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Disney’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Splash Mountain) Update

Posted by: Steven Wilk April 29, 2023

Splash Mountain Update

Announced in 2020, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is an upcoming attraction at the Magic Kingdom inspired by The Princess and the Frog (2009). It utilized the same ride system and layout as Splash Mountain did for over 30 years. The new attraction is set to open in 2024, both at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park in Anaheim. The storyline behind the ride is that it takes place inside Tiana’s Foods, a co-op located within a salt mine. Riders will board the former Splash Mountain station and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Louisiana Bayou as they see what happens after Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen were married at the end of the film.

Princess and Frog Characters

Credit: Disney

A Re-Imagined Adventure

The new ride will feature audio-animatronic characters from The Princess and the Frog (2009), including Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis, and Mama Odie. The movie’s original voice actors are set to return and lend their voices to the iconic characters once again.

The ride will also contain new and original music, and the queue will feature the scent of beignets.

Although many are hopeful Disney will deliver a worthy successor to its most popular attraction at Magic Kingdom, many others are sad to see elements of Splash Mountain be permanently removed. Construction has already begun as the tree has been taken down, and scaffolding has gone up around the queue.

RELATED: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Makes Major Progress as Construction on Splash Mountain Continues

A Splash of History

Splash Mountain opened at Walt Disney World in 1992 as the Park’s first official water ride. It was themed around animated segments from the controversial Disney film Song of the South (1946), although named after the movie Splash (1984) with Tom Hanks. It also featured songs from Song of the South (1946), including the Academy-Award winning Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.

splash-mountain

Credit: Disney

A Mountain of Controversy

Disney first revealed that it would be closing both the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park versions of Splash Mountain to try and distance the company from the troubled history of the movie that inspired it. This film has been swept under the rug by Disney for years, with the company making it one of the few original films not available on the Disney+ streaming service.

Although finding the movie is difficult, copies of the original film exit online along with Youtube videos showing the Splash Mountain ride experience from beginning to end. Well, except for getting soaked by the unusually scented water.

RELATED: Disney Confirms Closing Date for Splash Mountain

About Steven Wilk

Steven has a complicated relationship with Disney. As a child, he visited Walt Disney World every few years with his family. But he never understood why kids his age (and older) were so scared of Snow White or Alien Encounter. He is a former participant of the Disney College Program (left early…long story), and he also previously worked in Children’s publishing, where he adapted multiple Disney movies and TV shows. He has many controversial opinions about Disney…like having a positive view of Michael Eisner, believing Return of the Jedi is superior to The Empire Strikes Back, and that Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge should have never been built (at least not at Hollywood Studios). Every year for the past two decades, Steven has visited either Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani or went on a Disney Cruise. He’s happy to share any and all knowledge of the Disney destinations (and he likes using parenthesis a lot…as well as ellipses…)