UPDATE April 17 - Progress continues on the new Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom. In a recent construction update posted to YouTube by 4K WDW we get to see the latest developments.
Recent developments include new landscaping around the train station and new signs and theming have been added to the barn. We can also see a whole host of new props have appeared including boxes with lanterns, whiskey, lumber tools and Bucksaws.
Ride testing continues and the only remains which can now be seen of Splash Mountain are a few birdhouses and a restroom sign. Work is certainly progressing well and we look forward to confirmation of its official opening date at the Magic Kingdom this summer.
April 8 - As work continues on Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney Imagineering has given us our first look at the array of audio-animatronics which will be used in this new attraction.
A new series of videos posted to YouTube from Walt Disney Imagineering named We Call It Imagineering, aim to showcase the work behind the scenes to bring the Disney attractions to life. In the first video which is embedded below at timestamp 3:48, we get to see the first look at the animatronics which will be used in Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
It is certainly interesting to see the extent of time and work that it takes to create the complicated audio-animatronics which will be used in Tiana's Bayou Adventure when it opens at the Magic Kingdom this summer.
March 26 - Those guests who head to check out progress on Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom will get a surprise as music has now been activated in the area.
First reactions appear to be generally positive to the addition of the song "Down In New Orleans" from The Princess and the Frog, although it is expected that this soundtrack will change to an instrumental version when Tiana's Bayou Adventure officially opens this summer.
Do you like the choice of song or do you think Disney should use something else? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
March 25 - Progress continues to be made on Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom where we can see further theming being completed as well as more log testing.
In the new construction update posted to YouTube by Park Update, we can see further work having been done on the queue line and the mountain appears to be filling out with the flowers and greenery.
In another recent video which was posted to YouTube by Blog Mickey and is embedded below, we can see that further daytime log testing is taking place on Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom.
Extensive work is continuing to take place inside this attraction and we are getting very excited to hopefully get a sneek peek in the coming weeks as we head towards its summer opening.
March 4 - With the confirmation from Disney at the end of February that Tiana's Bayou Adventure is now set to open this summer at the Magic Kingdom is it unsurprising that we are seeing further progress being made on this controversial reimagining.
In a recent video posted to YouTube by BigFatPanda we get to see water running and logs are continuing to be tested for Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
February 21 - There has been exciting times at the Magic Kingdom this week as testing has begun on Tiana'a Bayou Adventure. In the video which was posted to YouTube on February 14 and is embedded below by Drew In The Moment, we get to see water flowing once again at timestamp 9:25 and then at 9:50 we see a log being tested.
With the recent confirmation that Tiana's Bayou Adventure will now open at the Magic Kingdom in the summer rather than the originally slated "Late 2024", we expect to see work continue to ramp up over the coming weeks alongside extensive testing being done.
February 14 - Disney has now confirmed the timeline for the opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom. Originally expected to open "Late 2024" we now know that Disney is surprisingly ahead of schedule and Tiana's Bayou Adventure is now set to open this summer!
In a recent video posted by Disney to TikTok and embedded below, we get to see a glimpse of the new Tiana animatronic which certainly looks very impressive.
@disneyparks FIRST LOOK 👀 at one of the new Audio-Animatronics figures coming to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ✨💚 #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyWorld #Tiana #TianasBayouAdventure #DisneyNews #MardiGras #Technology ♬ original sound - Disney Parks
For some Disney fans who are still mourning the loss of the original Splash Mountain attraction, this news may not have the same excitement factor as it does for those who are looking forward to the new reimagining.
Although at the Magic Kingdom we will see Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening this summer, the current opening timeline for Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Park is still set for "Late 2024".
We will continue to update you with the construction progress over the coming weeks and months as we head towards the summer opening date and we look forward to bringing you a confirmed opening date as soon as Disney announces it.
