We were among the first guests to experience the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Park during Magic Key previews this month. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure replaces Splash Mountain, which permanently closed in May 2023. We’re breaking down how the Disneyland version of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure compares to the former Splash Mountain.

Like Splash Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure follows the same plot as its Floridian counterpart. However, there are slight differences between the California and Florida rides. We previously compared the Walt Disney World versions of Splash Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure utilizes the same single-file log vehicles on the same ride track as Splash Mountain. The vehicles were refurbished and the Br’er Rabbit’s head ornaments were removed.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure vs. Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain: After boarding, guests pass generic crates and barrels, turning a corner to a small lift hill. The safety spiel plays and they pass a sign reminding them to remain seated at all times.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: As an instrumental of “Down in New Orleans” plays, guests pass Tiana’s Foods crates and two barn-like façades. A new “remain seated at all times” sign is on the right instead of the left.

Splash Mountain: The logs crest a small hill, offering a view of the Sailing Ship Columbia. Guests pass small bundles of briars, rocks, and lanterns before heading into the millhouse.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: When cresting the hill, the Sailing Ship Columbia is mostly blocked from view by new bayou trees, although guests can still see it after landing at the bottom of the incline. The water is full of reeds and flowers. A pair of frogs sit on a log. The millhouse features a banner reading “A Celebration of Family and Friends of New Orleans: At the Proud Home of Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen. Everybody’s Welcome!”

Splash Mountain: The millhouse is full of props and one hooting owl on the left.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: The first Audio-Animatronic encountered by guests is Tiana. She stands to the left near where the owl previously was. Tiana welcomes guests and tells them they’ll be meeting up with Louis to find musicians for the party.

Splash Mountain: Guests crest another small hill, floating under a bridge. They pass Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox’s homes, birdhouses, and wagons full of watermelon.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: A Tiana’s Foods sign is now on the front of the bridge welcoming guests into the co-op’s garden as “Almost There” plays. On the left, where Br’er Rabbit’s house was, Louis is searching for musicians in a patch of okra. On the right is the first Lari the Armadillo figure. Where the watermelon wagons used to be is a figure of Louis made out of squash.

Splash Mountain: Guests pass close to the ominous big drop of the ride. They float through some reddish rock walls before coming to another hill. A sign labels this “Slippin’ Falls,” and guests go slipping down, making a splash under a tree bridge.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: Before glimpsing their final fate, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure guests see the back of the Tiana’s Foods water tower with the quote, “Never, ever lose sight of what’s really important.” After viewing the big drop, guests hear Mama Odie and see her front door in the rock wall on the right. They splash down the same hill, although there’s no “Slippin’ Falls” sign.

Splash Mountain: Guests enter the interior portion of the ride, full of birds singing “How Do You Do?” On the left is Br’er Frog relaxing atop a gator. The space is full of trees and moss, with sunlight shining through the branches. Around a corner are Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear, the latter caught in a trap. Br’er Fox declares they need to find Br’er Rabbit.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: The space has been transformed into a Louisiana bayou at night with “Gonna Take You There” playing as guests see fireflies twinkling around them. A screen near where Br’er Frog used to be shows fireflies dancing through a log. As guests round the bend, they come across a life-size Louis Audio-Animatronic talking about the first band. Across from him, where Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox used to be, the Zydeco Critter Band plays their makeshift instruments. Just past these animatronics is Tiana, praising the music.

Splash Mountain: Guests approach animatronics of Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Turtle. They continue on their journey, passing a sign pointing to Rainbow Ponds. Above, they see a bird and Br’er Rabbit operating a cart.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: Where Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Turtle once were are Tiana and Louis animatronics. The animatronics are in two groups across from each other, with Octavia the Bobcat where the Rainbow Ponds sign was.

