Tiana's Bayou Adventure, The Princess and the Frog-themed ride that will be replacing Splash Mountain, will officially open at Walt Disney World in Florida on June 28, 2024.
Disney Parks revealed the news in a blog post and on American Idol's Disney Night, sharing that guests will soon be able to "join beloved characters Princess Tiana, Mama Odie, Louis, and all-new friends on a thrilling adventure, all set against the music and excitement of a New Orleans celebration." Eudora, Charlotte, Prince Ralphie, and others will also be part of the fun.
There will be "dozens" of Audio-Animatronics during the ride, and many of the film's original voice actors will be reprising their roles for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, including Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana, Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen, Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie, and Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis.
There will also be some new characters thrown in the mix for this ride, including some critters like an otter, a rabbit, a raccoon, a beaver, a turtle, and more who play instruments "made of natural materials found in the bayou." Furthermore, they will all be showcasing their Zydeco, Rara, and Afro-Cuban musical skills in a tribute to music that is authentic to the region of New Orleans. Oh, there will be new music from award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard that will join favorites from the film.
The ride will also honor New Orleans with artwork from Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite for the queue, an original metalwork weathervane from third-generation master blacksmith, Darryl Reeves and his apprentice, Karina Roca, and art from New Orleans artist Sharika Mahdi which was an inspiration for the attraction "from the beginning."
And you know this wouldn't be a New Orleans-inspired attraction without some beignets, and guests will even be able to catch the scent of the delicious treats as they walk through the attraction queue.
Tiana's Bayou Adventure will continue the story that was told in 2009's The Princess and the Frog, and will see Tiana throwing a Mardi Gras party to thank her loved ones and those in the community who helped make her dream come true of opening Tiana's Palace. And don't worry, while there is so much new here, Splash Mountain's 50-foot drop will be returning for this ride.
For those of you who are Florida-based Disney Cast Members, Annual Passholders, or eligible Disney Vacation Club Members, you may get a chance to ride Tiana's Bayou Adventure before its grand opening. Be sure to keep an eye out for more details on May 14.
Lastly, Disneyland will be getting its own Tiana's Bayou Adventure later this year, but we still don't have a firm date. Either way, we're almost there!
If you can't wait for the attraction to open, be sure to check out more details on Tiana's Bayou Adventure and where The Princess and the Frog and Tiana rank in our lists of the best Disney Animated movies and Disney Princesses, respectively.
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Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
