More details are being added to the colorful mural across the barn in the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue at Magic Kingdom. The new attraction, which is replacing Splash Mountain, has been under construction since early 2023 and is expected to open in late 2024.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Mural
The barn was repainted yellow this summer and the mural began appearing soon after. Right now, it’s mostly blocked from view by Skudo boards propped up on scaffolding.
The mural began on the other side of the barn, while the new additions are on a wall facing the Frontierland train station.
These pieces don’t appear to be the final mural, but some kind of stencil or guide for painters. On the top half are swirls of color with music notes and berries.
On the bottom half is a row of trees, with more music notes moving between them.
The mural is next to the barn doors and window.
From the train station, we got another view. A yellow songbird is pictured with plants and a rainbow.
This guide piece is labeled “Bottom Left 1.” It looks like a painted tarp taped to the barn.
More plants are visible through the scaffolding.
It’s possible that when completed, the mural will wrap completely around the barn.
As we waited for the train, we saw an Imagineer work on the mural. He appeared to be rubbing the tarp with a cloth.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Queue
Meanwhile, work continues on the attraction’s queue.
Part of the construction project involved demolishing the old train station exit.
A new exit ramp is under construction. A series of vertical wood poles outline the new structure, extending from the pre-existing platform.
A couple of crew members were working below the station, behind a curved concrete wall. Another curved wall is topped with bricks.
Rocks outline future pathways and planters.
Much of the queue’s pavement was torn up to be redone.
Some rocks are held in wire frames, ready for future installation.
On the other side of the train station, several crew members were continuing to lay brick atop another curved planter wall.
A steel grid on the ground shows where fresh concrete will soon be poured.
Most of this planter is now lined with red brick.
Construction materials sit throughout the rest of the queue.
There are three large Knaack storage units.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
A new “Princess and the Frog”-inspired attraction was first announced to replace Splash Mountain in 2020. The Tiana’s Bayou Adventure name was revealed in 2022. Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom closed permanently in January 2023.
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 as they prepare 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 will 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).
Are you excited to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Let us know in the comments.
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