Splash mountain question

[Pixeldust Fairy]

I was recently reading about splash mountain and I read that it was not opened in Disneyland until 1989. Hmmm. What was in its place before? I have been to Disneyland many times and I was sure it was one of the rides that I rode everytime I went.

 

[DangerMouse]

Here are some additional facts on Splash Mountain:

http://www.songofthesouth.net/splashmtn/facts/index.html

 

[CalGal]

Hummm, the link says that it opened 7/17/1989, yet it also lists the # of logs and log capacity for 1988. I guess the 1988 information was when the ride was being tested.

I kinda remember seeing the boarded up area with the signs for the attraction while it was under construction during a visit in the 1980s. That was probably Oct. 1987 since I know I did go to Disneyland on 10/1/87 (day of the Whittier Earthquake in LA). This was "Bear Country" before Splash moved in. Here's a link about "Bear Country".

http://www.yesterland.com/bearcountry.html

 

[Another^Dimension]

What was in it's place before?

Restrooms.

...and space.

 

[Pixeldust Fairy]

Was there ever a log ride at DL before splash. I guess I must be going crazy, because nothing in splash at WDW seemed un familiar and if Splash was opened in 1989, then I never rode it all those many years growing up. Boy do I have a severe case of dejavu or what.

 

[Misskitty3]

I don't believe DL had a log ride prior to Splash. However, Knott's Berry Farm DID have an awesome log ride. Maybe you are thinking of that???

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

Here are some additional facts on Splash Mountain:

http://www.songofthesouth.net/splashmtn/facts/index.html

Thanks for providing that link, DangerMouse. Some of those facts help explain my slight dissatisfaction with the MK Splash Mountain at WDW.

Having read on this board that it was "better" than the DL version, I was really looking forward to going on it. Although I admit there is a clearer "story" to the MK ride, it just didn't seem to be as fun and as lively as Splash in DL to me. I noticed some characters/scenes were missing, and the ride's "grand finale" (the Showboat scene) seemed especially lackluster. I just didn't feel like bursting into song like I do at DL. But I couldn't really put my finger on why.

Seeing the stats on that page clears up some of the mystery. For one thing, the Zip-A-Dee Lady Showboat itself is considerably larger at DL (50x30 as opposed to 36x22). According to that page, it is the largest animated prop ever; as such, it is pretty darn impressive. When I also consider that the DL Splash travels faster (4 ft./second) and contains 37 more characters than the MK version (105 to 68), I better understand why I felt a bit underwhelmed at the MK Splash.

I did get a whole lot wetter at MK, though.