Everything You Need to Know About Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a new attraction opening on June 28 at Magic Kingdom and later this year at Disneyland.

Magic Kingdom Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction poster

Announced on July 1, 2022, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure replaces Splash Mountain at both parks. The old attraction closed permanently on January 22, 2023, at Magic Kingdom and on May 31 at Disneyland. It remains at Tokyo Disneyland. Read the complete history of Splash Mountain.

“The Princess and the Frog”

Animated image of Disney's "The Princess and the Frog," featuring a smiling Princess Tiana in a blue dress and tiara against a water lily-covered pond backdrop. The movie title, "Tiana's Bayou Adventure," is displayed prominently.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a follow-up to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog” (2009), a loose adaptation of “The Frog Prince” fairytale and E. D. Baker’s “The Frog Princess” novel.

“The Princess and the Frog” stars Anika Noni Rose as Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess. Tiana is an aspiring restauranteur in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1926. During a masquerade ball at the mansion of her friend Charlotte “Lottie” LaBouff (Jennifer Cody), Tiana meets a talking frog. The frog is Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), who was transformed by Dr. Facilier (Keith David). Tiana kisses him, hoping to make him human, but instead becomes a frog herself. The two travel into the bayou to find Mama Odie (Jennifer Lewis), a voodoo priestess who can help them. They befriend Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley), an alligator who plays the trumpet, and Ray (Jim Cummings), a firefly in love with a star.

Tiana and Naveen learn that the only way to fix their curse is for Naveen to kiss a princess. Because Lottie’s father is crowned the king of Mardi Gras, Lottie is a princess until the holiday ends. They battle Facilier and manage to defeat him, but Ray dies, becoming a star, and Lottie is no longer a princess by the time they reach her.

As frogs, Tiana and Naveen marry. With their first kiss as a couple, they return to human form — because when Tiana married Naveen, she became a princess. Tiana purchases space for her restaurant and opens Tiana’s Palace.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Background & Story

Tiana's Foods posters on construction walls

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes place in 1927, after the events of “The Princess and the Frog.” In addition to Tiana’s Palace, the princess has founded the co-op Tiana’s Foods. The employees cultivate crops on the waters flowing through an old salt mine.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is set during Mardi Gras. Tiana is preparing a Mardi Gras party for the people of New Orleans. But due to a mix-up between Naveen and Louis, she’s missing a band. She and Louis venture into the bayou to find some musical critters to help.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Music

Mama Odie concept art for Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Grammy-award-winning New Orleans musicians PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard created the attraction’s soundtrack. Morton wrote an original song, “Special Spice,” which is available on streaming services. Blanchard, who provided Louis’ trumpet playing in “The Princess and the Frog,” provided music for the queue. They also used songs from the film composed by Randy Newman, including “Almost There,” “Down in New Orleans,” “Gonna Take You There,” and “Dig a Little Deeper.”

How to Ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure concept art featuring Louis, Tiana, and animal band

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will use a virtual queue and Lightning Lane when it opens. It will not have a standby queue available but Disney expects to open one “soon after the attraction’s opening.”

Guests can request to join the virtual queue via the My Disney Experience app at 7 a.m. or 1 p.m. At the later time, guests must be in Magic Kingdom to request to join. If guests successfully join the virtual queue, they will be assigned a Boarding Group. When it’s time for their Boarding Group to ride, they will get a notification indicating how much time they have to visit the attraction. Guests can only hold one attraction virtual queue at a time. TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind also use virtual queues at this time.

Guests can also ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure by purchasing Disney Genie+ and selecting the attraction for Lightning Lane access. Genie+ pricing varies depending on the date. Check out our Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane guide.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Facade, Queue, and Cast Members

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is located in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. It will be in Critter Country, next to New Orleans Square, at Disneyland.

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The first piece of concept art for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (above) featured Tiana in her blue dress lounging on a boat full of Mardi Gras supplies, looking up at the swampy “mountain” with Mama Odie’s shipwreck home in a tree. The tree and ship on top of the mountain were later scrapped and Tiana appears in different outfits.

A theme park attraction resembling a mountain with greenery and water features, bordered by a wooden fence. Two people walk in the foreground on a red pavement under a clear blue sky.

The Tiana’s Foods water tower is the icon of the attraction. It features a topper resembling Tiana’s lilypad tiara. On the back is a quote by Tiana’s father: “Never, ever lose sight of what’s really important.” The salt mine is covered in significant foliage and flowers. The old mill has moss growing over its roof.

tianas bayou adventure weathervane 1

Louisiana master blacksmith Darryl Reeves and his apprentice Karina Roca created the weathervane atop the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure mill. The design is inspired by West African symbolism. The top of the intricate piece resembles a fern, representing endurance because ferns are resilient. Below the fern is a symbol representing the divinity of Mother Earth and the phrase “as above, so below,” which means there is more to someone or something than what you see. The bottom of the weathervane is the heart-like Sankofa, which symbolizes a bird looking back at its tail, symbolizing looking back on your past and ancestry.

