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With Disneyland Park officially closing Splash Mountain this week, Disney has begun to release more details on the ride that will replace it.
Credit: ITM Thomas H.
New Music
I speak about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is set to open in 2024 at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park and Anaheim’s Disneyland Park. It has just been announced that the new attraction will feature original music from award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard.
RELATED: Where to See ‘Homeless’ Tiana at Disney World
Morton will be writing, arranging, and producing original music for the ride and alternative renditions of songs from The Princess and The Frog (2009). Meanwhile, Blanchard, involved during the film’s original production playing Louis the Alligator’s trumpet in various scenes, is working on music for the queue line.
NEW: Disney announced award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard are collaborating with Disney on the music guests will hear in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure when it opens next year at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. pic.twitter.com/l32rBpHzRM
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) June 1, 2023
New Audio-Animatronics
Disney has also announced that the ride will feature new audio-animatronics developed by Walt Disney Imagineering, including Prince Naveen’s brother playing drums and 17 original Disney characters not in the 2009 movie. It will also include audio-animatronics of Princess Tiana, Mama Odie, and Prince Naveen.
NEW: Disney says “brand-new Audio-Animatronics figures” in the attraction will bring “sounds of New Orleans to life.” This includes Prince Naveen’s brother, Ralphie, shown playing the drums in one scene and a "band of friendly critters playing joyful Zydeco-style music." pic.twitter.com/8dlYZJ708Y
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) June 1, 2023
In addition to the rethemed Splash Mountain ride, the Disneyland Resort will also be introducing a new themed restaurant called Tiana’s Palace.
Credit: Disney
RELATED: Splash Mountain/Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Update
More details about the new ride are expected over the next year as Disney Park fans eagerly await the new attraction. Although Splash Mountain holds a special place for many Disney Guests, it has been controversial for years. Even without the controversy, basing a ride on a movie that not many people saw (and the studio then tried to pretend never existed) was an odd choice. Perhaps Splash Mountain would still be standing today, had Imagineers created the attraction with all new characters (like Disney used to do with attractions like the Haunted Mansion and The Enchanted Tiki Room).
Credit: Disney
RELATED: Another Classic Disney Ride Closes Forever
And just like Frozen (2013) taking over Maelstrom, The Princess and the Frog (2009) deserves to have an original brand-new attraction built instead of retheming of an existing classic. But it’s better to have something tied to the movie than nothing at all…right?
