Disney Parks Chairman, Josh D’Amaro Discusses the Retheming of Splash Mountain

A few weeks ago, Disney made the announcement that the Splash Mountain attraction both at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland will be rethemed to The Princess and the Frog. Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks chairman shared his thoughts on the reimagining of the ride.

Retheming of The Princess and the Frog

Walt Disney Imagineering’s Charita Carter, the Imagineer that brought us Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios, will be the lead on this new project where the attraction will pick up in The Princess and the Frog story after the final kiss.

How many times at the end of a Disney movie, have you yearned to find out what happens next? Well, we are in for a sweat treat on the rethemed attraction coming to both parks!

Guests will join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.

Josh D’Amaro’s Interview with CNN

In an interview for CNN Business, Disney Park, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro discussed Disney’s decision to retheme the popular Splash Mountain attraction.

CNN: Disney announced it would be re-theming Splash Mountain into “The Princess and the Frog” from the controversial “Song of the South.” What role did the Black Lives Matter protests and conversations about race in the recent weeks have in influencing the timing of the announcement?

D’Amaro: “We actually have been working on it for well over a year. In fact, I was a part of those conversations over a year ago. Listen, our stories evolve all the time. I mean, back from when Walt started Disneyland back in 1955, he stated that if we would continue to evolve our stories, that they’re never ending, that they’ll always be contemporary. And I think that that’s what you’re seeing with Splash Mountain.

I keep using the same word, but I’m really proud of this team and what we’re doing on this front. I think Splash Mountain, no doubt, is a sacred attraction to many of our guests. And I think you’re going to love what we’re doing in making the attraction even more contemporary.”

D’Amaro is also asked in the interview about reopening the parks at Walt Disney World. For the full interview you can read it here.

When Will Splash Mountain Close?

At this moment we do not have a closing date for the Splash Mountain attraction at Magic Kingdom or at Disneyland. Once we do, we will be sure to keep you up to date!

Personally, I’m hoping it is not until our visit at the end of the year!

Splash Mountain is my youngest daughter’s favorite ride so we are hoping to ride it at least a couple more times before its retheming!

It’s perfect and she’s excited because Princess Tiana is her favorite Disney princess!

Will you be riding Splash Mountain before the attraction closes? Are you excited for the retheming? Let us know on Kenny the Pirate’s Facebook Page, or join our crew and continue the discussion!

-Marisol White