To have a free hand to design and fabricate the weathervane for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure…that’s an honor.

Darryl Reeves

A wooden picket fence surrounds the entrance to Tiana's Bayou Adventure, marked by an ornate sign, with lush greenery and a small tower visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

A Tiana’s Bayou Adventure sign positioned behind the wooden fence faces Frontierland. This sign is supported by two poles resembling tightly wound vines. Pink lily flowers at the top of the vines hide lights to illuminate the gn.

A sign reading "Tiana's Bayou Adventure" stands at the entrance of a ride, surrounded by lush greenery and rustic rock formations under a clear blue sky.

The sign is purple with gold and green letters reading “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.” A pink lily flower is pictured int he “o” of “Bayou.”

Water tower labeled "Tiana's Foods" stands on a hillside amidst lush greenery and cypress trees, with a foreground featuring a pond, aquatic plants, and tree stumps. Blue sky overhead.

On and off the ride, guests can view flowers, reeds, lilypads, and other bayou plants around the ride’s track. Two frogs sit on a log near the beginning of the attraction.

Outdoor train station scene with a red building labeled "Frontierland," surrounded by trees and a temporary barrier. An umbrella stands nearby, and a sign reads "Exit Only." Sunny day with clear sky.

The Tiana’s Bayou Adventure entrance is at the Frontierland Railroad Station. There’s another sign, similar to the first but supported by wood poles with regular lanterns instead of flowers. An arrow on this sign points guests to the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure entrance. Hanging below it is a “Frontierland Railroad Station” sign with an arrow pointing to the station’s stairs. The Lightning Lane and standby queue wait time frames are purple, green, and yellow with lily flower motifs. Guests entering the queue pass under the train station.

Outdoor area of an amusement park with a wooden building, various plants, trees, and a cobblestone pathway. Some fences and poles are seen around the area under a clear blue sky.

The outdoor queue features a Tiana’s Foods garden. There are blue lampposts and speakers playing jazz music.

A colorful mural on a yellow wooden building near outdoor seating and trees under a clear blue sky.

A mural decorates two walls of the queue’s barn. Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite designed the mural, drawing inspiration from the murals and artwork of New Orleans. The mural depicts Tiana’s professional journey and the creation of Tiana’s Foods.

Above the barn window is a Tiana’s Foods sign featuring a white lily. More lily flowers are featured on gates and pavement in the queue.

A colorful outdoor area with green and yellow buildings, some crates, and a small green train. A person is sitting on a bench in the background, near a fenced-off garden area.

Before entering the barn, guests pass the Tiana’s Foods delivery truck. Signs on the barn doors remind guests of the ride’s 50-foot plunge into the water. The room inside the barn is an office and storage space. Up a set of stairs is a pantry.

Tiana and her father James, honoring his military service

The hallway after the pantry features framed photos and memorabilia from Tiana’s life. There’s a photo of young Tiana embracing her father, James, dressed in his World War I uniform. James wrote on the photo, “Dream Big! Love, Daddy 1917.”

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There’s also a photo of some of James’ fellow soldiers, who play music while he presents his gumbo. Written in the top corner is, “Daddy’s friends in the 369th. They loved his gumbo!”

Imagineers drew inspiration from the real 369th regiment. It was one of the first African American regiments to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces during WWI.

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Another frame features a newspaper clipping. It includes a photo of young Tiana and James with the headline “23rd Annual Gumbo Cook-Off: Father-Daughter Duo Simmer Their Way to Victory.”

The above photo is of a display of this artwork from D23 Expo 2022.

Concept art showing a group of eight people wearing aprons in front of a water tower labeled "Tiana's Foods." The caption reads "Placing the Tiara, 1927," capturing the start of their bayou adventure.

Guests walk through a kitchen, where a plate of beignets sits on a table, then down another hallway of photos and clippings. These are from Tiana’s adulthood, including the above photo of Tiana’s Foods employees celebrating the tiara being placed on the water tower. There are also certificates and awards honoring the co-op.

Guests turn into an older more cave-like hallway, part of the old salt mine. It features signs with warnings and reminders like “Shake off salt before leaving mine” and “High falls beyond this point.” Guests pass a TNT storage locker. Mounted TV screens in the mine give guests safety information.

The loading station is deep in the mine. Towering over the ride vehicles is a crane lifting a pallet of supplies.

