Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will replace Splash Mountain in 2024
The re-theming of Splash Mountain inspired by “The Princess and the Frog” will be called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney announced during the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans today.
The change will take place at both Magic Kingdom at Disney World and Disneyland Park in California in late 2024.
No specific dates have been announced by Disney on when the two Splash Mountains might close or how long it will take for the makeovers to take place.
The research behind the ride was discussed during a panel at the French Quarter’s historic Preservation Hall during an intimate event held in honor of ESSENCE Fest.
The attraction’s changeover was first announced in 2020. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will take guests on a musical adventure inspired by the characters from the fan-favorite film. Picking up where the film left off, guests will join Princess Tiana, Naveen and jazz-loving alligator Louis on an adventure through the bayou as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras celebration where everyone is welcome.
Along the way, guests will encounter familiar faces, make new friends and travel through the bayou to original music inspired by songs from the film as they are brought into the next chapter of Tiana’s story.
In addition to a new storyline, Disney has previously announced there will be a significant upgrade in the technology used for the attraction. “The way that we are approaching our Audio-Animatronic figures would be an example of how are looking to advance the storytelling and change the game, as well as the way we are approaching our scenic illusions and our visual effects so that we can create an immersive environment that is seamless for our guests,” Charita Carter, Senior Creative Producer Walter Disney Imagineering, has previously said.
The change came as fans have pressured Disney to retheme Splash Mountain. The current story is based on the controversial “Song of the South” film released by Disney in 1946. The movie, which includes racist depictions, was re-released in theaters over the years and was played on television, but was never released on home video. It will also never appear on Disney’s streaming service Disney+.
