Tokyo Disneyland Confirms Temporary Closure of Splash Mountain
Tokyo Disneyland has confirmed that the final remaining version of Splash Mountain will close temporarily on January 7, 2027, as part of a scheduled winter refurbishment. While American iterations of the log flume ride have been permanently retired and transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Inside the Magic reported that the Tokyo resort’s version will undergo maintenance through February 4, 2027, before reopening to guests on February 5, 2027.
Tokyo Disneyland Schedules Refurbishment for Critter Country Attraction
Located in Tokyo Disneyland’s Critter Country, the 15-minute attraction opened in October 1992 and remains largely unchanged from its debut. Guests board eight-person logs to follow Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear through scenes set to the original Song of the South soundtrack, culminating in a 52-foot drop down a 45-degree waterfall. Disney Fanatic noted that the ride continues to accept Disney Premier Access reservations.
The January closure aligns with the resort’s broader winter maintenance calendar. Disney Dining reported that Peter Pan’s Flight and Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions will close on January 6, while Haunted Mansion will shut down on January 8 to remove its holiday-themed overlay. January also ranks among Tokyo’s coldest months, with daytime temperatures hovering around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) and nighttime lows approaching freezing.
Contrasting Fates of the Original Log Flume Rides
The upcoming winter maintenance stands in stark contrast to the permanent closures that eliminated Splash Mountain from domestic Disney theme parks. Disney announced plans to overhaul both American versions of the attraction in 2020 amid mounting criticism over Splash Mountain’s ties to the 1946 film Song of the South, which has long faced scrutiny for its romanticized depiction of the post-Civil War American South. Magic Kingdom’s version closed in January 2023, followed by Disneyland Park’s closure in May 2023. Both American locations have since reopened as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, inspired by the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog.
Technical hurdles have marked the rollout of the newly themed American attractions. Magic Kingdom’s version suffered repeated breakdowns and canceled previews ahead of its June 2024 debut, and malfunctioning animatronics persisted through August 2026, when guests reported multiple broken elements and an incident where a Tiana animatronic lost part of its head. Magic Kingdom’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is scheduled to undergo a separate refurbishment starting November 2, with an expected reopening in December 2026.
Speculation Surrounds the Future of the Japanese Attraction
Unlike the American theme parks, Tokyo Disney Resort is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company under a licensing agreement with The Walt Disney Company. This corporate structure has fueled ongoing rumors regarding a potential retheming of Splash Mountain. Reports indicate that Disney has pushed for a conversion similar to the American updates, but negotiations have reportedly stalled over disagreements regarding financial responsibilities for the project.
Several operational shifts at the Tokyo attraction have drawn attention from park visitors. Splash Mountain’s dedicated gift shop closed permanently in November 2024. The attraction subsequently lost its corporate sponsorship with the Kao Corporation in 2025, and park operators removed a sign referencing the Song of the South song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” in early 2026. Despite these changes, neither Disney nor the Oriental Land Company has announced plans for a permanent closure or a transition to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.