The art of Br’er Fox, Br’er Bear, and Br’er Rabbit in The Briar Patch gift shop over by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, formerly Splash Mountain, has all been replaced by art depicting generic forest creatures.
Br’er Rabbit & Company Replaced in The Briar Patch
Where a portrait of Br’er Rabbit once hung over the fireplace, a new art piece featuring an owl is now there.
This is what the Br’er Rabbit art looked like while it was on display.
Elsewhere in the shop, the art of Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox have also been replaced.
The Br’er Bear art that once hung over a doorway has been replaced with generic art of a bear on a log.
Here is the art depicting Br’er Bear that used to be on display.
The location of the former Br’er Fox art is now home to art of a bear cub hanging on to a tree branch.
The art for Br’er Fox included the character holding Br’er Rabbit by his ears.
This removal and replacement is just another part of the overall transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Various iconic aspects of the ride’s exterior have been changed or removed, and the main theme, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” was removed from the Disneyland Resort music loops back in 2020.
Splash Mountain permanently closed at Disneyland Park on May 31, 2023.
The Briar Patch
The Briar Patch is located in Critter Country at Disneyland Park, right next to what will be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Here, guests can purchase apparel, accessories, and pins.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The “Princess and the Frog”-inspired retheme of Splash Mountain was first announced in 2020, and the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure name was revealed in 2022.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure picks up after the events of “The Princess and the Frog.” In 1927, Tiana founded the Tiana’s Foods co-ops, which is located in a salt mine, where cultivators grow crops along the waters. During Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Tiana and alligator Louis venture into the bayou to find animal friends. They’re preparing a special Mardi Gras celebration for the people of New Orleans.
The scene depicted in the above concept art is “the thrilling moment you first drop into the bayou and encounter some friends both new and familiar.” Louis and a band of animals will be playing zydeco music, a blend of rhythm and blues that was created in Louisiana. The band of animal friends includes an otter, a rabbit, a raccoon, a beaver, and a turtle playing instruments made from natural bayou elements.
This ride will feature 17 new characters, including Prince Naveen’s younger brother, Ralphie. The Splash Mountain track will remain, but the attraction will get new set dressing and a vast range of new audio-animatronics. There will be multiple Tiana audio-animatronics, and she will sport a new adventuring outfit.
The queue and attraction music is being arranged by award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard, who will mix classic songs from the movie with New Orleans classics and original compositions. The scent of beignets is also set to be pumped throughout the queue.
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). Concept art shows Mama Odie in the crow’s nest of her crashed ship home, with colorful bottle lights hanging around her.
2024 is the anticipated year for the opening of this re-imagined experience. Tiana’s Palace restaurant will open at Disneyland Park next month on September 7.
Were you a fan of Splash Mountain? Are you excited to see the transformation of the attraction into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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