Yesterday, we saw crew members cutting into the Splash Mountain tree at Magic Kingdom. Today, the top of the tree is gone. Although the tree was originally part of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure concept art, it was later revealed that it would be removed as the ride’s backstory was altered.
Splash Mountain Tree
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 1 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6708](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6708.jpg)
At least a few feet have been cut from the top of the tree. It’s no longer clearly visible above the top level of scaffolding.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 2 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6710](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6710.jpg)
Several crew members were on the scaffolding this morning, cutting off more of the tree.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 3 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6711](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6711.jpg)
In addition to the giant tree at the mountain’s highest point, other trees on the mountain are expected to be removed.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 4 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6712](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6712.jpg)
The tree can’t be removed all at once, so crew members are progressively shaving it away. A hole was cut into the mountain façade near the roots of the tree, presumably to make removal easier.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 5 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6714](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6714.jpg)
Scaffolding covers much of the Splash Mountain façade now as it is transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
More Splash Mountain Construction
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 6 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6715](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6715.jpg)
More crew members were on the side of the mountain, near the ride track.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 7 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6716](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6716.jpg)
We couldn’t see an exact project they were working on, but we could see another small hole cut into the façade — visible in the above photo next to the crew member on the left.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 8 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6717](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6717.jpg)
A giant hole was cut into the center of the mountain a few weeks ago. A new grid of wire has been installed in the hole. This acts as a base for the shape of the faux rockwork.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 9 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6719](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6719.jpg)
A giant crane is on-site and was pointing straight up into the sky this morning.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 10 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6720](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6720.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 11 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6718](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6718.jpg)
The tarp has been pulled back from the rockwork that was cut away on the ground near the Frontierland bridge.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 12 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6721](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6721.jpg)
We also saw new wire framework down here, over some of the steel supports.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 13 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6722](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6722.jpg)
The track down here was also recently repainted.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 14 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6723](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6723.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 15 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6726](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6726.jpg)
From the Walt Disney World Railroad train station, we can see more construction on the side of the mountain.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 16 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6727](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6727.jpg)
Crew members were securing some scaffolding.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 17 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6728](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6728.jpg)
Looking down into the queue, tarps have been placed over the giant piles of dirt we saw yesterday.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 18 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6729](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6729.jpg)
The dirt comes from the excavated ground within the Splash Mountain barn. We saw crew members digging yesterday.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 19 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6732](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6732.jpg)
Various construction materials are throughout the crew, but there is no other major construction happening here right now.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 20 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6733](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6733.jpg)
Today, the barn doorway was blocked by wood and red net fencing.
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 21 splahs mountain april 2023 construction 6734](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/04/splahs-mountain-april-2023-construction-6734.jpg)
Blue net fencing surrounds the dirt piles.
Splash Mountain closed permanently in January at Walt Disney World. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is set to replace the attraction at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in 2024. Read our complete history of Splash Mountain for a look back at the classic log flume ride.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
![PHOTOS: Top of Splash Mountain Tree Removed at Magic Kingdom 22 tianas bayou adventure 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2022/07/tianas-bayou-adventure-1.jpg)
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes place after the events of “The Princess and the Frog.” Tiana’s Foods is an employee-owned community food co-op established by Tiana in 1927, following the success of her restaurant, Tiana’s Palace. The co-op is housed inside a salt mine, with growers planting crops along the old Splash Mountain waterway. Guests will ascend through a mill house built into the side of the mountain.
The attraction will follow Tiana venturing into the bayou to find animal friends. She’s hosting a party for the people of New Orleans, but it’s missing a special ingredient. Some of the original cast will be providing their voices to the attraction, including Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Bruno Campos (Naveen), Michael Leon Wooley (Louis), and Jennifer Lewis (Mama Odie).
Read more details about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure:
- Logo for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Revealed
- 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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