Afternoon at the Briar Patch

Last month, Disney announced that Splash Mountain would be closing at Walt Disney World on January 23, 2023, to begin its transformation into the new Tiana's Bayou Adventure ride.  No closing date at Disneyland has been announced yet, though it will likely be sometime this year as well.  But one place that doesn't have to worry about the removal of Splash Mountain is Tokyo Disneyland, which will retain its version.  Because the ride's post-slavery Song of the South source material is more controversial in the United States and completely absent from the cultural conscience of Japan, the historically beloved but awkwardly problematic ride will remain--at least for the foreseeable future. 

So for anyone who really wants to take a trip to the Laughing Place after Disneyland and Walt Disney World lose their version, Tokyo Disney offers a solution.  It's just a plane ride to Japan away.

A log plunges down the climactic final drop of Splash Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland.