Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida — Courtesy: Walt Disney World Website
Disney has formally announced the opening date of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World and is inviting visitors to “drop on in” this summer.
At Orlando’s Magic Kingdom, the ride—which was once known as Splash Mountain—will start taking visitors on a “musical adventure” on June 28, Disney revealed on Sunday.
A press statement describes the new attraction as having “dozens of Audio-Animatronics figures, a foot-tapping soundtrack, and a celebration where everyone’s welcome.”
The 2009 film “Princess and the Frog” star Princess Tiana will be accompanied by Mama Odie, Louis, and “adorable critters” who are playing musical instruments.
“Their spirited stylings will turn the bayou into a party with Zydeco, Rara, and Afro-Cuban music authentic to the region of New Orleans,” Disney stated.
The new attraction will be available for use by cast members based in Florida, yearly pass holders, and qualified Disney Vacation Club members first. On Tuesday, details about the previews will begin to surface.
Disney has been providing updates on the Disney Parks Blog, allowing fans to be actively involved in the ride’s reimagining. Fans of Disney have been recording ride tests of the logs falling 50 feet.
When Splash Mountain closed for business in January 2023, it shattered a Walt Disney World record. The website Thrill Data, which tracks wait times at amusement parks, reports that fans stood in line for almost four hours—a startling 220 minutes—just to enjoy one more ride.
The well-known water attraction, which includes a steep drop, drew criticism on social media for using music and characters from the 1946 animated picture “Song of the South,” which has been accused of using racist stereotypes about the South after the Civil War.
The attraction, which debuted in 1992, was one of Disney’s most recognizable icons for many years despite criticism.
Later this year, Disneyland Park in California will also unveil Tiana’s Bayou Adventure; however, an official opening date has not yet been disclosed.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
