It’s been four years since Disney announced Splash Mountain would close at Disneyland and Walt Disney World to remove the culturally insensitive theming and make way for a new, more modern, more inclusive story.
The ride opened at Disneyland in 1989 (and then a few years later at Disney World in 1992), with music and characters heavily inspired by “Song of the South” — a 1946 Disney film that depicted racist stereotypes.
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When Disney shared that the ride would close at both parks to remove the antiquated theming, it also revealed that it would be rethemed to the 2009 Disney animated film “The Princess and the Frog.” This groundbreaking film introduced audiences to the world’s first Black Disney princess: a strong and inspirational culinary mastermind named Tiana.
After four long years, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened at Disney World on June 28 with a new design, new characters and a new storyline.
And as of Nov. 15, Disneyland guests can officially go “down the bayou” with Princess Tiana and all her friends.
Additionally, Disneyland renamed Critter Country — the land where Splash Mountain was located — to Bayou Country to coincide with the ride’s opening.
Bayou Country is also home to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes and the newly reimagined Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. The refurbished restaurant serves a menu of down-home delights like pulled pork sandwiches, barbecue combo platters, ribs and all the fixins.
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Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Like the version at Disney World, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland picks up where the film left off: Tiana opens the restaurant she had been working so hard for, and she lives happily ever after (in human form) with Prince Naveen.
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The ride follows Tiana as she searches for a cast of musicians to perform at her big Mardi Gras celebration. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has all-new music, animatronic characters and story elements. However, the ride track, ride vehicles and 50-foot drop are exactly the same, meaning you will get wet.
There are a few avenues for accessing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure during its grand opening period. For now, at least, there is no standby queue, so you can’t just show up and stand in line.
Guests will have three opportunities each day to join a free virtual queue in the Disneyland app: at 7 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. PST.
You must have a park reservation for Disneyland Park to join the 7 a.m. queue, and you do not need to be inside the park to join. For the noon and 4 p.m. queues, you must be inside Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park. If you are in Disneyland California Adventure Park, you must have a Park Hopper ticket to request to join the queue. Guests can only join the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue once daily.
Guests who purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass can choose Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as one of their ride selections. You can purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass either before your visit as a ticket add-on or after you enter the park on the day of your visit. Whether you purchase ahead of time or during your visit, you can make your first ride selection after you enter the park.
“We’re almost there” is a catchy refrain from the film, but we actually are there now that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is open at Disneyland.
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