Splash Mountain: On the left is a hitchhiking gator animatronic. Guests pass signs pointing ahead that ask for no frowning, grins only. One also warns guests to “*Bee* careful.” After passing under some trees, the logs are carried down a drop and through a long, dark tunnel into a series of caverns.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: On the right is another Tiana animatronic, sitting atop a log where Louis is stuck. She hopes all the musicians come to play at the party. Around the corner, above the drop, is a screen showing Mama Odie casting a spell on riders. They drop into the tunnel with bright colorful lights shining on them.

Splash Mountain: Chickens, storks, and other birds in the cavern happily sing “Everybody’s Got a Laughin’ Place” among colorful backlit sets. The mood gets gloomier as guests see Br’er Rabbit caught by Br’er Fox in a beehive. An opossum and a rabbit sing the “Burrow’s Lament,” warning their children about the Laughin’ Place. Past giant mushrooms, a pair of vultures look down on guests and threaten them.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: Guests pass giant mushrooms, realizing they have been shrunk down to the size of frogs. They encounter animatronic frog musicians playing “Dig A Little Deeper.” On a large screen, Tiana and Louis look at guests. Fireflies, which guests can now see in detail, dance among more mushrooms and a giant bottle. Above, Mama Odie appears via screen, saying it’s time to get guests big again.

Splash Mountain: As guests are carried up the final lift hill, they pass a dark scene of Br’er Fox preparing to eat Br’er Rabbit. Br’er Fox’s shadow looms over the rabbit. Br’er Rabbit convinces Br’er Fox to throw him into the briar patch.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: The lift hill is illuminated with more magical lights as guests transform back into their regular selves. Where Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox used to be there is now an animatronic Mama Odie standing on her house’s crow’s nest. She proclaims she’s going to get guests to the party.

Splash Mountain: The logs drop down the 52-foot drop into the briar patch, water splashing around them. They float through a series of turns among rock walls before heading back into the show building, past a sign pointing them to “Doo Dah Landing.”

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: Passing under some of Mama Odie’s bottle lights, guests crest the hill and drop back down into the bayou. As they turn among the rocks, they pass Lari the Armadillo on the right with crates, a lantern, and a floral umbrella. A sign welcomes them to Fleur du Bayou, the home of Tiana and Naveen.

Splash Mountain: The final scene sees all the animals singing “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.” A trio of gators are playing music on the left. Some animals are in a wagon on the right. Most of them are standing on a paddle wheel steamboat, the Zip-a-Dee Lady, which is on the right in the second half of the room. Just past the boat, Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear are among the briars, trying to escape Br’er Gator.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: In Fleur du Bayou, the band and Tiana perform the original song “Special Spice.” On the left, Charlotte and Tiana’s mother wave at guests from a balcony. On the right, several characters are shown dancing through windows and Lari is atop a column (having knocked over a lantern). Tiana, Naveen, Louis, and all the critter musicians are on the patio and balconies of a classic New Orleans house. After the house, a pair of frogs sit on a Tiana’s Foods crate with the Mississippi River and Tiana’s Palace behind them.

Splash Mountain: The final scene shows Br’er Rabbit relaxing at his home, having decided not to leave on adventures. He sings some of “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.” Before reaching the loading area, guests see Professor Barnaby Owl above, advertising the on-ride photos. There was once a screen showing guests’ photos but this was removed long before closing.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: Where Br’er Rabbit used to be is Mama Odie and her seeing-eye snake Juju. Mama Odie thanks the riders for their help and admonishes Juju for trying to eat her beignets.

Watch our POV videos for Splash Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland below.

Splash Mountain POV Video

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure POV Video

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens to all Disneyland guests on November 15. Critter Country has been renamed Bayou Country in honor of the ride. Hungry Bear Restaurant has become the Country Bears-themed Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. The Briar Patch gift shop is now Ray’s Berets and half of Pooh Corner is becoming Louis’ Critter Club. Though The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh closed for a few months due to construction work, the ride was not altered.

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

The post Scene-by-Scene Comparison of Disneyland’s Splash Mountain vs. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure appeared first on WDW News Today.