Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Accessibility Review in Walt Disney World

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Accessibility Review in Walt Disney World Tiana_1 Author in wheelchair with Tiana's Bayou Adventure sign and glimpse of attraction behind her. Author in wheelchair with Tiana's Bayou Adventure sign and glimpse of attraction behind her.

Image Description: Author in wheelchair with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure sign and glimpse of attraction behind her.



Fans of The Princess and the Frog and the sassy and strong character of Princess Tiana (and her talented friends) were thrilled when Disney announced their plans to revamp the Splash Mountain attraction with a new theme, creating Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as a modern and fun replacement. It opened with great fanfare last year at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, beginning with managing its popularity with a virtual queue and continuing to maintain long wait times to enjoy the Louisiana-themed adventure.

As a disabled Disney Parks fan, my hope (in addition to a creative story and magical special effects) was improved accessibility from the original Splash Mountain ride. I had been unable to go on Splash for many years because I could no longer climb in and out of the log ride vehicle, and was hoping that accessibility would be improved during this renovation. 

Queue

When I visited the bayou, the virtual queue was still being used. We had entered the afternoon queue after doing the morning queue option for TRON Lightcycle Run. Since we don’t stay the entire day in a park due to my pain and fatigue issues, we weren’t sure we’d be able to try the attraction before needing to head out. Suddenly, our group was called just as we were preparing to leave the Park, but we said “let’s give it a whirl” and zoomed over to Frontierland to give it a try.



When we scanned in with the cast members, I inquired about access, explaining I hadn’t ridden the newly revamped attraction before. They explained I would go into the physical queue and when it goes up a flight of stairs, I would be taken out and escorted to the back (where riders are exiting) for boarding.

My husband and I meandered through the line area quickly as the crowd was low (at the moment) until we reached the accessible separation point. I was thankful the line was minimal because it was out in the sun and I would have had difficulty waiting there with my heat and sun sensitivity issues.

Boarding

When we arrived at the exit area, we were instructed to wait by the side, out of the way of people de-boarding and exiting the attraction. After a few minutes, the cast members called us over and brought out a transfer bench that sat at the edge of the vehicle. 



Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Accessibility Review in Walt Disney World Tiana_2A

Image Description: The attraction’s log vehicle rolls into view on the boarding platform.

My husband first helped me to transfer to the bench, then lowered me down into the vehicle, which is quite deep. It was not easy, but gravity works and I was aboard! I had to sit a bit sideways because my knees do not bend well and there is not much leg room in the vehicle.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Accessibility Review in Walt Disney World Tiana_3

Image Description: Close-up view of the area where disabled passengers are boarded. The depth of the step down is visible.



Riding

The attraction was gorgeous from beginning to end, as we floated through each scene. Learn more about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure theming and story with photos of the attraction at Disney World. The music was fun and kept circling in my head for hours after our ride!

To be honest, I was nervous about the infamous drop as I wasn’t able to be seated comfortably (crooked and a bit twisted to the side for my legs) and not able to brace myself. But my husband helped support me and it turned out to be fine — and a little wet!

Exit

The most challenging aspect of the attraction was exiting the vehicle — so much so that I have determined that I will be unable to ride ever again (so I am glad I was able to ride once). The cast members brought out the transfer bench again and a booster to go on the seat. 

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Accessibility Review in Walt Disney World Tiana_5

Image Description: A Cast Member rolled the transfer device against the vehicle and opens to show the booster seat that can be set inside for boarding or unloading.



First, we lifted me to the booster, then another lift to the edge of the vehicle, then a third lift was needed to get me to the transfer bench where I was able to slide out and get back into my wheelchair. It was super exhausting for me (and I am sure not easy for my husband) to do so much lifting. 

Frankly, the difficulty of the de-boarding process was a surprise, as it seemed zero accessibility improvement to the vehicle seat had been attempted during the revamp. The approach taken was to model the transfer device to something like what is provided at the Na’vi River Journey attraction in Animal Kingdom. However, it was a less useful solution because the depth of the Bayou (formerly Splash) vehicle required higher and harder lifts.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Accessibility Review in Walt Disney World Tiana_6Ajpeg

Image Description: The author sits next to the booster seat and transfer device is set outside the log vehicle. It took several hard lifts to deboard.






Concluding Thoughts

When Na’Vi River Journey opened as a brand-new attraction with extremely limited accessibility, I was shocked and disappointed. Bluntly, a slow boat ride with no drops should have been designed for complete wheelchair access with a roll on vehicle like those in “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland or the Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico pavilion at EPCOT

While I understand this may not be possible for an attraction that has a drop like in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney’s solution of a poorly-designed step transfer seemed lackluster and made future rides impossible to consider. Again, I wish Imagineering had considered and included more perspectives throughout the design process for accessibility. What about a seat device that rises using a pump or hydraulics? What about adjusting the vehicle height or seat depth? Why wasn’t more done to make this newly revamped attraction more welcoming to visitors with physical disabilities?

Although I very much enjoyed the story, theming, effects, and music on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, it is a one and never done again attraction for me. For anyone who has difficulty stepping down or up or completing high lifts, I warn you to stay away from this ride. It’s disappointing that something revamped was not also reimagined for accessibility. 



author avatar
Kelly Mack


























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