Princess Tiana’s New Ride to Open a Little Earlier Than Expected in Florida

It seems like yesterday that Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom announced that the Splash Mountain rides at both parks would be closed and then transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. But it was actually 2020. While we will probably always miss the Song of the South-themed attraction, at least we have something else to look forward to.

Not surprisingly, Disney choose Fat Tuesday to give the good news that the new Tiana-themed ride would be opening a bit earlier than planned at the Magic Kingdom. While a “hard” date cannot be found, the water flume ride in Florida will open during the summer of 2024. The Disneyland version will open “later” in 2024.

First look at the new Princess Tiana Audio-Animatronic. *(Magic Kingdom Park)*

“With Princess Tiana at the helm, this new attraction ‘digs a little deeper’ into her story after the events of the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, The Princess and the Frog,” Disney says in the new press release. “It is Mardi Gras season at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and the bayou will light up for a journey full of music, Mama Odie’s magic, and a whole boatful – log-ful? – of new friends, in preparation for a celebration where everyone’s welcome.”

While there are still not a lot of photos available of the new ride, Walt Disney Imagineering is offering a peek at the first-ever Princess Tiana Audio-Animatronics figure who will be voiced by Anika Noni Rose who voiced the character in the original movie. Other characters to be found during one’s journey include Louis (Michael Leon Wooley) Mama Odie (Jennifer Lewis) and Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos). It is said that Eudora, Charlotte, Prince Ralphie, and a bunch of animal critters will be around as well.

Walt Disney Imagineering installing an artisan-created weathervane on top of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom. *(Olga Thompson/Magic Kingdom Park)*

As always, Disney’s Imagineers go the extra mile with their theming even with details that most won’t appreciate. For instance, the park just installed a weathervane to the top of the attraction created by Darryl Reeves, a blacksmith from New Orleans and his apprentice Karina Roca.

The storyline of the new ride takes place right after the final kiss as Naveen and Louis join Tiana as she hosts a one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras celebration. New original music inspired by the film’s soundtrack will be featured as well.

Tiana’s Palace Restaurant in Disneyland. *(Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)*

Over at Disneyland, Tiana’s presence is even larger with the newly opened Tiana’s Palace Restaurant which took over the former French Market restaurant in New Orleans Square last September. The quick-service style restaurant offers New Orleans-inspired dishes for lunch and dinner. The menu features rotating, seasonal flavors, and uses select ingredients sourced directly from Louisiana when possible. The dishes not to be missed (according to Disney) include House-Filled Beignets (with lemon ice box pie filling and topped with lemon glaze), the plant-based 7 Greens Gumbo (made with white beans, okra, yams, sweet potatoes and heirloom rice), Gulf Shrimp and Grits (simmered in Creole sauce with cheesy grits) and Joffrey’s Coffee® chicory cold brew.

Inside Tiana’s Palace Restaurant in Disneyland. *(Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)*

Also in New Orleans Square, look for Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets. According to legend, “Tiana and her talented dressmaker mother, Eudora, opened this little shop of Crescent City housewares, decorations, apparel and more.

Main Image: Artist rendering of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Disney Parks)