Brer-Rabbit.com

News regarding the release of Song of the South has finally taken a turn for the better. At the D23 70th Anniversary Celebration towards the beginning of November, Disney creative director, Dave Bossert, was asked the repeated question of when the movie will finally be released. The response?

“I can say there’s been a lot of internal discussion about [Song of the South]. And at some point we’re going to do something about it. I don’t know when, but we will. We know we want people to see Song of the South because we realize it’s a big piece of company history, and we want to do it the right way.”

It sounds pretty promising to me, though with the history surrounding this movie I’m not going to be holding my breath for this being released any time soon. But it’s much, MUCH more promising than Bob Iger’s comments from earlier this year. Here’s hoping the film will get the release it deserves at last, and fairly soon!

Read the article breaking the news in its entirety here:  http://www.post-movie.net/?p=1840

Greeting from the Disneyland Resort! I’ve been on vacation here over this past weekend, which could only mean one thing: Splash Mountain!

As you can see, the weather has been overcast here in Anaheim for most of the weekend. Regardless, the wait for the ride has been long during peak times — sometimes reaching over an hour! However, in the mornings and evenings it tends to be closer to 15 minutes or so. (Tip: Go the hour or so before the park closes, and a lot of times the Cast Members will let you continue riding without getting off.)

This way to Splash Mountain!

Statue on a well in the queue

Statue of the three in the queue

Official entrance into the ride building.

The sign for the Briar Patch gift shop in Critter Country. No Splash merchandise here, though -- it's a hat store.

Brer Rabbit can be found in other places through out the park besides his attraction, though. This is hanging on the sides of the registers at the Hungry Bear Restaurant, also in Critter Country:

On the sides of chocolate containers:

And perhaps the strangest place of all, the lobby of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln:

Splash Mountain model in front of concept art for it and other attractions.

Close up of model

Plaque on model explaining Splash Mountain

Splash concept art

Close up of Brer Rabbit in concept art. They obviously took some style liberties here.

Painting of Walt Disney in the exit area of Great Moments. All three of the Brers are there, but I only included the close up of Brer Rabbit.

And last, the poster for Splash Mountain that can be seen in one of the tunnels entering/exiting the park:

I also had a chance to pick up the new merchandise for the ride available here. There’s not a lot, since Disneyland never seems to get as much as Walt Disney World does, but the good news is that it seems to be popular. I’ll do a separate post on that, but for now I need to get back over to the park to get a few more rides down the flume before I leave!

Wow, has it really been exactly a month since I last updated? Sad. Life has finally calmed down for me, though, so I think I’ll be able to update this regularly at last!

At any rate, today’s entry comes on the heels of a post on the Disney Parks Blog that new Splash Mountain merchandise will be arriving in the coming months!

Image courtesy Disney Parks Blog

The post featured three different designs, one of which is pictured above, and also seemed to imply that there is more to come. The new merchandise is supposed to begin hitting the parks in September and October… which is perfect, since I happen to be planning a trip in October!

The post also does not mention what kind of merchandise will be available, other than mentioning that there are already some new Splash Mountain shirts available now. Here’s hoping there’s some good stuff available! Though new anything is wonderful, at this rate. For too long, the parks have only had a couple of generic shirts that don’t even have the Brer characters featured on them. So if you’re planning a trip to either Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom in WDW, be sure to pick some up! The more that sell, the more likely Disney is to make even more new merchandise.

I meant to post this yesterday, but never got a chance. So today will have to suffice.

Yesterday was Splash Mountain’s 21st birthday. It was July 17, 1989 the popular attraction officially opened for business in Disneyland, Anaheim, CA (though a soft opening had occurred a few weeks earlier). Despite the fact that Song of the South was on the verge of being locked in the Disney “Vault” indefinitely, and Joel Chandler Harris’s original books were being branded as too politically incorrect for a modern audience, Splash Mountain would serve to introduce and immortalize Brer Rabbit in the public’s conscience anyways.

It is because Splash Mountain that I am writing this entry; that this site exists. Splash Mountain introduced me to Brer Rabbit. And even though today I realize how watered down and out of line with the original stories the ride is (frankly, I’d like to see them open a version with Miss Meadow and the Girls), it will always hold a special place in my heart. To date, I don’t think I would even want to visit a Disney park if Splash were closed for refurbishment.

Happy 21st Birthday, Splash Mountain.

I decided to get rid of the ‘Interactive’ section on the menu above. Namely because everything I could think of to put under it could easily be put under the ‘Fun’ section as well. In its place, I decided to put in a section dedicatI ed to my own Brer Rabbit collection. Mainly because ‘Collection’ was the only title I could think of long enough not to throw off the design balance, but also because, well, I know I like looking at other people’s collections. It seems to be something others like to do, too. Or maybe not. We’ll find out. Anyways, I haven’t yet worked on it, but hopefully within the next week I’ll have it up. Likewise, I need to work on the ‘About’ site, too, I realize. All in due time, my friends. All in due time.

I was thinking about the figures I mentioned in my last post, when I realized that this wasn’t the first time they had featured Brer Rabbit and his, um, “friends” in their line up. The last time was in 1995-1996, for the 50th anniversary of Song of the South.

They used to have this available at a store at the local mall when I was a kid. Every time I would go to the mall, I would always spend a few moments drooling over it. Dreaming that one day I might be able to get it.

And it still hasn’t happened. Ah, well. (Though I did get the Brer Rabbit watch for sale at the Disney Store at the time.) It’s still on eBay quite a bit, so one day I’m sure I’ll be able to make my dreams come true. Brer Fox and Brer Bear were also available, I remember, but you can probably guess I’ve never been quite as interested in them. Though I won’t deny I still get excited whenever I spot them anywhere. A Brer character is a Brer character.

Anyways, it’s nice to see Disney still pays attention to these characters once in a while. Both pieces seem beautiful.

Last night I discovered that the Walt Disney Classic Collection will be releasing a piece this year featuring Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox. The piece will be from the Laughing Place segment of Song of the South, and looks to come in two pieces.

Image courtesy The Duckman’s Inside Report

Though I have to say that Brer Rabbit looks way too friendly. About to be roasted by my arch nemisis? No problem! Maybe I could offer him some tips on how to do it. Think up a ploy to get myself out of this situation, and possibly have a good laugh at him at the same time? I would never!

Regardless, this piece looks rather awesome. If I weren’t using the money for other things, like food and rent, I would snatch it up the second it came out. Instead, I suppose it’ll have to wait for Christmas or my birthday. Regardless, it’s about time, Disney.

I got these images from this site. Click on that link, and there are more images of it at different angles. Likewise, this post has similar images, only during the production and design stage. It also features some images of the development of the characters for Splash Mountain back in the 80’s/90’s, so definitely take a look.

Speaking of Splash Mountain, it apparently is down for refurbishment at Disneyland (California) starting yesterday. Brer Rabbit himself was kind enough for once to let all guests know:

Image courtesy LaughingPlace.com

Then again, he is supposed to be a Southern Gentleman, and he does have a tendency to go around beating up those who have bad manners. So I suppose it makes perfect sense he would see fit to let everyone know when he won’t be available. Still, what’s even the point of visiting the place if you can’t ride Splash?