popular attraction, and we thought that the merger of those two things coming together would create an unbelievable experience.”
Let’s break that down.
Josh D’Amaro on TIANA’S BAYOU ADVENTURE.
“We knew that our guests wanted to see more of Tiana. We knew that Splash Mountain was a popular attraction, and we thought that the merger of those two things coming together would create an unbelievable experience.”
(@Variety) pic.twitter.com/7ZxI49iyuK
— Boardwalk Times (@BoardwalkTimes) July 16, 2025
This is the first time anyone from Disney leadership has framed the decision as a “merger” of the old and the new. And it’s not sitting well with fans who clearly remember how this whole thing was originally positioned. There was no mention of Splash Mountain being part of the new experience. There were no references to the ride’s bones or storytelling being integrated into the new version. It was a full-on closure, complete with new characters, new story, and new music. Even the beloved “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” was removed from parades and background loops in the parks.
So for D’Amaro to now call this a “merger” feels like a serious attempt to soften the blow after the fact. It’s also, in the eyes of many fans, an implicit admission that Disney underestimated just how loved Splash Mountain really was.
Fans Aren’t Buying the Spin
Let’s be honest—if Disney truly viewed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as a “merger,” they would’ve said so years ago. They didn’t. And fans are already pointing that out.
This latest statement feels more like a strategic reframing now that the dust has settled. With Tiana’s Bayou Adventure facing mixed reviews and long downtimes, it’s not shocking that Disney might be trying to rebuild goodwill with the crowd that never wanted Splash Mountain removed in the first place.
But the internet has a long memory. And fans who spent the last five years pleading with Disney to reconsider aren’t about to forget the original narrative just because a new quote popped up. This isn’t a small change in tone—it’s a full 180. A rewrite. A walk-back of epic proportions.
The Real Legacy of Splash Mountain
Whether Disney wants to admit it outright or not, this latest quote from D’Amaro says a lot. It acknowledges, at long last, that Splash Mountain was a “popular attraction.” That alone might not seem like a big deal, but it’s the first time in years we’ve seen Disney leadership publicly recognize how much this ride meant to its fanbase.
Calling it a “merger” might be Disney’s way of trying to rewrite history. But for many guests, the story is already written—and it doesn’t end with a neat blend of two attractions. It ends with the closure of one of Disney’s most iconic rides and a replacement that’s still trying to win people over.
Time will tell how Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is remembered. But for now, one thing’s clear: even Disney is starting to admit that closing Splash Mountain may not have been the slam dunk they once thought it was. And whether they call it a “replacement,” a “reimagining,” or a “merger,” the fans haven’t forgotten what really happened.