A cat decided to take a scenic stroll on the empty rivers of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as construction continues around the site. Perhaps they were feeling nostalgic for Splash Mountain, or hoping for a sneak peek of the upcoming re-themed attraction — we may never fully understand the mysterious motivations behind this unexpected but welcome visitor.
Autumn (@manyadventuresofautumn), a former Walt Disney World Cast Member, shared footage of the scene on TikTok. At the time of posting, the video has amassed more than 208,000 views.
Regardless, we are sure the Imagineers were pleasantly surprised to find someone willing to give them a little extra security and a second opinion on their progress. Perhaps we have ourselves a new mascot?
The cat was spotted trotting along a portion of the retired Splash Mountain immediately after the drop, where the logs once turned back around toward the final “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” show sequence. This arguably makes our little friend the first non-Imagineer to visit the Bayou, and we certainly hope they had a fun ride.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Launching in 2024
Splash Mountain closed earlier this year to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — a “Princess and the Frog” re-theme and overhaul of the attraction that is slated to debut in 2024. Aside from the fact that it will continue to be a log flume, visual details are relatively scarce. New concept art released from Disney did offer a bit more insight on some of the story, providing a glimpse at one particular scene featuring Mama Odie, likely singing her featured song “Dig a Little Deeper” from the film.
Both new and old characters will appear throughout the attraction, with new audio-animatronics, new music mixed in with the original movie soundtrack, the aroma of beignets pumped throughout the queue, and the return of characters from the 2009 film.
Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, and Michael Leon Wooley are all set to reprise their roles as Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, and Louis, respectively.
Construction on the former Splash Mountain is ongoing, and crews were seen today assessing and working among the network of scaffolding in place. The iconic tree atop the mountain is now gone, and several additional cosmetic changes are likely to appear soon.
We previously reported various holes in the mountain façade being patched, most notably at the immediate bottom of the drop. Some of the decorative rocks simply aren’t there, and the façade is exposed.
If you’re still hoping for one last sentimental ride on this historic Disney attraction, there is a small amount of time remaining for the original version in Disneyland Park. Splash Mountain is still operational there; however, the final day has been announced as May 31. This will be the absolute last opportunity to experience this ride in its original form in the United States before it’s gone forever.
There’s a great deal of work remaining before this new experience opens, and we will continually share updated information as it arrives.
Will you be visiting Magic Kingdom in 2024 for the grand opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Let us know if you’ll be following this cat’s lead in the comments below!
Read more details about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure below:
- Logo for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Revealed
- First Look at Tiana’s New Outfit for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Model at D23 Expo 2022 Shows Removal of Iconic Splash Mountain Tree
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Backstory and More Information Revealed at D23 Expo 2022
- More Details Revealed for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Story, Original Cast Returning
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