
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is experiencing yet another round of technical difficulties, and Disney Park guests are taking notice. Less than a year after its grand opening at Walt Disney World Resort, the reimagined Splash Mountain attraction is struggling to keep its animatronics functioning correctly.
Animatronic Malfunctions Frustrate Disney Park Guests
Last month, multiple animatronic figures inside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure glitched, creating an unsettling experience for guests. A Disney Fanatic team member captured photos and videos of four malfunctioning figures during their recent ride-through, giving a closer look at the attraction’s ongoing issues.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opened in June in Magic Kingdom Park’s Frontierland, replacing the former Song of the South (1946)-inspired Splash Mountain. However, technical problems plagued its debut, causing Disney to cancel multiple cast member and Annual Passholder preview events. Although Walt Disney Imagineers have resolved some of the ride’s most pressing operational issues, more minor but noticeable malfunctions persist.
Broken Animatronics Raise Eyebrows
During a ride-through on January 23, a Disney Fanatic team member noticed that the attraction was operating with four broken animatronics. The first Princess Tiana figure near the ride’s entrance stood motionless as her dialogue played.
Inside the attraction, another Princess Tiana animatronic was partially functional. She moved normally but somehow spoke without moving her mouth!
The grand finale also featured an issue with yet another Princess Tiana figure.
Princess Tiana’s mouth and head moved with the music as her body stood stiff. Her arms were locked at her side.
The final scene of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure didn’t fare much better. The Mama Odie animatronic, who is supposed to be playfully scolding Juju, the snake, for sneaking beignets, wasn’t working properly. She remained motionless as her dialogue played:
Disney Struggles with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Walt Disney World Resort guests need to secure a Virtual Queue or Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation to experience Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, making the attraction’s persistent technical difficulties even more frustrating. When a ride is in such high demand, guests expect the experience to function smoothly.
It is unclear whether these animatronic issues have been resolved since Disney Fanatic’s last visit. However, the cold front that hit Central Florida at the time may have impacted the attraction’s performance.
Have you ever noticed maintenance issues on a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort attractions? Share your memories with Disney Fanatic in the comments!