It looks like the time has come, my fellow Disneylanders. After months of waiting, Disney has announced that Splash Mountain will be closing next month to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Disney first announced that Splash Mountain at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort would be closing back in 2020. They didn’t say when the attractions would close or what would replace them. The closure announcement came as the iconic attraction received more criticism because it was based on the racially insensitive film The Song of the South.
Finally, in the summer of 2022, Disney announced that Splash Mountain would get a Princess and the Frog retheme and become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. On January 23, Splash Mountain officially closed at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park. However, the classic attraction remained open at Disneyland. Then, on April 12, Disney shared that Splash Mountain will be closing at Disneyland Park on May 31.
Disney Parks Blog shared more on the closure:
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure builds on the story of Princess Tiana, a character whose pride and perseverance reminds us of a universal truth: within us lies the potential to make our dreams come true. This all-new adventure will bring Disney Parks guests into Princess Tiana’s world like never before when the attraction opens in Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in 2024.
To make room for this new magic, Splash Mountain at Disneyland park will be closed starting May 31, 2023, so we can begin the next phase of development for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
More on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Disney has said that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open at Disneyland and Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in late 2024. Details have slowly been coming out about what the ride will be about. The ride will take place after the events from the film, where Tiana is creating her own food company. Tiana is preparing for a party to celebrate, but realizes she is missing a secret ingredient. Guests will travel down the bayou to help Tiana obtain that ingredient.
The new attraction will come with a ton of new animatronics to bring Guests into the movie they love. In addition to seeing Tiana and Prince Naveen, Guests will also encounter Louis — the saxophone-playing alligator –, Mama Odie, Tiana’s friend Charlotte, Charlotte’s father “Big Daddy”, and others!
Disney Fanatic will keep readers updated as we learn more about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and opening dates!