Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Dates Announced!

The news is finally here! Disney announced this week that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be opening in Walt Disney World on June 28 (an opening date for California Adventure Park is still to come). Tiana will welcome Guests back to Frontierland in an all-new flume adventure on the former site of Splash Mountain (which closed on January 23, 2023). The excitement has been building for the last several months as progress was being made on the attraction. Visitors to the Magic Kingdom got to see the final touches put on the mountain in recent weeks, and videos of test runs and sneak peeks at the whimsical characters waiting to greet us have been all over social media. (You can take a peek at our recent post highlighting the new Animatronics and colorful critters here!)

Get ready to join Princess Tiana, Mama Odie, Louis, and all their friends on a thrilling adventure set against the backdrop of a musical New Orleans celebration. This new attraction will feature dozens of Audio-Animatronics figures, a foot-tapping soundtrack, and a celebration where everyone’s welcome.

Lots to See (and Smell!)

As you float through the cypress trees and Spanish moss of a beautiful Louisiana bayou, you’ll see some familiar faces along the way. In addition to Princess Tiana, Louis and Mama Odie, keep an eye out for Eudora, Charlotte, Prince Ralphie, Prince Naveen and others. What’s that you say? You’re here for the thrills? Don’t worry, Disney has you covered!! Fans of the old Splash Mountain will be glad to know that all of those wet and wild thrills are all part of this new adventure, including the legendary 50-foot drop into the Bayou! You may (will?) get wet, you may get soaked!

The new queue will continue Disney’s recent trend of imaginative new queues that make waiting for the attraction half the fun! As you make your way through the mountain’s interior, you’ll discover artwork from Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite. You’ll also come across an original metalwork weathervane from third-generation master blacksmith, Darryl Reeves and his apprentice, Karina Roca. The look of the attraction itself was heavily inspired by New Orleans artist Sharika Mahdi.

But it’s not all about the visual senses! You’ll be able to catch a whiff of the sweet scent of beignets being kept warm in the oven – reminiscent of strolling through the French Quarter – as part of the attraction queue. As Disney themselves said, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is stuffed with more authentic New Orleans/Crescent City artistry than Charlotte is with Tiana’s “man-catching” beignets!

Don’t Forget the Music!

Music is at the heart of New Orleans, and you’ll be tapping you toes all throughout your splashing adventure thanks in part to adorable critters, who play instruments made of natural materials found in the bayou. Tiana’s new friends include an otter, a rabbit, a racoon, a beaver, a turtle and more. Their spirited stylings will turn the bayou into a party with Zydeco, Rara, and Afro-Cuban music authentic to the region of New Orleans. There will be new, original music alongside favorite tunes from the film, created in collaboration with award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard.

In addition to musical critters, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure welcomes talent voices from the film as they reprise their roles, including Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen, Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, and the one and only Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana.

Dreams Do ComeTrue in New Orleans

The heart of Tiana’s story reminds us that everyone has the potential to make their dreams a reality. With teams of Imagineers, Disney Animation artists, Cast Members and Louisiana artisans working together, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is sure to pass a good time when it opens at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on June 28, 2024, and later in 2024 at Disneyland Park in California!

You can read more about “The Princess and the Frog” in the upcoming Summer issue of Celebrations Disney Magazine!

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