The newest attraction headed to the Magic Kingdom (and Disneyland Park) is causing a lot of buzz –and now, you can learn more about what it’ll be like to cruise the bayou with Tiana and friends.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is now open at Magic Kingdom, with an opening planned for late 2024 at Disneyland Resort. The attraction has filled the home of the former Splash Mountain, with a newly reimaginedattraction featuring Tiana and her friends from 2009’s The Princess and the Frog, we’re sharing all the details you need to know
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Storyline Details
Tiana’s biggest passion is cooking –and her dream was always to own her own business where she could create good food to bring people together, just like her father James taught her. The story within the brand-new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction will see Tiana’s business grow, picking up after she’s already achieved success with a restaurant of her very own called Tiana’s Palace.
In the next chapter of her story, Walt Disney Imagineering will show Guests how Tiana continued to build her business, creating Tiana’s Foods as the next step in achieving her dreams. Tiana’s Foods is an employee-owned cooperative that combines Tiana’s cooking talents with the talents she finds in her local community.
Where the Story Takes Place
The entire storyline takes place inside an aging salt mine, which Tiana has transformed into the home of a newly-beloved brand. As the story goes, Tiana purchased the salt mine and its surrounding area, reviving it with the help of her mother, Eudora, as well as Naveen, Louis, and fellow cooperative owners. In turn, the old salt mine became a garden growing vegetables, herbs, and spices for all of Tiana’s tasty recipes – and it’s also home to a working and teaching kitchen, where new products like a line of original hot sauces come to life.
Photo courtesy of Disney
In addition to exploring all that Tiana’s Foods has become, Guests will also get the chance to celebrate Mardi Gras season with Tiana, her friends, and her family. You’ll join the group as Tiana plans an incredible party to thank her friends, family, and local community for all of their support –but, of course, there’s a wrench in her plans!
A mix-up during the party preparations leads Tiana to invite Guests to meet her at Tiana’s Foods to help find the missing ingredient she needs.As you explore the transformed salt mill, you’ll see how Tiana spruced up the facilities and decorated them with vibrant artwork made by local artists. You’ll also get to peek in on the party prep, seeing how the food is being prepared and beignets are being loaded into crates for the celebration. And, of course, you’ll spot both new and familiar friends from The Princess and the Frog along the way!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Full Ride
Want to experience the FULL ride for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Disney shared the experience in its entirety, which you have the chance to ride (virtually) below!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Soundtrack
Along with familiar tunes from the film, the ride also features an original soundtrack and music by a talented team of musicians. This includes the finale song, “Special Spice,” written, produced,a nd performed by Grammy-Award winnder PJ Morton with vocals by Princess Tiana herself, Anika Noni Rose. You can stream the entire soundtrack of the ride below!
New Characters
There are new characters on the ride, featuring dozens of Audio-Animatronics. These new characters include Byahlia the Beaver, Gritty the Rabbit, Beau the Possum, Apollo the Raccoon, and Timoléon the Otter.
Critter Bios
Here is a little more about each of these new critters!
- Byhalia the Beaver:Byhalia doesn’t just build dams; she helps build musical instruments using natural materials from the bayou. As a strong-willed percussionist, it’s safe to say Byhalia is the heartbeat of the band, as well as a natural designer and engineer.
- Gritty the Rabbit: Always willing to dig a little deeper to help others, Gritty plays the washboard (a found automobile license plate) with a high-energy flair. It’s the perfect instrument for someone who’s often overzealous and digs to relieve her nerves.
- Beau the Opossum:Seeing limitless possibilities, no one finds more wonder in the bayou and the sounds of zydeco music than Beau. All she knows is beauty, especially her own. You can find her plucking out the low notes with her upright gourd bass, which of course, involves some musical dexterity with her tail.
- Apollo the Raccoon:Apollo loves transforming abandoned objects into works of musical art – like his squeezebox. He’s full of energy and storytelling, especially about the objects he finds in the bayou. He’s particularly close with Rufus and appreciates Rufus’ calm demeanor.
- Rufus the Turtle:Rufus may be a turtle, but he’s quick to jump into rhythm with his harmonica. He’s also the first to join in on new adventures! He’s genuine and sincere but may come across as a little sarcastic at times with his habitual sighing. Rufus loves going on adventures with Apollo.
- Timoléon the Otter: He’s the eldest of the band, but Timoléon’s fiddle-playing is inspired by all the ‘kids’ he spends his time around while in the bayou. When he’s not sawing out a jig, he’s famous for telling stories of days long ago about his explorations of every corner of the bayou.
- Octavia the Bobcat: Octavia plays the vaksin, a single-note horn instrument popular in Rara music. She’s an adventurous bobcat kitten, and she loves climbing and hanging out in trees almost as much as she loves performing. This daredevil almost never gets scared.
- Pawpaw the Bobcat: Not only is Pawpaw Octavia’s devoted grandfather, but he also taught her how to play the vaksin! Pawpaw lives to make Octavia smile and has the view that everything has a way of working itself out – he’s seen it all but isn’t jaded.
- Claude the Louisiana Black Bear: Claude is a salt of the earth kind of bear (or, as they say in the bayou, “salt of the mound”) who plays his horn along with the other members of his family. He’s a tinkerer who loves to create with things found in the forest, and is frequently funny without intending to be, especially when it comes to his home-grown creations.
- Bernadette the Louisiana Black Bear: Bernadette loves to enjoy life, from splashing in the waters of her bayou home with her cub, Sebastián, to playing the horn with her mate, Claude. She’s a clear thinker and is warm and supportive. Bernadette loves to sink into the bayou waters and munch on plants (so long as Sebastián is clearly within sight).
- Sebastián the Louisiana Black Bear:Though he’s definitely a “mama’s cub,” Sebastián charted his own musical course as a drummer, despite his parents being devoted horn players. He’s happy to follow his friend Octavia’s adventurous lead as they explore and play, and is fascinated with the small details in the bayou, like the insects and mushrooms.
- Phina the Gray Fox: Phina’s enthusiasm extends beyond her drumming, as she’s constantly thinking of new ideas with optimism and energy! This imaginative fox is continually starting new projects with excitement, and her friends accept and celebrate her unique thinking.
- Felipe the Frog– Deep among the cypress trees, you’ll hear band leader Felipe making musical magic on the piano! Felipe is also the proprietor of an exclusive bayou nightclub, where the local fireflies love to dance the night away to a musical recipe of hot rhythms and spicy melodies. He’s an old-school family guy, especially to his “family” in the band.
- Mayra the Frog– Have you ever seen a frog play a flower blossom like a trumpet? You will when you meet Mayra; be sure to stick around for one of her toe-tapping solos. Mayra’s the most ambitious of the four frogs and has been practicing her instrument since she was just a tadpole.
- Mondo the Frog– Mondo is a natural on the conga drums, which he made as a happy accident when his favorite bottle cap got stuck on his second favorite acorn. From there, the rhythm in Mondo’s soul took over! He’s very copacetic and accepts what comes, a trait as steady and reliable as his drumbeat.
- Isabel the Green Tree Frog– Learning from Mondo’s example, Isabel loves getting lost in the music playing her congas. She’s the youngest member of the group, and there’s nothing she loves more than “going with the flow” and getting to play drums all night long.
Thank you to Disney for hosting us during the This Is Magic Media Event including a preview of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
