Disney announced the re-theming of Splash Mountain in 2020, but we haven’t heard a ton of updates since then.
So far, we know that the re-themed ride will feature characters from Princess and the Frog with a Mardi Gras finale and a storyline that takes place after the last scene in the movie. And we have BIG NEWS — we finally know what the re-themed ride will be named!
We were invited to attend the ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana, where a panel gathered to discuss more details about the Princess and the Frog Splash Mountain re-theme. The panel was moderated by Victoria Uwumarogie, with panel members Charita Carter, Ted Robledo, and Stella Chase.
And guess what! The panel revealed the NEW name for the ride — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! And that’s not all. They also announced that the ride will officially open in late 2024 in both Disneyland and Disney World! We don’t know yet when Splash Mountain will close for construction.
Walt Disney Imagineers have been traveling to Louisiana to give Tiana’s Bayou Adventure authenticity and inspiration from New Orleans, and Charita Carter, executive producer of relevancy activations at Walt Disney Imagineering, said, “In many ways, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a love letter to New Orleans.”
Disney has previously released concept art and shared that the new story of the ride will take place immediately after the final kiss between Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen, with everyone heading out into the bayou for an adventure.
You can learn more about the plans for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure below!
We’ll be watching closely for more updates regarding the closure of Splash Mountain, but if you’re in the mood for a different boat ride in Magic Kingdom, you might want to check out Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Liberty Square Riverboat, and it’s a small world!
What do you think of the new name?? Keep checking back with AllEars for more Disney World news!
Check out the opening timeline for Tiana’s Bayou Adventures here!
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Are you excited about the new name? Tell us in the comments!
I’m another one who doesn’t approve of this change (not that Disney even cares about a guest opinion). A mountain in a swamp in Frontierland? Yep, that sounds about right for Disney. Might as well change Expedition Everest to a tropical rainforest. I’m going to bet it’ll projections like Mickey Runaway. Like other attractions that have been changed, I’m sure Disney will make a mess of this one as well.
I hate everything about this.
Does a bayou area even have mountains? I am NOT a fan of this. I agree with a previous post – this is a longer, less catchy name and will ruin an iconic attraction. Again.
I understand how they could update the ride but a new name??? Nooooooooo my heart is crushed.
Also they should have done a Moana theme it’s way better than princess and the frog and has amazing music. Imagine right before the drop you hear, “I AM MOANAAAAAA” and then you meet Tafiti.
boo. disney completely whiffed here; splash mountain is made for pocahontas and port orleans is made for princess and the frog.
No way that replaces Splash Mountain. What were they thinking? They took a name that’s easy to remember, iconic, and ties in with the other mountains in the park and turned it into something bland, generic, longer. This keeps getting worse and worse, but what can you expect when they put accounts in change instead of real imagineers?!
I am really disappointed in the change, I suppose it tracks with Disney’s current culture but Splash Mountain is iconic and will have a place in my heart forever, I’m not sure I would wait in a 90-minute line to see my fond memories erased.