Last month, DIS contributor Zoë Wood wrote an article titled “Is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Missing the Mark One Year In?” While I appreciate Zoë’s insights and think she’s a fantastic writer, I couldn’t help but feel compelled to share a different perspective. After reading her piece, I found myself disagreeing with several of the conclusions, particularly the suggestion that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is not the “crowd-pulling powerhouse Disney likely intended.”
First, context is everything. Walt Disney World as a whole is currently experiencing its lowest crowd levels in more than a decade. According to Touring Plans, the 2025 attendance patterns are comparable to 2012, years before Frozen Ever After, Rise of the Resistance, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, or TRON Lightcycle / Run redefined what guests expect from modern Disney attractions. Comparing today’s wait times to those of Splash Mountain during times like the period of record-high attendance in 2019 isn’t exactly an apples-to-apples comparison. When the parks themselves are quieter, shorter waits are expected across the board, even for marquee rides.
Zoë mentioned that during her visits, she was able to walk directly onto Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World. While that’s certainly a noteworthy experience, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the broader trend. Theme park wait times fluctuate wildly depending on time of day, weather, special events, and even which coast you’re visiting. I’ve personally walked right onto Splash Mountain on a quiet evening in January, but that didn’t make the ride unpopular. I am currently looking, and according to the Disney World app, the current wait time for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is 65 minutes, but that is not representative of a normal wait time either. What matters are the averages. On average, according to Queue-Times.com, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure maintains an average wait of around 37 minutes, just shy of Splash Mountain’s historical average of 45 minutes. Considering overall crowd levels have dropped significantly, that’s a strong showing and hardly evidence of a “missed mark.”
Now, to be clear, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure isn’t perfect. The occasional animatronic issue Zoë pointed out is a valid critique. Some fans, myself included, would have loved to see Dr. Facilier make a larger appearance to bring a bit of edge and tension to the story. Still, those elements don’t detract from what the attraction accomplishes: an immersive, joyful experience, with great music.
One year in, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is doing exactly what it was designed to do, and any dip in wait times is more likely due to lower crowds in the entire park. It may not be perfect, but it has succeeded in the sense that it is a ride that welcomes everyone and celebrates a story that had long been missing from Disney’s parks. I stand in the camp that believes Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is far from “missing the mark.”
Author’s note: Please note that Zoë is wonderful, and while discussions around Splash Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure can sometimes become heated, this should not be used as an opportunity to criticize her or her writing. This is simply a respectful difference of opinion that I wanted to share.