A group of six people wearing yellow caps are riding a log-themed boat on Tiana's Bayou Adventure, surrounded by greenery. Three of them are waving enthusiastically as a cast member looks on with a smile.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Cast Members wear a standard blue shirt and brown pants of Frontierland. Their accessories are a yellow hat and yellow, purple, and green ascot.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride Experience

Person walking down a staircase next to a water flume ride inside a wooden-themed indoor attraction—a perfect example of what we call imagineering.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure utilizes the same track and ride vehicles as Splash Mountain. Guests ride logs from the Tiana’s Foods headquarters into the bayou, encountering various musical critters as they help Tiana find a band. They get a taste of Mama Odie’s magic, too, before returning to New Orleans for Tiana’s Mardi Gras party.

Just like Splash Mountain, riders will get wet. There are a few small hills and water effects that might get you. But if they don’t, the water at the bottom of the 50-foot drop will.

For a full breakdown of the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure story and set pieces, read our scene-by-scene comparison with Splash Mountain.

Watch Disney’s full ride POV of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure below.

Returning Characters

Tiana

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Anika Noni Rose reprises her voice role as Princess Tiana. The ride features multiple Tiana audio-animatronics, most wearing her new adventuring outfit.

Guests can meet Tiana in this outfit during a meal at 1900 Park Fare in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, next door to Magic Kingdom.

A woman in an ornate green dress stands singing in front of an elaborate staircase adorned with flowers, surrounded by animated animals. Channeling the spirit of Tiana's Bayou Adventure, two frogs are in the foreground, adding a touch of magic to the scene.

At the end of the ride, Tiana wears a green 1920s-style party dress.

Louis

Tiana's Bayou Adventure Louis audio-animatronic

Louis is also heavily featured in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The trumpet-playing alligator appears as several audio-animatronics. Michael-Leon Wooley reprises his role as Louis.

Mama Odie

Tianas Bayou Adventure Mama Odie

During their adventures in the bayou, guests encounter Mama Odie. She and her seeing-eye snake Juju appear on two screens and as two sets of animatronics, including at the very end of the ride. Jennifer Lewis returned to voice Mama Odie.

Naveen

A colorful, animated scene depicts a musical performance with animal characters playing instruments on a balcony and stage, reminiscent of Tiana's Bayou Adventure. The backdrop shows a decorated building with vibrant lighting.

Naveen stays home while Tiana and Louis find a band, but the prince appears in the ride’s final scene. He plays the ukulele with the animal band. Bruno Campos also reprised his role as Naveen.

Lottie & Eudora

Walt Disney Imagineering Tianas Bayou Adventure Audio Animatronics Reveal Charlotte La Bouff and Eudora

Tiana’s best friend, Charlotte “Lottie” LaBouff, and mother, Eudora, are in the final scene. They stand together on a patio.

Big Daddy & Naveen’s Parents

Lottie’s father, Eli “Big Daddy” LaBouff, appears alongside Naveen’s parents, the King and Queen of Maldonia. They’re portrayed via screens resembling windows in the ride’s final scene.

New Characters

Ralphie

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Naveen’s little brother, Ralphie, makes his debut appearance at the end of the attraction, playing the drums alongside his brother and the animal band.

Lari the Armadillo

A large armadillo statue is nestled in a rocky alcove surrounded by artificial greenery, with lanterns in the foreground.

Lari the armadillo is a mischievous but quite critter who appears “where you least expect him to” and tends to “borrow” things that don’t belong to him. His most obvious appearance is after the big splash and before the party scene.

Zydeco Band

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Concept art for Timoléon the otter

The first band Tiana finds plays zydeco music. This group consists of Byhalia the beaver, Gritty the rabbit, Beau the opposum, Apollo the raccoon, Rufus the turtle, and Timoléon the otter.

Read more about the zydeco band critters.

Rara Band

Animatronic bears playing instruments in a forest-themed setting evoke the charm of Tiana's Bayou Adventure. The colorful background, featuring wild plants and a starry sky, draws visitors into an enchanting world.

The second band plays rara music. This act features Octavia the bobcat, Pawpaw the bobcat, Claude the Louisiana black bear, Bernadette the Louisiana black bear, Sebastián the Louisiana black bear, and Phina the gray fox.

Read more about the rara band of critters.

Afro-Cuban Band

Tiana's Bayou Adventure frog figures

The third band is a group of frogs that play Afro-Cuban music. They consist of Felipe, Mayra, Mondo, and Isabel the green tree frog. They appear as small and larger-than-life audio-animatroics.

Read more about the Afro-Cuban frog band.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Gift Shops

Magic Kingdom

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In front of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom is Critter Co-Op, which replaces the Briar Patch. The Critter Co-Op sign features Rufus the turtle and Apollo the raccoon.

A quaint wooden door set into a rocky hillside, surrounded by vibrant flowers and a rustic wooden fence.

