Good news for Walt Disney World parkers and fans of the former Splash Mountain water ride.
The long-awaited The Princess and the Frog-themed replacement, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, will officially open at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Orlando on June 28.
The musical ride will feature a celebration of New Orleans with dozens of animatronic characters including Princess Tiana, Mama Odie and Louis, and new animal characters including an otter, rabbit, raccoon, beaver and turtle.
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“As guests float through the cypresses and Spanish moss of a beautiful Louisiana bayou, they can see some familiar faces as part of dozens of all-new Audio-Animatronics figures,” WDW said in a release. “Along with Princess Tiana, Louis and Mama Odie, keep an eye out for Eudora, Charlotte, Prince Ralphie, Prince Naveen and more. Between iconic Disney stories, technologically advanced Audio-Animatronics figures and a thrilling drop of 50 feet, Tiana's Bayou Adventure has plenty of fun for everyone!”
The new ride will also feature artwork from local New Orleans-based artists throughout the experience.
Several Disney-focused content creators were able to preview the animatronics before the official opening.
@themagicalmillennial_ IT IS CONFIRMED! Book my flight NOW ??? #disney #disneyparks #wdw #MagicKingdom #tianasbayouadventure #princeshadhebretkosa #opening date #June #update #for you #disneyfyp @Disney Parks @Disney ♬ Central transformation _ the princess and the frog – The Raven
@patrickadougall Walt Disney Imagineering gave us a FIRST LOOK at all the new animatronics for Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening at WDW this summer and Disneyland later in the year… what do you think?! #disneyparks #wdw #tianasbayouadventure #princeshadhebretkosa ♬ Almost there – ?
“They look like animation come to life, I love it,” one fan wrote.
“Can't wait,” said another excitedly. “Tiana is one of my favorites!!!”
In December 2020, Disney World announced that would close Splash Mountain amid backlash over the ride's links to the 1946 Disney film Song of the South, which has been accused of promoting racist stereotypes.
“With this long history of updating attractions and adding new magic, the re-establishment of Splash Mountain is of particular importance today,” Disney said in a statement at the time. “The new concept is inclusive – one that all our guests can relate to and be inspired by, and speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.”
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Splash Mountain opened in 1992 at Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California in 1998. The Disney World version closed for good in January 2023 followed by the Disneyland version in May 2023.
The Disneyland version of the California ride is set to open later this year, though no official release date has been given.