Brer Rabbit? Missing! (And the birds won't sing!)

[Robo]

Dateline: Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World.

Headline: The MAGIC is MISSING at SPLASH!

Yes, something's happened at Splash Mountain.

First and foremost, its our beloved BRER RABBIT!

Well yes, he's still seen at many of the vignettes throughout the ride, but he's NOT seen at couple of the best effects SPLASH is famous-for.

He used to HOP!
Yep, he was always seen "comin' around" that little fence about half-way thru the ride. And he'd HOP-BY as your log came near.
It was a GREAT effect... memorable, clever, surprising, FUN!
But he has STOPPED HOPPING (heck, he's not even VISIBLE).
Now its JUST a FENCE, sans rabbit.

I had high hopes that the recent rehab of SPLASH in Jan. '06 would restore our fuzzy friend to his healthy hopping condition, but we rode it a few times just 3 days after SPLASH re-opened and no "Mr. Hopster" was present.

Can this effect be so COMPLEX (or "wearing" on the mechanism) that its beyond the capabilities of periodic maintenance?

Missing Rabbit, part Deux:
There is a "projection effect" of Brer Rabbit scurrying off in SILHOUETTE that used to always be seen just past the "sweeping rabbit" (on the right).
I always used to see it, but in the past few rides I didn't. I just assumed it was a longer "loop" that happened before of after we rode past, but others here have listed it as "missing in action" (or, more accurately, "the ACTION is MISSING").


Oh yes.
What about the BIRDS?

Right after your log is first RAISED-UP to "mid-height" and you slowly round the mountain, outside... there are various "hutches and bird houses" from which the song "How Do You Do?" is SUPPOSED to be HEARD.
The instrumental background "track" is heard, but the SINGING BIRDS (who carry the MELODY) are nearly-to-completely SILENT.

At this point, I'm "compelled" to sing or whistle the melody MYSELF so as to experience "the full effect"... but I don't think the REST of those in my log really APPRECIATE my sacrifice for the sake of ART.
(Art critics, they're EVERYWHERE!)

I might be able to understand a mechanical effect that fails occasionally, but, after a REHAB to still not hear a MUSICAL EFFECT??!! That I don't GET.

A. Can it be that the CM's responsible for these effects just don't KNOW that they are MISSING?

B. Can it be that Disney just does not CARE that the "show" is diminished?

C. Can I stop typing now?
-----------------------------------
A. Could be.

B. Oh, I hope not.

C. Yes.

-30-

 

[bobbiwoz]

You have a better memory than I do, but when I last went on Splash Mountain, it definitely was missing some of these things! It's still my favorite ride but yes, it needs some TLC!

Bobbi

 

[dpuck1998]

I rode splash the day before the rehab started. I wasn't aware
these parts were missing, but now looking back I remember
something seemed to be missing but I didn't know what.

Of course all the parts you desribed are exactly right.

I'd be curious to find out why!! and after the rehab why
wouldn't they be back???

Did anything look better after the rehab? Anything new?

 

[Robo]

Did anything look better after the rehab? Anything new?

Nothing "new".

Biggest improvement was that the turtles in the lowest cavern area where actually floating on their backs on jets of WATER and not just floating in "mid-air" like was the case for so long before the fix-ups. Also, same room, the little "jumping water" jets where "jumping" again.

Ironically, the birdhouses in the EXTENDED QUEUE (outside the building, near Splash's long "exit porch") WERE "singing and talking".

If you've never heard it, its cute.
I only stood in that extra queue area back before FAST PASS.
I don't know if they use it much now (maybe in the thick of Summer).

 

[ReggieB]

Brer Rabbit wasn't hopping in November a few days before Splash went dark for a few days for rehab. There were no gophers (or whatever they are) popping out of the holes in the Laughing Place segment either.

 

[Robo]

Brer Rabbit wasn't hopping in November a few days before Splash went dark for a few days for rehab. There were no gophers (or whatever they are) popping out of the holes in the Laughing Place segment either.

I'm calling the police.

Hey, what's the number for 911?

 

[Pixiedust34]

Splash Mountain is my Happy Place. I hope that they will maintain it well. The thing that upset me the most was all of the gum I saw on the wall during the ride.

