End of an Era

In late January, the iconic Disney theme park ride Splash Mountain was relegated to briar patch of memories. Opened in 1989 and based on the 1946 live-action/animated film Song of the South, the ride fell out of favor because critics claimed it was racially insensitive in its depiction of the American South during reconstruction. So, Br’er Fox, Br’er Bear and the Laughin’ Place are out, but will be replaced by a ride based on 2009’s The Princess and the Frog, another Disney movie, this one featuring a heroine named Tiana from New Orleans. The new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will star the aspiring Louisiana chef and the jazz-loving alligator Louis and is slated to open in 2024 at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.

Catch A Wave

Speaking of things that splash in Orlando: Pipeline: The Surf Coaster debuts this spring at SeaWorld. Said to be the first of its kind roller coaster, riders stand on oversized “surfboards” as they travel nearly 3,000 feet of track that tops out at 110 feet high and reach speeds approaching 60 miles per hour. The harness securing riders to the coaster provides just enough freedom of movement to replicate the sensation of riding a wave. Righteous!