Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is slowly but surely taking shape at Disneyland as crews continue to transform the former Splash Mountain into a “Princess and the Frog”-themed attraction. We spotted a large ramp near the top of the mountain during a recent trip to the park. We’re goin’ down the bayou, takin’ you all the way — so let’s take a look at the most recent updates.
Ramp Added to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
On a few recent trips, we saw construction crew hard at work on the exterior of the former Splash Mountain structure. We could hear heavy construction work, and we saw several crew working during this visit. On our last visit, minor cosmetic changes, including removing a birdhouse, were in progress. Additionally, scaffolding was actively being constructed. Since then, the scaffolding received some more plywood for the walkways, as well as vertical metal ladders between the construction levels. On this trip, we saw a large ramp mid-construction and watched it take shape between visits.
The ramp’s angle is much steeper than the horizontal solid plywood walkway ramps, and the width of the open slat ramp has low guardrails.
The more rounded mountaintop beneath the scaffolding appears largely unchanged from our last visit.
On a subsequent visit, we saw this ramp gain more structural integrity, including guard walls and a solid bottom, for safer walking for construction crew members. Tall wooden walls have also been installed around the perimeter of this section of the construction site, with another set of scaffolding outside this new temporary wall.
Similar access ramps have been constructed around the mountain as the transformation continues.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The “Princess and the Frog”-inspired retheme of Splash Mountain was first announced in 2020, and the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure name was revealed in 2022.
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. They’re preparing 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. There will be multiple Tiana audio-animatronics, and she will sport a new adventuring outfit.
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 is also set to 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). Concept art shows Mama Odie in the crow’s nest of her crashed ship home, with colorful bottle lights hanging around her.
2024 is the anticipated year for the opening of this re-imagined experience.
Are you looking forward to visiting with Tiana, Mama Otie, and Louis on this reimagined journey? Let us know in the comments.
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