Almost two weeks ago, I went to the only Disney park with an “untouched” Frontierland: Tokyo Disneyland. Known there as Westernland, this Wild West-themed area still has Splash Mountain, Tom Sawyer Island, the Rivers of America, and even a shooting gallery. But as much as many United States Disney Parks fans long for this version of Frontierland to return, the truth is: it’s the worst part of Tokyo Disney Resort.Tokyo Disney Resort is in a unique position among the Disney parks. It’s operated by a third-party, The Oriental Land Company, under license from The Walt Disney Company. With collaboration from Walt Disney Imagineering, the company creates its own attractions and doesn’t abide by the same rules as Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and other Disney parks.Credit: Nicholas Cole, FlickrSo, in 2022, when Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort announced plans to replace Splash Mountain with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Tokyo Disney Resort didn’t follow suit. This led to Tokyo Disneyland becoming a pilgrimage of sorts for nostalgic Disney Parks fans who disagreed with the premise that the Song of the South (1946) themed ride was racist. (For the record, the ride was inspired by a widely-banned film that minimized the racist horrors of post-Civil War life in the United States.)The last and only Splash Mountain, Tokyo Disneyland The last and only Splash Mountain, Tokyo Disneyland pic.twitter.com/vsqIKrdqYy— Alex Japan Theme Park Photography (@thehappyzan) May 31, 2023For its part, Tokyo Disney Resort doesn’t harp on the more questionable parts of Splash Mountain. Its website describes the ride as a “thrilling trip on a log boat” and doesn’t mention the Br’er characters, only “a 45-degree drop down a 16-meter high waterfall.”Westernland at Tokyo Disneyland automatically became even more nostalgic in July, when Magic Kingdom Park closed its versions of the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat to make way for Piston Peak National Park. This new part of Frontierland, inspired by national parks in the United States, will feature two Cars (2006) attractions.Tokyo Disneyland, on the other hand, still has Tom Sawyer Island, the Mark Twain Riverboat, and the Rivers of America. It’s also home to the Westernland Shootin’ Gallery (a paid experience), while Magic Kingdom Park permanently closed its Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade to make way for a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) lounge.So, what’s it like to visit the only Disney park where Frontierland (Westernland) hasn’t changed? Well… It’s not worth it.Credit: Jess Colopy, Inside the MagicTo be clear, I did not visit Tokyo Disney Resort because it has Splash Mountain (technically in Critter Country) and Tom Sawyer Island. In fact, I had planned to avoid the log flume ride, which is so popular among locals that even on a rainy day, the wait never dropped below 100 minutes. Disney Premiere Access passes for Splash Mountain sold out partway through the day, meaning that hundreds of people paid 1,500 yen each (roughly $10) to skip the line. As a foreign visitor, I wanted to focus on things I hadn’t experienced at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort.Credit: DisneyWhat surprised me was just how little interest I had in visiting Westernland at all. Throughout the day, we were so busy dashing around Tomorrowland and Fantasyland (with quick breaks in World Bazaar for shopping and parade-watching), that we never even made it to Westernland.The only things drawing me to Westernland were Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown, a reimagined version of the classic Country Bear Jamboree. But with only one day to explore, they were low priority compared to exclusives like Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast.Credit: Jess Colopy, Inside the MagicOne hour before the park closed, when I realized we hadn’t set foot in Tokyo Disneyland’s version of Frontierland, we decided we couldn’t leave without exploring every land. We rushed through Westernland at night, seeing as much as we could on the way to one final ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (which, by the way, is far smoother and more fun than its U.S. counterparts).Here’s the truth: Westernland and the nearby Splash Mountain felt stale and not worth visiting. The paid Westernland Shootin’ Gallery felt outdated, and the Mark Twain Riverboat is far inferior to the SS Columbia right next door at Tokyo DisneySea. I’m sure Splash Mountain is great for cooling off in the infamous Tokyo heat and humidity, but that’s nothing that couldn’t be accomplished with a rethemed log flume ride.Credit: Tokyo Disney ResortWalking through Westernland made me more excited for the changes coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park. So much of Tokyo Disney Resort is unique and exclusive to Japan, which made the trip a bucket list item for a certified Disney Adult like me. In that moment, I couldn’t help but dream about the moment Piston Peak National Park debuts, when Walt Disney World Resort will have its own signature Cars area, unlike anything else in the world.Do you miss any retired Frontierland attractions? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments! The post I Went to the Only Disney Park That Still Has Splash Mountain. It Was Bad appeared first on Inside the Magic.