Disney has revealed the name and opening date of its The Princess and the Frog-themed attraction, which will replace Splash Mountain at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Described as a “musical journey with Tiana and friends” by Carmen Smith, senior vice president of creative development at Walt Disney Imagineering, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is opening at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in 2024.
“Walt Disney Imagineers have been frequent travelers to Louisiana while conducting extensive research to ensure Tiana’s Bayou Adventure preserves the heart and soul of the city that inspired Princess Tiana’s story,” Smith said.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is based on the story and characters from The Princess and the Frog (2009). Disney revealed plans to overhaul its log flume ride in 2020.
“In many ways, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a love letter to New Orleans,” said Charita Carter, executive producer of relevancy activations at Walt Disney Imagineering.
“Like the musical city that inspired this attraction, Tiana’s second act is about a community working in harmony to achieve something extraordinary.”
Princess Tiana’s new look
The replacement attraction picks up where the film ends. Guests join Tiana, Naveen and Louis on a musical adventure through the bayou as they get ready to host a Mardi Gras celebration.
Ida Muldrow, costume designer for Disney Live Entertainment, revealed Tiana’s new look for the ride. “Our efforts are a tribute to the beauty and dignity of all the proud Black women who came before us,” she said.
“Tiana was equally at home in the bayou as she was at a banquet,” Muldrow said. “We wanted her look to reflect that, and be a compliment to the story’s setting.”
For Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney is removing elements from 1946’s Song of the South. The film has been accused of perpetuating racist stereotypes.
Images: Disney
