The announcement that the beloved Disney attraction Splash Mountain would be reimagined into a new theme was controversial, to say the least. The ride had been popular with guests for many years, and it was safe to say that any sort of change would have come under fire. The reimagining of this classic ride was to have a new theme altogether, following the story of The Princess & The Frog with the name Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Ever since the news broke, Disney Parks fans have been watching with a keen eye to see new details emerge of everything from musical influences to concept art to get a glimpse of the new attraction in the making.
Recently, a New Orleans reporter was given a rare opportunity to see behind the construction walls of the Magic Kingdom transformation and take a first look at what this attraction will have to offer. While the area is still heavily under construction, there were some details that could be seen during the tour, like the mural, designed by Baton Rouge-area artist Malaika Favorite, that sits proudly on the side of a two-story barn as you enter the attraction through the courtyard. Other key elements will set the scene for the storyline that follows, with Grammy Award-winner Terence Blanchard creating a charismatic soundtrack and “old-timey radio show” music played by New Orleans musicians. And, of course, the famed scent of beignets that will be wafting through the air. Nods to the Splash Mountian attraction were also hinted.
The interior of the attraction is said to be similar to that of the original Splash Mountain, with decor accenting the storyline of Tiana’s new food operation. The same ride vehicles and track will be used, with the bulk of the changes accompanying the new story on the inside of the ride. Cardboard cutouts mark the placement of characters (like Tiana and Louis) that will be replaced with a series of next-generation animatronics with a more genuine resemblance and motion, similar to the Elsa animatronic revealed in World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland. The characters will be set amongst new trees and vegetation, true to the Louisiana area.
The tour stops short of the old Laughin Place scene, with Ted Robledo from Walt Disney Imagineering noting that the rest of the attraction is a surprise, teasing that what comes next has a lot to do with magic. The new rendition of this flume ride doesn’t have a more specific opening date yet, with Disney still saying that the attraction will debut sometime in 2024.
