Disney on Fat Tuesday announces opening of New Orleans-themed ride

Disney on Fat Tuesday announces opening of New Orleans-themed ride

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the new ride coming to both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California, will open at the Orlando theme park’s Magic Kingdom this summer, Disney announced on Fat Tuesday — appropriate for a New Orleans-themed attraction.

The ride is an upgrade, renovation and reimagining of Splash Mountain, which closed at both parks just over a year ago. Disneyland’s Tiana attraction will open “later” in 2024, according to the company.

Disney had originally said both versions of the ride would likely not open until late in 2024.

Also on Tuesday, Disney offered the first look at a Tiana audio-animatronic which will be featured in the ride along with other characters from the 2009 Disney animated movie “The Princess and the Frog,” including Naveen, Louis, Mama Odie, Prince Raphie and more, the company said.

In the video, posted to the Disney Parks TikTok account, Executive Creative Producer Charita Carter of Disney Imagineering runs the Tiana animatronic through a few movements.

“We can’t wait for you to come and experience this attraction,” Carter says. “See you in the bayou, summer of 2024.”

While the attraction is undergoing a nearly-complete overhaul, it will retain the famous 50-foot log drop — where scores of ride photos have been snapped at the end of the ride since it opened in 1989 at Disneyland and 1992 at Walt Disney World.

The attraction’s storyline picks up after the events of “Princess and the Frog,” according to Magic Kingdom Vice President Sarah Riles.

“In Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, she’s throwing a festive party during Mardi Gras season to thank her family, friends and the entire community for all the support they’ve given her as a successful business owner,” Riles wrote. “It’s incredibly special that we get to celebrate with her.”