Disney World's newest attraction gets official opening date

ORLANDO, Fla. (WKRC) - The highly anticipated re-themed attraction, formerly Splash Mountain, will open this summer.

Disney World's iconic log flume ride, Splash Mountain, closed down on May 30, 2023 to undergo a theme change following controversy surrounding the ride's original inspiration, Song of the South. Disney announced it would be replacing the antiquated animatronics and other visual elements with characters from The Princess and the Frog, the 2009 animated film following Tiana and her amphibious Prince Naveen.

After months of teasing, Sarah Riles, Vice President of Magic Kingdom Park, announced that Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open on June 28, 2024, at Walt Disney World and at a presently unannounced date later this year in Disneyland Park in California.

"Join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis on their journey through a shimmering bayou as they prepare for a spirited celebration during Mardi Gras season," reads the official ride description on Disney World's website. "Along the way, you'll see familiar faces and make new friends as you're brought into the next chapter of Tiana's inspiring story."

"Tiana's Bayou Adventure will also feature original music and some familiar tunes from the beloved movie, and so much more... including an incredibly thrilling 50-foot drop!" said Riles on Disney Parks Blog.

The thematic facelift is Disney's reaction to the long-standing controversy surrounding Song of the South. Disney explained its philosophy behind the change in a press release from 2020.

"The retheming of Splash Mountain is of particular importance today," said Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director for Disneyland Resort. "The new concept is inclusive – one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year."

"We continually evaluate opportunities to enhance and elevate experiences for our guests," said Carmen Smith, the Creative Development and Inclusive Strategies Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering. "It's important that our guests be able to see themselves in the experiences we create."