Are you excited for the opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disney's Magic Kingdom? Let us know by voting in our poll and by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
February 4 - Work on the upcoming Tiana's Bayou Adventure is progressing well at the Magic Kingdom. Disney fans currently visiting the park will be sure to see that the iconic Splash Mountain is certainly being transformed and is being given a completely different look as it is transformed into Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
In a new construction video update posted to YouTube by 4K WDW on January 31 we get to see an extensive look at all the latest progress on Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom including:
- More scaffolding has been removed throughout January including the scaffolding from the bottom of the drop
- Mama Odie's lanterns have been added before the big drop
- You can still see some Splash Mountain theming on the exterior which we assume will be removed very soon
- The playground is still closed
We will continue to update you with progress on Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom as we head through the coming weeks and months.
January 26 - In a construction video posted to YouTube by The DIS we get to see the dense foliage and flowers which have been added to the exterior as well as views of the vibrant murals. The stone work is also being updated. Tiana's Bayou Adventure is certainly coming to life and we are getting very excited to see what is being done inside in the coming months.
We will continue to follow the progress of Splash Mountain's extensive reimagining to Tiana's Bayou Adventure as we head closer towards the official opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure which is expected in the fall of this year at the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park.
January 6 - 2024 has just begun and that means that the controversial Tiana's Bayou Adventure is set to open at the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park later this year.
In a new construction video update which has been posted to YouTube by 4K WDW we get to see how Tiana's Bayou Adventure is currently looking at the Magic Kingdom.
The key developments include:
- A new section of the queue appears to have opened temporarily to reach the restrooms
- The playground area gets reimagined
- Further theming elements have been added to the exterior
- Some of the scaffolding at the very top of the mountain has been removed
October 19, 2023 - This week, Disney revealed the new colorful and vibrant mural which is coming to Tiana's Bayou Adventure at both the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park in 2024. The mural which can be seen below in the Instagram post will be added to the entrance building of the main queue for the former Splash Mountain.
The mural was created by visual artist, Malaika Favorite who created the design on canvas and then this was shipped to Florida for the team to use to complete this piece of art work. It is inspired by Tiana's story and the where her foods come from as well as the people who worked with her and her fans.
Now, for many Disney fans who are still mourning the loss of the iconic Splash Mountain, seeing this bright and colorful mural celebrating Tiana may not be the best sight but in the video embedded above, Malaika Favorite said that the aim of the painting was to make you feel good. Do you think this has been achieved? Let us know your thoughts by voting in our poll or by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
Comments
This is the worst decision Disney could have ever made. Splash is iconic, and the ride will always be called Splash Mountain by fans that have loved this ride for over 30 years. Once it opens with the new theming and dumb story, that 1% of people who asked for this change will regret it.
We scheduled our next visit to Disney World in March 2023 to be sure to take part in the 50th Anniversary celebration. I'm sure that many other folks have the same plans. We are heartbroken to learn that Disney has decided to close Splash Mountain (which is of course our favorite ride!) in the midst of the 50th Anniversary festivities! We should start a petition or letter-writing campaign to beg Disney to hold off on the ride closure until the 50th Anniversary celebration concludes at the end of March 2023!!! Please join us in trying to ensure that Splash Mountain remains open during the entire 50th Anniversary celebration!
Nobody wants this damn re-theme. Why is it that the crazy twitter crazies call the shots? All this started because of one idiot cast men that was crying about the ride. This ride is iconic. Why they hell does Disney pander to 1% Cancel Culture that doesn’t even go to Disney parks? This is absolutely ridiculous. Wait for Cancel Culture to target other rides like Haunted Mansion and so on unless Disney wakes up. Splash Mountain doesn’t need a re-theme. Disney leadership needs a re-theme. Leave Splash Mountain alone.
Wish you would put a "Hopefully Never" option up there and see what the results are, since that is what the majority of people actually want.
Truth. Nobody wants it removed. It makes no sense to change it in WDW. It makes sense to retheme it in California only as there is already a New Orleans theme there. In Orlando it will be out of place. Tiana should have her own ride in fantasyland. I truly hope Disney will only update it in California only and leave splash alone in the magic kingdom. The woke nonsense behind all of this is ridiculous. Disney is ruining its parks by taking classic rides out of the parks. They screwed up hollywood studios.