The Br’er Rabbit weathervane that sat atop the barn cupola in the queue area of the former Splash Mountain attraction at Magic Kingdom has been removed as crews continue its transformation into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Br’er Rabbit Weathervane Removed
The peak of the barn now lacks any decor. For reference, below is a photo of the weathervane that previously sat atop the barn.
The weathervane depicted Br’er Rabbit, who was the protagonist of the Splash Mountain attraction that occupied the impending space of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom from 1992 – 2023. The ride was long deemed controversial due to its inclusion of characters from “Song of the South,” a racially insensitive Walt Disney-produced film released in 1946. The attraction’s ultimate closure and re-theming into a “The Princess and the Frog” attraction was announced in 2020.
Scaffolding was constructed on the roof of the barn and around the weathervane in the days leading up to its removal, but its removal was not confirmed. Crews had worked on the roof of the barn in the past, and the weathervane had remained unaltered. Some Cast Members had even speculated that the Br’er Rabbit weathervane would remain a part of the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue as a nod to an attraction that formerly occupied the space.
The removal of the Br’er Rabbit weathervane at Magic Kingdom comes shortly after Disney removed Splash Mountain-themed art from The Briar Patch gift shop at Disneyland Park. Wooden carvings of Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Bear, and Br’er Fox were replaced with generic art depicting woodland creatures.
The removal of the weathervane is just an additional alteration to the several that have been made to the queue barn over the past few months. The structure was painted yellow in July, and work on vibrantly colored murals on the side of the barn began in August.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
On Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, guests will join Tiana, Naveen, Louis the music-loving alligator, and other characters both familiar and brand new as they embark on an adventure to prepare for a Mardi Gras party. “Dozens” of audio-animatronics will be constructed for the attraction, with ride and queue music set to be composed by award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard. Complementing the New Orleans jazz-inspired soundtrack will be the sweet and appetizing aroma of beignets, which Disney previously announced would be pumped into the queue.
Guests will hear a few familiar voices on the ride, as a number of voice actors, including Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Bruno Campos (Naveen), and Michael Leon Wooley (Louis), will reprise their roles from the 2009 animated feature. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song) and remains Disney’s most recent foray into theatrically-released traditional animation.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is currently scheduled to open at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park in late 2024.
Are you sad to see the Br’er Rabbit weathervane go? Let us know in the comments.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.