Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom is being transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with an expected opening date in late 2024. Cats are the first “guests” to explore the attraction, but we can only see it from over and around construction walls.
Splash Mountain Construction
Scaffolding covers the mountain, where trees have been removed to make way for Louisiana bayou theming.
One gnarled tree and a stump remain on the right side of the mountain.
The tree that once sat atop the mountain has been completely removed. Early Tiana’s Bayou Adventure concept art showed Mama Odie’s boat in the tree, but as the new attraction’s story changed, the boat and tree were removed.
Behind the construction walls, we can see the patched-up hole in the front of the mountainous façade. It has yet to be repainted to match the reddish-brown rockwork.
We didn’t see any crew members working on the mountain during our Thursday morning trip but we could hear construction work taking place inside the mountain.
Another tree was recently removed from the left side of the mountain.
This yellow tube draped through scaffolding is likely for ventilation and creating negative pressure areas for dust.
Splash Mountain Flume
Early construction has also been focused on the bottom of the ride’s flume beneath the Frontierland bridge.
Rockwork has been torn down and reconstructed around the flume and in the tunnels.
A ride envelope sits to the side of the track. An envelope is a contraption that gets sent along the track of a ride to test the ride’s safety. The wide outer rim of the envelope checks the ride’s clearance. This is to ensure guests don’t bump into anything while they are on board the ride.
Since new rockwork has been installed, the envelope is necessary to check clearance.
Like the hole on the mountain, the new rockwork down here hasn’t been painted and stands out as white against the reddish-brown façade.
Crew members were walking around the track during our visit, but we didn’t see any active construction.
Splash Mountain Queue
Meanwhile, there are red marks of spray paint all over the ground of the Splash Mountain queue.
This paint likely marks where the pavement will be torn up.
The pavement isn’t the most highly-themed part of any attraction, so probably won’t have a significant update for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, but it’s good to replace it after many years of use.
The wooden crate near this queue entrance housed writing for the FastPass / Lightning Lane “tapstiles” that have been removed.
It looks like work may have already begun on tearing up the flooring.
Some SkudoBoard has been leaning against the barn’s outer wall for weeks. SkudoBoard is used to protect the ground from construction vehicles.
Earlier this month, we saw crew members shoveling dirt from inside the barn into a pile outside. The interior flooring of the barn had been torn up.
Since then, the dirt pile has been covered in a tarp and surrounded by blue net fencing.
Steel beams are staged next to the dirt pile.
We could see more spray paint markings on the ground around the barn.
A giant fan sits just outside the barn’s entrance, which is blocked by net fencing.
Metal railings are staged in a workstation in the back of the queue.
Splash Mountain closed permanently in January at Walt Disney World and is scheduled to close in May at Disneyland. Read our complete history of Splash Mountain for a look back at the classic log flume ride.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure invites you to embark on a thrilling voyage, influenced by the beloved film, “The Princess and the Frog.” It picks up where the story concluded and includes many of the characters from the movie.
According to the official release, Disney states guests will “join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis during Mardi Gras season as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans.” The story will feature Louis and a few other good friends enjoying zydeco, a musical fusion of rhythm and blues native to Louisana.
The new attraction will take place inside Tiana’s Foods, a co-op that helps provide food for the community. Founded in 1927 by Tiana, the co-op is located within a salt mine, where cultivators grow crops along the former path of Splash Mountain’s waters. Visitors will ascend to the co-op through a mill house that is constructed into the mountainside, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Louisiana bayou.
Read more details about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure using the links below:
- First Look at Tiana’s New Outfit for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Model at D23 Expo 2022 Shows Removal of Iconic Splash Mountain Tree
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Backstory and More Information Revealed at D23 Expo 2022
- More Details Revealed for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Story, Original Cast Returning
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