The main difference with the springs is they have a wider variation between spring types. Instead of there being 16 different spring types, there are now 23.
In regular Donkey Kong the spring types are numbered 0 to 15.
The equivalent numbering system springs in Deranged would be numbered -3 to 19.
The safe spots are still there, but because of the wider swing in spring types the size of the safe spots is now 6 pixels wide instead of 13 pixels wide.
On the other hand, because there is a wider range between the longest and shortest spring types, depending on the combination of springs, there is occasionally more time to climb the ladder from a safe spot.