Even though Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will not open to the general public at Disneyland Park until November 15, 2024, Magic Key pass holders currently have an opportunity to experience the attraction on select days through November 12, 2024. But in order to do that, Magic Key pass holders have to join a Virtual Queue and have a Disneyland theme park reservation. To learn more about the available Magic Key preview days and how to join the Virtual Queue, visit my blog post here.
And if you are curious to hear about the newly reimagined attraction, please keep reading. However, if you prefer not read spoilers, please stop reading now.
The Attraction
If you’ve experienced Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, it is basically the same attraction with a few minor exceptions. And if you are expecting a completely different attraction than Splash Mountain, don’t get too excited. Yes, the sites and sounds throughout the attraction are completely different, but the ride itself is exactly the same as Splash Mountain. Nothing about the ride system changed. The ride vehicles are the same with the exception of Brer Rabbit missing from the ride log. The drop is the same except instead of dropping into a briar patch, you are dropping into the bayou.
Don’t get me wrong, I really love seeing Princess Tiana and the rest of the cast of The Princess and the Frog in the attraction. Princess Tiana is one of my favorite Disney Princesses and I think she deserves an attraction, but I think Walt Disney Imagineers could have done a much better job. A lot of unnecessary screens are used throughout the attraction whereas I don’t think Splash Mountain had any screens. I think the screens work great for the fireflies but otherwise I would have preferred a few more animatronics over some of the other screens that were used. The attraction does flow better in California at Disneyland Park than at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. In Florida, there are a lot of dark areas that could have been lightened up a bit more with a few extra animatronics. But in California, the animatronics and scenese are closer together helping the attraction story flow better without so many dark and empty areas like the attraction has in Florida.
The attraction party scene at the end of the attraction is one of my favorite parts of the attraction. It is filled with a lot of characters from Disney The Princess and the Frog including Charlotte, Eudora and Prince Naveen. This is the only time you see these three characters in the attraction. It would have been nice if they could have at least added another Prince Naveen animatronic somewhere else in the attraction. Maybe he could be in the bayou with Tiana looking for the band to play at the party.
Another disappointment is the absense of Dr. Facilier. I know he was taken to the “other side” at the end of The Princess and the Frog movie, but even a shadow of him would have been fun – or at least some sort of reference.
Overall, the attraction is still a fun ride with some cute critters that you meet along your adventure through the bayou. And I’m glad to have a Princess Tiana attraction and another new experience in Disney Parks even though I think she deserved a “new” attraction instead of a reimagined existing attraction.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Queue
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue line takes visitors into Tiana’s Foods main headquarters. Guests will see lots of storage areas for the Tiana’s food and Tiana’s kitchen with some freshly baked beignets. And there are a lot of pictures on the wall as well as a few framed letters from Tiana’s Daddy.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Once you are in your ride “log” vehicle and headed to the bayou, you are greeted by Princess Tiana. She tells guests to meet up with Louis who is looking for a band to play at their upcoming party.
There are a few frogs throughout the adventure which are references to when Tiana and Naveen were turned into frogs and lost in the bayou.
Throughout the ride, you will see Louis the Alligator. His first appearance is outside where he is looking for a band to play at their party in the vegetable garden growing along the river banks.
This is also where we are first introduced to Lari the Armadillo. You will see him several times throughout your bayou adventure.
When you enter the inside of the bayou, Louis greets you. He has found a critter band to play at the party! Next, you will see those critters who have formed a band in the bayou.
These critters are exactly what Tiana and Louis are looking for. These critters will play at their party and are sure to be a hit!
Tiana likes what she hears. She wants these critters to play at her party.
Then, we are shrunk by Mama Odie to the size of frogs. Now we know what Tiana and Naveen felt like when they were frogs. But don’t worry, Mama Odie will make us big again!
Then Mama Odie says it’s time for us to be big again.
Warning: You will get wet!
But as soon as you are back to your normal size, beware of a big drop ahead. And you will get wet!
Lari has the right idea! Everyone gets wet during that big drop! And if you don’t get wet enough during the drop, a little water just might get magically splashed into the boat.
Final Party Scene
It’s time for Tiana’s big party! At the party, you will see Charlotte, Eudora, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis and more. And somehow, Lari made it to the party too! I think he just wants a few beignets.
After the party scene, you will see those two frogs again. They decided to head on down to New Orleans. And at the end of the attraction, you will see Mama Odie who has a plate of freshly baked beignets. But, don’t get too excited. She is keeping those beignets for herself!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, I’m sure the attraction will be a hit at Disneyland Park. It is already very popular at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. As I’ve already mentioned, I do think a few more animatronics and less screens would improve the attraction even though I think the screens work better in California over the Florida attraction. But with that said, I still loved the attraction and loved seeing The Princess and the Frog characters throughout the attraction. The critters that play in the new band are really cute but the log vehicles move really fast so it is hard to see everything with just one ride through (and hard to get good pictures). But, when Ray’s Berets and Louis’ Critter Club merchandise shops open in a few weeks, the shops should be selling these cute plushies of the Critter band so we can take them home and remember the attraction.
Magic Key holders can pick up this commemorative poster after experiencing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure that features Princess Tiana, Louis and the critter band with the attraction in the background.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure POV Video
If you want to experience Tiana’s Bayou Adventure before heading down the bayou, watch my POV video of the attraction from the Magic Kingdom in Florida that takes you from the queue line to the end of the attraction. (I will be replacing this video with my Disneyland POV video as soon as I finish editing and uploading it.)
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As always, I’ll “see ya real soon” Mouseketeers!
