Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Storyline and Ride Details in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
All photos ©Disney unless otherwise noted
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is opening in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World on June 28th! The attraction was originally announced in 2020 as a reimagining of Splash Mountain at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, with Walt Disney Imagineering beginning work on the project in 2019. Splash Mountain closed January 23rd, 2023 at Walt Disney World and May 31st, 2023 at Disneyland with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure slated to open in 2024 on both coasts. For all the story and ride details for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, read on!
Everything We Know So Far About Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
Storyline & Ride Details
The story for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will pick up after Walt Disney Studios’ The Princess and the Frog (2009). It also takes place after Tiana has found success with Tiana’s Palace, the restaurant she owns. The ride will take guests on a musical adventure through the bayou while Tiana and friends prepare to host a one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras celebration as a thank-you for the community’s support for Tiana’s Foods, Tiana’s newest venture.
Tiana’s Foods is the next chapter of the story for Tiana as she continues to grow her businesses. The queue will display the story of Tiana’s Foods, an employee-owned cooperative located in an aging salt mine. Tiana purchased the salt mine and area surrounding a large salt dome and revived the salt mine and surrounding land with the help of her mother, Eudora, Prince Naveen, Louis, and fellow owners of the cooperative. The mine became a boutique farm and working / teaching kitchen where they grow vegetables, herbs, and spices for recipes, teach gardening and cooking, inspire women to run successful businesses of their own, and create new products, including a line of original hot sauces. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will invite guests into Tiana’s Foods to meet Tiana and help get ready for the party.
While Princess Tiana is getting ready to throw a big Mardi Gras party, there’s a mix-up between Louis and Prince Naveen that leaves Tiana without a band. Tiana and Louis will take guests into the bayou in a search of music for the party and find adorable bands of musical critters. For more information about these brand new characters, see this post!
The ride will feature Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis, Eudora, Mama Odie, Charlotte “Lottie” La Bouff, Eli “Big Daddy” La Bouff, the King and Queen of Maldonia, Prince Ralphie, and more. New original characters with names and distinct personalities will join the familiar faces on the ride including a band of adorable critters featuring an otter, rabbit, raccoon, beaver, turtle, and others singing and playing Zydeco-style music with instruments made out of natural materials and human-made found objects. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will feature some music from the film and some original music inspired by the film composed for the attraction.
In addition to the queue sharing the story of Tiana’s Foods and everything Tiana has been up to since The Princess and the Frog, it will also share more backstory for Tiana’s father, James, a decorated World War I veteran. The queue features created photos of James during WWI and his time serving in the military. Disney Imagineers were inspired by real soldiers who served in the 369th Regiment, one of the first African American regiments to serve during World War I with the American Expeditionary Forces. Many members of the 369th were awarded the Croix de Guerre medal by the French government and were known for their bravery. Imagineers were also inspired by military family members, including project lead Charita Carter’s father and sister, both military members. Many photos can be found in the queue featuring Tiana’s family, her life experiences, creation of Tiana’s Foods, and more.
On April 2nd, Disney Parks Blog released the first attraction poster for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World, featuring Tiana, popular characters, new critters, and more! Check it out below.
The attraction will feature an on-ride PhotoPass photo with the option to download with Memory Maker and PhotoPass ride photo kiosks at the exit of the ride. Check out the ride photo format below! Unfortunately PhotoPass was not up and running yet at our cast preview - and we didn’t make it all the way to the big drop - but hopefully we’ll be able to get a photo at our Annual Passholder preview!
Disney Parks shared a full ride through POV of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom prior to previews and opening day on June 1st. Check it out below!