There have been some major changes to Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom recently as the old attraction is turned into the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Crews are painting a mural on the barn in the ride’s queue and they removed the Br’er Rabbit weathervane. But work also continues on minor details of the mountain.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Construction
Trees were removed from this peninsula and new sod was placed several weeks ago now. A green tube is around the peninsula, at the edge of the flume.
We haven’t seen much work in this area recently, but during Wednesday’s trip, we saw crew members in the lefthand tunnel under the bridge.
Earlier this month, some of the fake rock was torn away from the right wall. It has since been reconstructed around a square panel.
One crew member was sweeping up debris.
Scaffolding covers most of the actual mountain. Over the past several weeks, new artificial foliage has been placed, transforming the Western mountain into a Louisiana bayou.
We saw some crew members on the right side of the mountain, near the remaining tree. New rockwork below the tree has been painted the same reddish-brown as the rest of the mountain.
Dark green moss creeps up the rocks at the front and center of the mountain.
A steel framework is across the top of the mountain, where a large tree used to be. The framework is the beginning of a new roof/peak.
Plywood now covers the front of the millhouse, through which the ride ascends the mountain.
Around the corner, we saw more moss on the rocks around the tree.
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. At Destination D23, Disney shared a look at a Louis animatronic.
There will be multiple Tiana audio-animatronics, and she will sport a new adventuring outfit. In June, Disney shared video of a live performer wearing the outfit, suggesting Tiana will appear in her adventuring gear off the attraction, too.
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).
Tiana’s Palace at Disneyland just opened and Tiana debuted another new outfit. Read our review of Tiana’s Palace.
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