During the George Floyd protests of 2020, the subject of the racial controversies behind Splash Mountain (namely its connection to Song of the South) became a trending discussion on various social media platforms, with many users petitioning some sort of retheme of the attraction.
On June 25, 2020, it was announced that the Disneyland and Magic Kingdom versions would be rethemed to The Princess and the Frog, which was the most common pick among critics as an appropriate replacement, though no plans currently exist for Tokyo's version. Disney media officials have stressed that the concept had been in development for a year prior, with the social media discourse presumably moving up the announcement timetable.[3]
The attraction's title and opening window of late 2024 was announced on July 1, 2022 at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans.[4]
Models and more details were revealed at the D23 Expo 2022.
Test rides for the attraction have been fully conducted.
Attraction Story[]
Taking place after the ending of the film around 1927, Tiana's Palace has become enough of a success that Tiana and Naveen decided to expand their business and establish an employee owned food cooperative, Tiana's Foods, which has purchased an old salt mine to serve as a headquarters. As Tiana prepares to host a large party for Mardi Gras, she and the guests journey into the bayou to find musical critters for the celebration.[5][6]
Ride Synopsis[]
Riders board eight-passenger logs, seated side-by-side. The log departs the loading area, and the log ascends two dual-chain lifts before floating gently through scenery designed to evoke the feeling of a Louisiana bayou in the southern United States, specifically New Orleans, where The Princess and the Frog is based. The homes of the three main characters and aged farm equipment are incorporated into the landscape, emanating from hidden speakers along the waterway, along with a playing of "Down in New Orleans".
The logs go up through the offices of Tiana's Foods, where they are met by Princess Tiana preparing for a celebration. She tells guests to meet with Louis and help her assemble a band for their celebration. The logs pass through gardens and find Louis hidden in the stalks searching for some musicians before happening upon a waterfall, along with an instrumental version of "Almost There". This is where the disembodied voice of Mama Odie inside her home gives the guests a message before they drop down.
After the short drop down the waterfall, guests enter the indoor portion of the attraction, a bayou at night where Louis guides them to an animal Zydeco Band, playing "Gonna Take You There", which Tiana finds. After this, they pass a Rara band of animals, which Tiana also finds.
Mama Odie then uses her magic to make the riders shrink down to size. The log reaches a dark tunnel with a beam of light shooting different colors followed by a dip-drop before becoming "tiny". Dropping into the "Ranitas Verdes Club", guests find frogs playing drums and flower trumpets as well as other musical instruments playing "Dig a Little Deeper". Fireflies old and young dance to the music, then dancing water fountains guide the log to a dark area in which Tiana and Louis observe them while bopping their heads to the music. After this, Mama Odie tells the riders that it's time to have them grow to their normal big size, because the bigger they were, the bigger the splash they would make at the party. As they begin their ascent up the final lift, a scene to the side shows Mama Odie, telling us that with this shortcut to the party, the riders would be there in no time.
At the top of this third lift hill, the log descends the 52-foot (16 m) drop at a 45-degree angle, reaching a maximum speed of 40 mph. After another outdoor flume splash segment, the log returns into the mountain, where critters play at "Fleur du Bayou", Tiana sings "Special Spice" in celebration of Mardi Gras with everyone attending. At the end, Mama Odie, standing farther away from the others, compliments the band on how good they were, as well as berating Juju for trying to steal her beignets. After exiting the log, riders could purchase a picture of their log falling at the final drop with their cards or MagicBands at the Bayou General.
Soundtrack[]
Disney has stated the attraction will feature new, original music in addition to classic music from The Princess and the Frog.[7] The songs that are heard from the attraction are listed below:
Naveen was going to have a bigger role in the ride, as shown in concept art. However, in the final ride, he only appears in the "Special Spice" finale and is silent though his voice can be heard through a radio in the queue.
Ray can be heard singing "Gonna Take You There". His voice is provided by archived audio of Jim Cummings from the film.
The absence of Dr. Facilier in the ride has resulted in backlash from fans.
Originally there was going to be a spoonbill bird as shown in one of the Tiana's Bayou Adventure posters, but it was left out in the ride for unknown reasons.
In the Tiana's Bayou Adventure Little Golden Book shows more story of the ride including a conflict with Prince Naveen having an argument with Louis the alligator over forgetting to hire band members, also a showboat is shown in the book, also a little blue bird is included in the book.
Artwork of Tiana and other characters in front of a colorful mansion created by New Orleans artist Sharika Mahdi
Artwork of a Frog Band created by New Orleans artist Sharika Mahdi
Artwork of Mama Odie and Juju created by New Orleans artist Sharika Mahdi
Concept art of Timoléon the Otter playing a makeshift fiddle
Tiana's new outfit for Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Original Hot Sauce logo
Artwork of New Orleans musician Terence Blanchard with Rufus the Turtle playing a harmonica, given to him as a gift for his contributions to Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Artwork of New Orleans musician PJ Morton with Beau the Possum playing a makeshift double bass, given to him as a gift for his contributions to Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Others[]
Sneak preview image of one of the Tiana Audio-Animatronic figures that are in the ride
Sneak preview image of one of the Tiana Audio-Animatronic figures that are in the ride.
.jpg "Tiana's Bayou Adventure Photo-Op (Disneyland).jpg (141 KB)")
.jpg "Tiana's Bayou Adventure Photo-Op (Magic Kingdom).jpg (368 KB)")
.jpg "Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction poster (Magic Kingdom).jpg (339 KB)")
