Hello everyone! Today I want to discuss some news that stuck out to me the most in terms of Disney! So, let’s get started, shall we?! Walt Disney World Resort has announced that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be open on June 28th, 2024. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a retheme of the former Splash Mountain ride. It uses the same ride system, though it has been overhauled both inside and out. Earlier this week, Walt Disney World revealed the attraction poster, as well as the second round of critter characters that will be present on the ride. Splash Mountain closed permanently in January 2023 at Walt Disney World. It closed permanently at Disneyland in May 2023. The Californian version of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open “later in 2024.” Read our complete history of Splash Mountain for a look back at the classic log flume ride. Disney says that in the upcoming attraction, guests will “join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis during Mardi Gras season as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans.” The attraction takes place after the events of “The Princess and the Frog.” Tiana’s Foods is an employee-owned community food co-op established by Tiana in 1927, following the success of her restaurant, Tiana’s Palace. The co-op is housed inside a salt mine, with growers planting crops along the old Splash Mountain waterway. Guests will ascend through a mill house built into the side of the mountain. Original “The Princess and the Frog” cast members are returning to voice their characters. Tiana has a new adventuring outfit which at least one audio-animatronic will sport. There will also be audio-animatronics of Louis, Charlotte, and more.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (TBD, 2024) – “Drop on in” with Princess Tiana this summer, as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort on June 28! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure invites guests to join beloved characters Princess Tiana, Mama Odie, Louis, and all-new friends on a thrilling adventure, all set against the music and excitement of a New Orleans celebration. This new attraction will feature dozens of Audio-Animatronics figures, a foot-tapping soundtrack, and a celebration where everyone’s welcome.
They got music, it’s always playin’
Music is at the heart of New Orleans, and guests will be tapping their toes all throughout the attraction thanks in part to adorable critters, who play instruments made of natural materials found in the bayou. Tiana’s new friends include an otter, a rabbit, a racoon, a beaver, a turtle and more. Their spirited stylings will turn the bayou into a party with Zydeco, Rara, and Afro-Cuban music authentic to the region of New Orleans. There will be new, original music alongside favorite tunes from the film, created in collaboration with award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard. In addition to musical critters, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure welcomes talent voices from the film as they reprise their roles, including Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen, Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, and the one and only Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana.
Grab somebody, come on down
As guests float through the cypress trees and Spanish moss of a beautiful Louisiana bayou, they may see some familiar faces as part of the dozens of entirely new Audio-Animatronics figures. Along with Princess Tiana, Louis and Mama Odie, keep an eye out for Eudora, Charlotte, Prince Ralphie, Prince Naveen and others. Between Disney’s iconic storytelling, technologically advanced Audio-Animatronics figures, and a thrilling 50-foot drop, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has enough fun for everyone! As Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog” makes its home in the Crescent City, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is more stuffed with authentic NOLA artistry than Charlotte is with Tiana’s “man-catching” beignets! Artwork from Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite will delight guests as part of the queue, and guests can see an original metalwork weathervane from third-generation master blacksmith, Darryl Reeves and his apprentice, Karina Roca. New Orleans artist Sharika Mahdi’s artwork has inspired the attraction from the beginning. And, for some lagniappe (a “little extra”) guests will have a nose full of the sweet scent of beignets being kept warm in the oven – reminiscent of strolling through the French Quarter – as part of the attraction queue.
Dreams do come true in New Orleans
The heart of Tiana’s story reminds guests that everyone has the potential to make their dreams a reality. With teams of Imagineers, Disney Animation artists, cast members and Louisiana artisans working together, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is sure to pass a good time when it opens at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on June 28, 2024, and later in 2024 at Disneyland Park in California! Walt Disney World Cast Members, Annual Passholders, and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members will be able to preview the attraction before it opens on June 28. More information about preview dates and registration will be announced on May 14.
In other news… Disneyland moves forward with $1.9 Billion expansion project after Anaheim city Council approves plan. On May 7, the council voted in favor of Disney’s plan, called DisneylandForward, which allows for major updates to be made at the theme park. The full proposal was first brought to the Anaheim City Council in California during a meeting on April 17, in which it was unanimously approved by all members. A second vote for final approval was made on Tuesday, May 7, however, changes will not be able to go into effect for another 30 days, according to a press release from the city. Although several Anaheim residents attended the meeting to express their concerns over the now imminent expansion, all seven council members voted in favor of moving forward with the expansion plan. Both meetings came after the city’s Planning Commission accepted zoning changes and updates for the project on March 11. The proposal for DisneylandForward was first presented during a separate Anaheim City Council meeting in January, in which it was confirmed that Disney has committed to investing a minimum of $1.9 billion into the project. In the next 10 years, Disney’s investment will go towards updating rides, attractions, lands, lodging, entertainment and shopping without increasing the square footage or acreage of the park. Area’s west of Disneyland Drive and the Toy Story Parking Area will be reimagined, according to the proposal. The entire project could potentially require funding of up to $2.5 billion as a result. In addition to expanding the park itself, Disney says it is preparing to serve the city of Anaheim through its proposed affordable housing, three-acre community park, and street and transportation upgrades. In September, Disney Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro teased potential themes that could make their way to Disneyland within the next decade, including Frozen, Coco, Black Panther, Tangled, Peter Pan, Zootopia, Toy Story and Tron. Some of these already exist at the brand’s other parks, such as Walt Disney World’s Frozen Ever After ride at Epcot in Orlando, Fla., and an entire Frozen land that opened in November at Disneyland Hong Kong. Tron-themed coasters are up and running at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Shanghai Disneyland. Additionally, Shanghai has a dedicated Zootopia land as of 2023 and Toy Story Land is already part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando.
Last news… Disneyland has dropped ticket prices to as little as $50 a day for the entire summer stretching from the springtime Pixar Fest to Halloween Time in the fall with multi-day ticket offers that can serve as mini annual passes for those not willing to splurge on an expensive Magic Key pass. The 2024 Disneyland summer ticket offer is good for three-day, one-park tickets for visits between June 10 through Sept. 26. Tickets go on sale May 29 and sales may be paused or stopped at any time.
Overall, I think Disney is really trying to bring in more visitors to the parks and they know that Epic Universe is going to draw a lot of attention which I said before. They want to have some big things done before that new park in Universal opens.
So, what do you guy’s think about the Disney news?! I would love to hear your thoughts and comments down below!
Stay tuned for Disney updates.
