Just weeks after its grand opening, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Park struggles to meet guest expectations. The long-anticipated retheme of Splash Mountain has faced significant technical issues and widespread guest dissatisfaction, leading to low wait times and online criticism.
Disney Parks fans on Reddit recently detailed the ride’s ongoing malfunctions, sharing frustration over broken animatronics, repeated breakdowns, and other operational issues. One user, u/kjavatar, summarized their disappointing experience, pointing out multiple problems in the ride’s first month of operation:
“The first Tiana animatronic on the lift hill has a gash under her chin. Second Tiana’s mouth wasn’t moving, in the final scene Louis’s head was moving but his body was still, Tiana was completely still and just awkwardly standing there. Finally Mama Odie’s mouth didn’t move. Aside from ALL of that, the ride has broken down 4 times today so far. I understand new rides can have issues but this ride is a month old and it feels like it’s falling apart. It’s genuinely frustrating how a ‘brand new’ ride can find itself in such disrepair.”
The thread attracted hundreds of comments from other Disney Parks fans who shared similar negative experiences with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Guests cited animatronics that failed to function properly and a series of breakdowns that left many unable to experience the ride.
“My #1 goal yesterday was to ride Tiana for the first time and I got the closest before breakdown #3… honestly depressing,” shared u/madqueenludwig.
Another Disney Parks fan, u/kskinner24, pointed out the cost of a Disneyland Resort visit and expressed frustration with the quality of the new attraction. “We pay an ass load of money to get into this park, the ride better be up and running 100% especially the new rides. Call me entitled but if you’re gonna charge a billion dollars to get in, shit better work. Half ass rides isn’t the Disney way.”
Beyond Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Some Disney Parks fans attributed the issues with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to more significant problems within Disneyland Resort’s maintenance and engineering teams. Several users speculated that staffing shortages and budget cuts from the pandemic have negatively impacted the upkeep of attractions.
“I still feel like Disney is suffering from laying off all their experienced maintenance and engineering staff during Covid,” said u/garrcha. “That was a big mistake. But that’s just my .02$.”
Others encouraged guests to voice their concerns through official channels. “Welcome to Disney not retaining enough maintenance crew to upkeep the complex attractions and show elements,” wrote u/FawkesFire13. “Honestly, bring things up like this in guest surveys and leave messages at Guest Relations. Talk about it in ways that reach official resort offices.”
Comparisons to Walt Disney World Resort
The operational struggles with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland have drawn comparisons to the version of the ride at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park. While the Central Florida version experienced similar issues during its preview period, the attraction’s performance has reportedly improved in recent months.
Have you noticed any issues with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Park or Magic Kingdom Park? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments.
