Splash Mountain was a popular attraction when it opened over three decades ago, but no attraction at Disneyland or Walt Disney World is completely safe from the passage of time. Splash Mountain is now closed at Walt Disney World and at Disneyland Resort, and in its place we're about to get a brand new log flume attraction, Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
While the core ride remains the same, the story will change entirely, removing the story based on Song of the South, and replacing it with a new one based on The Princess and the Frog. Here's everything we know about the upcoming ride.
Why Splash Mountain Is Getting Rethemed
It was in the spring of 2020, while both Disneyland and Disney World were closed due to the pandemic, that a sort of grassroots organization sprung up on social media that suggested that Splash Mountain should be rethemed. The original attraction had been based on Song of the South, a movie that had been controversial in its depiction of the Reconstruction-era American South since it had been released in 1949. While the attraction only contained the animated character from the film, many felt that was not sufficient.
It was suggested by some fans, and in a popular online petition, that The Princess and the Frog could serve as the inspiration for a new version of the ride. Somewhat surprisingly, a few weeks after the initial call for change, Disney announced plans to do exactly what fans had been asking for and actually claimed plans for exactly this change had already been in the works. However, due to the slow speed in ramping back up during and after the pandemic, it would be years before things would really move forward with the change.
When Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Will Open At Disneyland And Magic Kingdom
In July 2022, at the New Orleans ESSENCE Festival, Disney officially announced that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the new version of Splash Mountain, would open at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in late 2024. However, it would still be a while before any actual work was begun. Walt Disney World’s version of Splash Mountain closed in January 2023 and the one at Disneyland shuttered after Memorial Day Weekend the same year.
The large gap in closing the two Splash Mountain rides was the first indication that both rides would not open on the same schedule. If Magic Kingdom's version of Tiana didn't open until late in the year, it seemed unlikely Disneyland would be able to open until 2025. If Disneyland was on track for a late 2024 opening, then Disney World's ride would almost certainly be done sooner.
In February 2024 we received part of an answer. The new attraction at Disney World, Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disney World will open in the summer of 2024. No specific date has been revealed, but that at least gives us a window. And the attraction could even open sooner than we think. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was initially given a "summer" opening season as well, and it ended up opening Memorial Day Weekend, so Tiana could open as early as May, or as late as September and still fall into that schedule.
Disneyland's version of the attraction has been confirmed to open "later" Disnyland's Splash Mountain was slightly smaller than the Magic Kingdom version, so it might be able to complete its total construction in less time, but we're likely looking at a fall opening timeline for that ride. If Disney World can open its ride in May, we could see Disneyland happen as early as Septemeber.
The Story Of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Splash Mountain took its Song of the South inspiration and simply told a version of one of the animated sequences from the film, in the way that most traditional dark rides do. Other Disney Parks' dark rides, like Rise of the Resistance, tell original stories that are not directly related to the canon of the franchise. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is planning to do something a little different, as the ride is being promoted as a direct sequel to The Princess and the Frog.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will pick up after the events of the film, when she has started a new business, following her successful Tiana’s Palace restaurant. Tiana’s Foods is an employee-owned business that she started, even buying an old salt mine in order to transform it into a garden and kitchen where ingredients for recipes are grown and the food is actually created.
She wants to throw a party to thank everybody, and it’s Mardi Gras season, the perfect time for it. Unfortunately, Tiana is missing some key ingredients. This is where the guests on the ride come in, as they will be dispatched through the old mine to find everything she needs. Exactly how the big plunge will work into the story is unclear, but it all sounds like great fun.
The Princess And The Frog’s Voice Cast Is Returning
If you’re going to make a ride based on The Princess and the Frog movie, you’re going to need to bring those popular characters to life, and that includes their voices. One of the most exciting things about the new ride is that nearly all of the key voice actors from the movie will be back for the new ride.
Anika Noni Rose, who voiced Tiana in the original film, will be back to play the same role for the new attraction. In addition, Bruno Campos will be back as Prince Naveen, and Michael Leon Wooley will return to voice the jazz-loving trumpet player who happens to be an alligator, Louis. Jenifer Lewis, who voices Mama Odie will also be on hand.
A few more characters from the movie, including Tiana’s mother Eudora, her best friend Charlotte, and her father, “Big Daddy” are confirmed to appear in the ride, though the voice actors have not yet been confirmed to be back. That announcement may still be forthcoming, as they would include the biggest stars to be part of the ride. Big Daddy was voiced by John Goodman in the film and Eudora was brought to life by Oprah Winfrey. It’s also possible that those characters will be voiced by others, or not voiced at all and will be seen but not heard.
One character conspicuous by his absence is the villain of The Princess and the Frog. Dr. Facilier, a.k.a. the Shadowman, has not been referenced and voice actor Keith David has not been confirmed to return. The character was taken to “the other side” at the end of the original movie, so it’s possible, even likely, he simply won’t appear, but considering how popular a character he is, it’s possible the writers will find a way.
Animatronics Will Be A Big Part Of Tiana's Bayou Adventure
One of the reasons that Splash Mountain was a popular attraction for many was that it was the place to see more of Disney's audio-animatronics technology than anywhere else. Splash Mountain at Disneyland reused dozens of animatronics from the defunct America Sings shows in Tomorrowland. While Disney Parks have continued to use animatronics in attractions, we have seen instances where popular rides that used a lot of them have been closed, to be replaced by new attractions that use far fewer, or none at all.
While it's unclear if Tiana's Bayou Adventure will have quite as many animatronics as Splash Mountain, it will still have quite a number. A Disney Parks TikTok showed off one of several Tiana animatronics that we will apparently see. There will also be smaller animatronics of animals in a band.
The New Attraction Will Feature Classic Princess And The Frog Songs, As Well As New Music
The Princess and the Frog has some of the most memorable, and fun, music in the Disney animated canon. Fans are certainly going to want to hear some of that music while getting on the attraction. But, there will also be brand new music on the ride.
Maroon 5 keyboardist P.J. Morton is writing and producing a brand new piece of music for it. Trumpet player Terence Blanchard, who played all of Louis’ trumpet parts in the original movie, is handling arrangements for the music that guests will hear while waiting in the queue. This will include classic New Orleans jazz music as well as, apparently, new arrangements of music from the movie.
Tiana's Palace At Disneyland
While most attention is obviously on the brand new attraction, Tiana's Bayou Adventure isn't the only Princess and the Frog-themed new addition to a Disney Park. Tiana's Palace, a new quick-serve dining location has opened at Disneyland in New Orleans Square, just a few yards from where Tiana's Bayou Adventure will be located.
As construction on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure continues we’ll certainly learn more about what the new attraction will be like. It’s going to still be quite a while before anybody is going to get to ride it, but a lot of people are going to be very excited when that day finally comes.
