On Wednesday, guests at Magic Kingdom Park were surprised to find one of the advanced audio-animatronics on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure malfunctioning during the ride’s finale. One Walt Disney World Resort guest shared their experience on social media.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened at Walt Disney World Resort in June 2024, with Disneyland Resort’s version launching five months later. The ride replaced the controversial Splash Mountain theme with a musical journey through the New Orleans bayou, featuring beloved characters from The Princess and the Frog (2009). Original voice actors Anika Noni Rose (Princess Tiana), Michael-Leon Wooley (Louis), Jenifer Lewis (Mama Odie), and Bruno Campos (Prince Naveen) reprised their roles. However, the villain Dr. Facilier, voiced by Keith David, is notably absent from the storyline.
The attraction faced several operational issues in its early days, with multiple early closures during Disney cast member previews and Annual Passholder events. Even after officially opening, the ride experienced repeated stops, evacuations, and technical difficulties with its sophisticated audio-animatronics.
Nearly a year on, the ride generally runs smoothly, but it’s not without occasional problems. On May 14, Reddit user u/rrsafety rode twice and noticed that the Princess Tiana animatronic was motionless during the finale.
“We thought the grand finale was quite underwhelming,” they wrote. “Some of us were arguing if it was even Tiana at the end standing there singing. LOL. Got back to the room and went to YouTube to realize the star of the show was actually broken for the final number.”
This malfunction isn’t new—Disney Fanatic observed the same issue during a January ride. It remains unknown if repairs have been made after this latest malfunction. As of May 15, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure continues to operate and welcome Disney Park guests.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen on an attraction at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