 

[smilie]

There is a "projection effect" of Brer Rabbit scurrying off in SILHOUETTE that used to always be seen just past the "sweeping rabbit" (on the right).
I always used to see it, but in the past few rides I didn't. I just assumed it was a longer "loop" that happened before of after we rode past, but others here have listed it as "missing in action" (or, more accurately, "the ACTION is MISSING").

There also used to be a little boy bunny there that talked along with the "sweeping rabbit". I remember he used to have the cutest voice. When we were there last September he was gone as well.

 

[maryliz]

And my DH thought I was the only person who would be upset by the missing "hopping Brer Rabbit"! He was there in January, but in August, October and December, NOT. As for the silhouette, I think we only saw it maybe once or twice on our last 3 trips.

On a good note, DH and I were there in December, and they had the "jumping water" shooting in front of your log where the teapots, gophers etc are near the end of the ride. It had been YEARS since we had that happen.

Sad to hear that they haven't fixed it, but glad to see that I'm not alone in my observations.

MaryLiz

 

[Robo]

And my DH thought I was the only person who would be upset by the missing "hopping Brer Rabbit"! ... but glad to see that I'm not alone in my observations.

What if they edited out the "horse of a different color/Merry Old Land of Oz" scenes in "The Wizard of Oz" film?

Would the story still hold up?
Sure!

Would anyone miss it?
You BET, because we KNOW its SUPPOSED to be there. Its part of the FUN!

Disney attractions are just LIKE favorite films... we KNOW them... we want to see them the way they were meant to be seen.
We want others who come later to enjoy them just the way we first did.

This was one of Walt Disney's objectives... to make sure each GUEST, each DAY would get the "full show".

That's why they used to paint the carrousel horses every night, why they had a special TEAM that cleaned the "scrim" (black semi-transparent guass that hangs in the cemetery scene) every few days... it was for GOOD SHOW.

I understand that nobody can keep up with mechanical failures ALL DAY EVERY DAY, but it seems that some things NEVER get repaired or restored anymore... and that's BAD SHOW.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I understand that nobody can keep up with mechanical failures ALL DAY EVERY DAY, but it seems that some things NEVER get repaired or restored anymore... and that's BAD SHOW.

and it's becoming more of the norm lately at all of the parks. after park closing, techs usually take care of the problems. lately we ride Splash and point out the missing effects of the day. at IOA this weekend the T-Rex wasn't even there on the Jurassic Park ride. just gone... that's wrong. I don't understand imagineering effects into attractions, spending the money to r&d them, and then building the final product and then not maintaining them. but that's just me.

 

[kimmikayb]

I noticed those things as well and thought it was a bad show, especially since I had been talking forever about it to my DD and finally got her to ride. She still loved it, but I knew what was missing.

Ah, too bad things seem to change for the worse. Still, it brought me to my happy place!

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I noticed all those things missing in Sept also. I rode it 2 or 3 times and it just wasn't the same. Well, he was hopping the first time I rode it but thats it. I thought I was going crazy. I remembered the silhouette creeping by but I hadn't ridden splash in awhile before Sept. so I thought maybe I was wrong. At least I know I'm not crazy. I really hope the get this ride back to the original. But sadly enough I noticed a lot of things on most rides not working on my last trip. When I rode Buzz (one of the many times) the car I was in wasn't working right. When I got off I told the CM and he went off to cover it. At least someone was doing something.

 

[greenyskp]

This thread would be a different story, if everytime an element of a complex ride like Splash, was broken, they shut it down for the day. Can you even imagine the uproar?

The ride is open so people can ride it. You have to remember, while there are 80,000 people on this board who love Disney, there are 80,000 people in the parks, who are gearing themselves up for the big drop, not so much nitpicking the storyline.

People who have waited and saved their whole lives to go to Disney, from other countries, who are impressed that the colors are so vibrant, the music is so clear, or are just so entranced by whats going on that they dont notice the stuff we hardcore Disney folks do.

I go to Disney AT LEAST once a month. And everytime I ride splash (or any other ride) SOME element is down. Its the nature of technology and the common sense that they dont have the manpower to fix everything all the time. Which is why rides go down for rehabs, and then why people demand free park tickets becauuse they came all the way from Alaska to ride Splash Mountain, and Disney closed it for the day, because the water wasnt jumping in the laughing place.

Try to keep it in perspective. Yes its Disney, Yes its Walt, but the workers are still human, and disney has to try to keep everyone happy, the hardcore kids like us who notice the flaws, and the travelers on their first trip from Alaska, who came all the way to ride Splash, and now its closed.

