Disney Confirms Splash Mountain Animatronics Are Preserved as Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’ Draws on Their Design
Reused parts now animate the refreshed Country Bears, highlighting Imagineering’s habit of salvaging high-performing hardware.
Overview
- A new Walt Disney Imagineering video confirms several retired Splash Mountain figures are being held at WDI’s Glendale headquarters.
- Pixar’s Hoppers team studied deconstructed Splash Mountain armatures at WDI to inform the film’s retro-mechanical character movement.
- The film includes a subtle background tribute that fans say resembles an America Sings goose, reinforcing the project’s historical nods.
- Imagineers say high-performance hydraulic and pneumatic components from Splash Mountain were transplanted into the Country Bear Musical Jamboree during its 2024 refresh.
- Reports within Disney’s archival circles point to a possible 2027 ‘History of Imagineering’ exhibit that could feature restored figures, though plans remain unconfirmed.