Lari the armadillo lives on the side of the building, as shown by the mailbox labeled “Lari.”

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A poster in a Critter Co-Op window advertises The Bayou Community Band, which is the band Tiana, Louis, and guests assemble during Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

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Behind the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue will be Tiana’s Bayou General, which advertises groceries, housewares, dry goods, and more. It replaces Splashdown Photos.

Disneyland

Ray's Berets concept art

In Disneyland Park, the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure gift shops will be Ray’s Berets and Louis’ Critter Club. Ray’s Berets takes over the Briar Patch. Named after Tiana’s late firefly friend, the shop sells headwear, apparel, accessories, toys, and more.

Louis’ Critter Club concept art

The left-hand side of Pooh Corner will become Louis’ Critter Club while the treats side will remain as-is. Louis’ Critter Club is the home away from home for the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure critters. Here, guests can purchase apparel, accessories, home decor, and more merchandise featuring Tiana and her animal friends.

Ride Photo

Guests ride log boats down a water slide in a Disney theme park attraction called "Tiana's Bayou Adventure." A sign held by a firefly character reads "We know a shortcut!" Don’t miss the fantastic PhotoPass Opportunities to capture your summer fun at Walt Disney World.

The new on-ride photo depicts guests splashing down the ride in their log vehicle with Sebastián, Gritty, and a firefly around them. The Tiana’s Bayou Adventure sign is at the top. Guests can purchase individual photos or the Memory Maker photo package via My Disney Experience or the Walt Disney World website.

Guests could previously view and purchase their Splash Mountain photos in Splashdown Photos at Magic Kingdom. This may be available in Tiana’s Bayou General but has more likely been removed as Disney continues to move photo services online, with photos connecting via MagicBand.

Merchandise

Tiana's Bayou Adventure concept art pin

The first official Tiana’s Bayou Adventure merchandise was this limited release pin. The pin is Tiana’s lilypad tiara sitting atop a magenta cushion. It comes on a card featuring Tiana’s Bayou Adventure concept art by Brittany L. Smith.

"Things living rent-free in my head" icons t-shirt

Though not focused on just Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a Walt Disney World T-shirt released in March features icons of the park’s attractions, including the Tiana’s Foods water tower.

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Target released a Tiana’s Bayou Adventure-branded Louis Cuddleez plush. The gator is depicted sleeping with a felt trumpet in his hand and a lily on his head.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure critters plush

When Disney revealed the ride’s zydeco band, they shared a look at plush versions of Beau, Apollo, and Rufus that will be available for purchase.

A two-panel image of a dark blue baseball cap displayed in front of a blue-lit castle backdrop. The cap features two yellow stars on the front in the left panel and "Tiana's Bayou Adventure" text on the back in the right panel.

Emcee Mark Daniel shared a first look at a new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ball cap, which he purchased at the Walt Disney Imagineering campus store Mickey’s of Glendale. It’s possible the hat will remain exclusive to Cast Members.

Mama Odie's hot sauce

Starting on June 28, Main Street Confectionery and Critter Co-Op will both offer Mama Odie’s Hot sauce.

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Guests will also be able to purchase Dooky Chase seasonings at the same locations, including Dooky Chase’s Gumbo Base, Seafood Seasoning, Meat Seasoning, and Fried Chicken Seasoning. Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans was founded by Chef Leah Chase, who inspired the character of Tiana.

Other new “The Princess and the Frog” and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure collections will be available at the Emporium and Critter Co-Op beginning on June 28.

Cover illustration of "Tiana's Bayou Adventure," featuring Tiana in an adventurous pose with an alligator. The background includes a bayou scene with a towering structure, water, and various charming animal characters.

A Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Little Golden Book telling the story of the attraction is available for pre-order and will be released on September 3.

Tiana's Perfect Plan by Anika Noni Rose

Anika Noni Rose wrote “Tiana’s Perfect Plan,” another children’s book seemingly inspired by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is available for pre-order and will be released on October 22.

Tiana’s Famous Beignets

Three beignets dusted with powdered sugar are stacked on a red plate, reminiscent of Tiana's Bayou Adventure in flavor and charm.

Starting on June 28, Golden Oak Outpost and The Friar’s Nook will have Tiana’s Famous Beignets for a limited time. The light, sweet, and fluffy pastries are drizzled with honey and powdered sugar. A version of the beignets with strawberry sauce were available for a limited time earlier this year for Celebrate Soulfully 2024.

Tiana's Gumbo at buffet

The dinner buffet at 1900 Park Fare offers Tiana’s Gumbo. As mentioned earlier, guests also meet Tiana in her Tiana’s Bayou Adventure outfit at 1900 Park Fare in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Stay tuned for further coverage of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.

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