As we get closer to goin’ down the bayou with Tiana and her friends from The Princess and the Frog, Disney has just shared new information on a brand new scene and new characters guests will see with Splash Mountain’s transformation to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom will be closing on January 23, 2023 as Disney Imagineers get started on the re-theming of the attraction. Details will come at a later date for Disneyland’s Splash Mountain.

Below is the first look at a new scene and some of the brand-new characters that have been created specifically for this attraction. In Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, guests will join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis during carnival season as they’re getting ready to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans. This new scene is the thrilling moment you first drop into the bayou, where friends, both new and familiar, will be able to be seen.

As you can see here, fireflies will light up the night and invite you deeper into the bayou … almost like they’re waving you forward. What you can’t tell from this rendering – so you’ll just have to trust me on this one – is that beautiful zydeco music will fill the air. Zydeco is a special blend of rhythm and blues that was born in Louisiana, and when you hear it, you’ll feel like you’ve truly stepped into Tiana’s world.

Here you’ll find Louis, who explains where this amazing music is coming from. Tiana made some new friends out here – a band full of adorable critters, including an otter, a rabbit, a racoon, a beaver, a turtle and others. The band members sing and play instruments made of natural materials they found in the bayou. It feels like they may have a bigger role to play in this story … but we’ll just have to wait and see on that one.

Disney Imagineers continue bringing people of different backgrounds together through timeless Disney stories and this