Following the closure of Disney’s long-running Splash Mountain ride at Magic Kingdom in Florida, some fans are selling “authentic” water from the log flume ride.
As reported by Fortune, the attraction officially closed at the Orlando park on Monday, Jan. 23 and many were present to pick up the last remaining merchandise. Some, however, are looking to capitalize on its closure in different ways by taking water allegedly used in the ride itself. Various listings have started to pop up on eBay boasting “authentic” water used in the ride, including one that’s already fetched a bid of over $150. Another listing from the same seller has garnered bids upwards of $10,000 for whatever reason.
Whether the listings are, in fact, authentic remains to be seen, but it’s clear there’s a market for whatever junk from the recently shuttered ride. Funnily enough, Splash Mountain is still in operation at Disneyland, where it first opened in 1989, and Tokyo Disneyland, where it opened in 1992. The Magic Kingdom version was in operation for over 30 years when it closed this week, and is expected to be replaced by a ride based on the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog.
Disney announced plans to close all three versions of the ride back in June 2020. Splash Mountain is based on Disney’s controversial 1946 film Song of the South, which has received criticism for its racist depiction of Black people and plantation life. While most of Disney’s catalog is available on Disney+, Song of the South is notably absent. CEO Bob Iger previously called the film “not appropriate in today’s world.”
