Disney’s classic Splash Mountain attraction is being transformed into a swinging musical journey with Tiana and friends, and on July 1, 2022 Disney disclosed the attraction’s new name will be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The reimagined attraction, which will bring guests into the world of Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” is coming to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida and to Disneyland park in California in late 2024.
The initial announcement for the attraction refresh in June 2020 included the storyline for the ride. According to that announcement, guests pick up just after the final kiss, and join Princess Tiana and Louis as they prepare for their first Mardi Gras performance.
In addition to the name of the attraction, on July 1, 2022, Disney Imagineers shared further details of the attraction’s redesign research process in New Orleans, during a special event connected to ESSENCE Fest – a festival (associated with ESSENCE Magazine) to empower Black women. Imagineers have made multiple trips to New Orleans to learn about the region and ensure Tiana’s Bayou Adventure reflects the heart and soul of the city that inspired Princess Tiana’s story. Their learning journey has included exploring the region’s unique features as well as consulting with academics, chefs, musicians and cultural institutions, and consulting with local experts.
In Carmen Smith’s (SVP, Creative Development) Disney Blog post, Charita Carter, (Imagineering’s Executive Producer of Relevancy Activations) characterizes Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as “a love letter to New Orleans.” Carter continued, “Like the musical city that inspired this attraction, Tiana’s second act is about a community working in harmony to achieve something extraordinary. She reminds us of an immutable truth we can all relate to: ‘if you do your best each and every day, good things are sure to come your way.’ And that’s a melody we can all sing along to!”