It SICKENED me, because the last time i was there, people were SCREAMING at CM's because Spectro had been rained out. They waited all day to see it, this was their last day... they wanted a refund.

Just enjoy whats there, dont be so nitpicky...

 

[Sylvester McBean]

This thread would be a different story, if everytime an element of a complex ride like Splash, was broken, they shut it down for the day. Can you even imagine the uproar?

The ride is open so people can ride it. You have to remember, while there are 80,000 people on this board who love Disney, there are 80,000 people in the parks, who are gearing themselves up for the big drop, not so much nitpicking the storyline.

People who have waited and saved their whole lives to go to Disney, from other countries, who are impressed that the colors are so vibrant, the music is so clear, or are just so entranced by whats going on that they dont notice the stuff we hardcore Disney folks do.

I go to Disney AT LEAST once a month. And everytime I ride splash (or any other ride) SOME element is down. Its the nature of technology and the common sense that they dont have the manpower to fix everything all the time. Which is why rides go down for rehabs, and then why people demand free park tickets becauuse they came all the way from Alaska to ride Splash Mountain, and Disney closed it for the day, because the water wasnt jumping in the laughing place.

Try to keep it in perspective. Yes its Disney, Yes its Walt, but the workers are still human, and disney has to try to keep everyone happy, the hardcore kids like us who notice the flaws, and the travelers on their first trip from Alaska, who came all the way to ride Splash, and now its closed.

It SICKENED me, because the last time i was there, people were SCREAMING at CM's because Spectro had been rained out. They waited all day to see it, this was their last day... they wanted a refund.

Just enjoy whats there, dont be so nitpicky...

yes, technology is a great thing. but the elements that are usally down on Slash are pretty basic... pneumatic or hydraulic. if there's a constant problem with an attraction, fix it. but then there's ironies. Universal has a team of people that work on the hulk coaster nightly so it hasn't had to endure a shutdown rehab. their reason for this is it's a park icon, people come from all over the world to ride it. of course they wouldn't shut down Splash due if the gopher didn't drop out of the ceiling. but the details of a ride like Splash are not what makes the ride great for me, not a lousy 50 ft. drop. and when a company like Disney stops dwelling on the details, I don't like it. it's not nitpicking, it's holding them accountable for the standards they set. if they can spend $100 million on Mission Space and another $100 million on Expedition Everest, fix the little mechanical bunny rabbit.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

For a while, the hopping Brer Rabbit was the most complicated and hi-tech Audio Animatronic in the park (pretty sure that's been surpassed by now). They've always had a lot of trouble with it and it's been busted on/off since they opened Splash.

At least they scrape the gum and spitballs off of Brer Bear's big hairy butt. There was a time they'd just leave it like that for days.

 

[dpuck1998]

I don't know about being "nit-pickey", this is a discussion board full of Disney fans/fanatics. We are hear to discuss all things disney. Some of us enjoy splash moutain and all the little things on the ride. If it were a lame log ride and a drop, I for one, wouldn't ride it. The little things make it great and most of the things discussed are not "rehab" level. They are able to mow the lawn, clean the garbage, etc in the middle of the night. They can't fix some of these small things on Splash at night? Just my humble opinion, which is what we do here on the discussion board....

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

Guess I was lucky, when I was there the day after rehab, EVERYTHING was working, hoping brer rabbit and all.

 

[PrincessAurora]

I realize things like this happen and people are human but the parks USE TO be better maintained. With new management this is starting to get back on track. We all saw what happened at Disneyland when maintenance was delayed and delayed and put off over cast member objections on some attractions. Someone died on BTMRR. No one wants that to happen but its what happens when corners are cut.

Fortunatly after all that bad, changes were made in local park management and now in corporate management. I see little things being fixed more often. When an attraction closes for a yearly rehab, they should rehab ALL OF IT! That includes getting the bunny hopping! It's part of what we pay for with our admission.

My advice would be to stop by City Hall on your way out and let them know if something is not working. You can fill out a card and they are read. It's better than relying on someones memory to get your comment to the proper person.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

He wasn't hopping when I was there in late August. I noticed right away - my 16 yr. old DS said I'm a fanatic because I noticed!

I don't think the OP was nit picking - I got a laugh just knowing that there are other people in the world like me!