Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Gets a Massive Update (and a Heartwarming Detail)

A little pixie dust must have landed on Disney’s Magic Kingdom last night because Disney Guests are waking up to a magical update in Frontierland!

In the five months since Splash Mountain permanently departed to the Laughin’ Place, Guests have waited in anticipation of the Princess Tiana-themed attraction taking its place. While concept art featuring the “Tiana’s Foods” tower has been teased since the D23 Expo in 2022, die-hard Splash Mountain fans have struggled to picture any structures in place of the famous tree trunk of yesterday.

But as of June 27, Walt Disney Imagineers have unveiled the most significant update the attraction has received yet—its highly-anticipated, tiara-topped water tower.

The Tea on Tiana’s Tower

It’s here! Three weeks since Tiana’s Bayou Adventure cemented itself on Walt Disney World and Disneyland’s Park maps, the attraction’s stamp on Disney has materialized. The centerpiece of Tiana’s food empire she’s built in the attraction’s continuation of The Princess and the Frog’s storyline officially towers over Frontierland.

Disney’s social media accounts spread the news of Princess Tiana’s magical update with close-up captures of the all-new tower:

The blue skies and sunshine of Frontierland at @WaltDisneyWorld are looking a bit more regal this morning! 👑☀️ Overnight, Disney Imagineers installed the tiara-topped water tower that will be the centerpiece for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure when the attraction opens in 2024. 💜💚💛 pic.twitter.com/uCIZa3VCWh

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) June 27, 2023

In addition to triumphant images capturing the excitement of hard-working Imagineers after installing the prominent Park centerpiece, industry insider Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin on Twitter) shared Disney’s video of the magic that happened overnight:

Disney also shared video of Imagineers working overnight to install the water tower:

Disney also shared video of Imagineers working overnight to install the water tower: pic.twitter.com/nEOyp4zkwg

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) June 27, 2023

The labor of love was detailed by an Imagineer who honored Princess Tiana as an “incredible role model” for young women because she’s a hard worker who’s career-focused, a unique characteristic of Disney’s classic princesses.

The Imagineer also shared a sweet detail about the tiara topping the tower. Two stars topping the tower represent Ray and Evangeline from The Princess and the Frog, and they hold a more profound meaning about the stars Princess Tiana wished on, reminding Guests to pursue their dreams just like the persistent princess.

What the Bayou Brings

With this exciting new update to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney fans can anticipate a host of contemporary and classic audio-animatronics to love, including Louis, the jazz-playing alligator. The attraction also features Mama Odie, Eudora, Charlotte, “Big Daddy,” the King and Queen of Maldonia, and Prince Ralphie.

Fans will experience fan-favorite voices reprising their roles from the film, including Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen, Michael Leon Wooley as Louis, and the one and only Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana. With award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard composing the soundtrack for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, fan favorites featured on the ride, and an all-new water tower claiming its stake on Frontierland, we’re excited to say the new attraction is almost there!