A Parent’s Guide to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom – What To Expect
Something new has arrived at Magic Kingdom. The most magical place on Earth now takes you down to the bayou with Tiana and her friends. If your family is like ours, you might be curious about the thrill factor and what age is right to experience Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom in Florida is now open as of Friday, June 28, 2024!
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So get ready to wish upon the evening star and hold on tight, there’s magic in the air tonight. And aboard Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, anything can happen. Our review covers what to expect, and what parents need to know!
Introduction To Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
With Princess Tiana at the helm, this new attraction “digs a little deeper” into her story after the events of the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “The Princess and the Frog.”
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure uses the same ride path and structure as the former Splash Mountain, but has all-new scenes, an all-new storyline, and brings modern Disney magic to the Magic Kingdom.
During our time aboard the ride our group loved how the storyline of the attraction brings a message of empowerment, diversity, and inclusion. “Everyone is welcome” is a common message seen throughout the ride.
Another thing to know about rides at Magic Kingdom, is how Disney’s Rider Swap works – so read up on that with our guide too. You may also want to brush up your knowledge of Walt Disney World Transportation so you can easily get to the Magic Kingdom when it’s time to go on down the bayou!
Keep reading for a special look at the new “Princess Tiana Ride” (as some folks are calling it), including a quick look at the ride path, and new ride scenes.
By the way, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will also arrive to Disneyland Park California, in late 2024.
Meet The Characters: Tiana And Her Friends
Princess Tiana knows a thing or two about cute critters. After all, she met the love of her life while she was a cute critter – a frog in fact.
We’ll discover a group of critter musicians playing a rendition of one of our favorite songs from “The Princess and the Frog,” “Gonna Take You There.” This raucous Zydeco musical recipe of fiddle, accordion, washboard, and other instrument voices will have you singing along as you float down the river under dancing fireflies.
The familiar melody is played on charming makeshift instruments constructed from natural materials and some human-made found objects. But who’s behind this critter band?
Each critter has a cute name and brings their own special skills to the band. Here are just a few of the new friends.
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.
Disney shared a look at the beautiful finale scene in the photo below, which includes Byhalia the Beaver and Gritty the Rabbit.
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.
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.
Incredible Animatronics
While at the Spark Stem Fest at the Orlando Science Center, we saw a few new items coming to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. And now that the ride is in rehearsals we all can see the magical animatronics that await inside!
Imagine floating among cypress trees and Spanish moss of a beautiful Louisiana bayou. That’s what you’ll see inside. And part of the attraction is outside where you can see all the delicious vegetables being grown as part of Tiana’s Foods – one of this hard-working princess’s bustling businesses.
Soon you’ll 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.
Disney shared a look at some of the animatronics and they are breathtaking! The picture below gives you a little taste of the incredible details.
These figures build on our legacy with even more sophistication. Looking back at where we’ve been, I am immensely proud of this team who constantly pushes the envelope of creativity to champion us forward beyond imagination.
Brian Orr, Show Systems Studio Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering
Although there are amazing animatronics throughout the ride, the famous finale scene is getting lots of attention thanks to the beautiful details and colors.
The Storyline Of The Ride
Early releases about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure indicated that Princess Tiana has her own business called Tiana’s Foods. And to make the Mardi Gras celebration perfect she’s heading to the bayou to find just the right things to make the party special. Naturally, we guests get to join her on the adventure.
The queue for the ride is full of artwork including from Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite. And some images show Tiana’s hard work and business building, and helping her community.
Plus the queue smells good too! You might have a nose full of the sweet scent of beignets frying – reminiscent of strolling through the French Quarter – as part of the attraction queue.
Now that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is open it is sure to attract a lot of excited families to Walt Disney World Resort. So be prepared for crowds.
Another new experience that recently opened at Walt Disney World is at EPCOT. Our review of Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana covers what to expect, expert tips, and why young kids love it.
Thrilling Twists And Turns
Since Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes over for Splash Mountain there are thrilling dips, hills, and that famous drop. Many families, like mine, will be excited to experience “the Princess and the Frog ride” – but not every family is up for the thrills.
The height requirement for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure remains 40 inches. My son is six years old and is tall enough for the attraction.
Some of the scenes are dimly lit so that the animatronics and colorful scenery can really shine. There is no villain on the attraction which will help put younger kids at ease.
Parenting pro-tip: Mama Odie is your guide for most of the attraction and her voice can be heard just before every dip and drop. Use that cue to take a deep breath with your child just before each hill.
Tips To Fully Enjoy The Experience
The first thing you need to know about the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is that it is going to be very, very, VERY busy!
Secondly, keep in mind the height requirement and check your child’s height before making any plans. The height requirement is for your family’s safety and there is no wiggle room.
Expect to get wet. This is a water ride!
SPOILER ALERT: About midway through the ride Mama Odie shrinks you down to a smaller size to help you find some special ingredients for Tiana. There is a small drop in the dark and some intense lighting effects, but it is done in a fun upbeat way rather than scary.
How can you reserve your spot?
With newly anticipated rides you should also anticipate longer than usual wait times. A standby line may not be available during the initial months of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opening. So, guests will most likely have two options – virtual queue or Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Guests can request to join the virtual queue using the My Disney Experience app. Each guest can request to enter the virtual queue no more than once per day during regular park hours. Boarding groups for the virtual queue are limited and subject to availability and not all groups may be called to return, based on the availability of the experience.
What to know before joining the virtual queue:
- Download and set up your My Disney Experience app before your trip.
- Make sure those who are riding with you are listed on your Family & Friends list under “My profile.”
- Tickets are required before you can enter the virtual queue.
- The morning booking window is 7am (guests do not need to be in the theme park to join but must have a park reservation for Magic Kingdom).
- The afternoon booking window is at 1pm (guests must be in the Magic Kingdom to join).
The new Lightning Lane muti-pass entry passes are also available for purchase but are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, and are not guaranteed. Currently, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is listed as an option for the multi-pass, but not for the individual Lightning Lane option.
This new ride at Magic Kingdom theme park is sure to enchant and inspire everyone who experiences it! “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”
