Disney Reveals Opening Timeline for 'Princess and the Frog' Ride — and It's Earlier Than Expected

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is replacing Splash Mountain, is slated to open this summer at Walt Disney World.

Well, we’re almost there.

Walt Disney World has announced an opening season for its newest attraction inspired by the culture of New Orleans and the beloved film. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, replacing the former Splash Mountain, will open this summer at the Florida theme park resort, Disney announced Tuesday.

As part of the announcement, Disney shared that major construction milestones were “flying by” and the attraction will include dozens of new audio-animatronics, including Princess Tiana, Louis, Mama Odie, Eudora, Charlotte, Prince Ralphie, and Prince Naveen, amongst others. Cutting edge technology will be used with these new audio-animatronics for more fluid than ever movement, similar to ones that debuted in Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen.

The completely reimagined log-flume style attraction at Magic Kingdom Park, opening sooner than previously announced, will follow where the 2009 Walt Disney Animation Studios film left off and dig a little deeper in Princess Tiana’s story. Before guests journey down the bayou, they will wander through an immersive French Quarter-inspired queue where the scent of freshly fried beignets will be piped throughout. During the “musical adventure” guests will join beloved characters, including Princess Tiana and jazz-aficionado alligator Louis, and new friends as they make preparations for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.

The ride will introduce a “whole swampful of new neighbors with friendly critters” who happen to be musically talented and built their own instruments from natural resources found in the bayou.

For the attraction, Anika Noni Rose will once again lend her voice to the character of Princess Tiana along with Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen, Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie, and Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis.

Since the closure of Splash Mountain, Disney has slowly released updates on the highly anticipated, immersive attraction. When Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens, guests can expect new original music collaborated with industry legends PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard fusing “jazz, zydeco music, and more” alongside tunes from the film. And Disney fans will be delighted to know that the familiar 50-foot, five-story drop will welcome screams once again as it will be intertwined into the ride’s story.

An opening date for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the Disneyland Resort has not yet been announced but is anticipated to open later in 2024.

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