Five Things to Know About Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a log flume ride in the Magic Kingdom that’s based on the characters from the 2009 animated classic “The Princess and the Frog”. It’s one of the most popular attractions in the park (especially on a hot day!) To learn more about what’s cooking in Tiana’s food empire, read on. Or, to skip the soup and head straight to the nuts and bolts, here’s your shortcut.

1. You’ll queue up for a party!

The ride’s premise is pretty cool. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes place a year or so after the events in “The Princess and the Frog.” Her restaurant is thriving, and she’s expanded her business by opening an employee-owned food cooperative called Tiana’s Foods.

As is true for many attractions at WDW, the queue sets the scene for the ride with storytelling elements. Keep your eyes open, and try to read everything you pass! The details are a testament to the Imagineers’ dedication to immersive storytelling.

In the outdoor part of the queue, you’ll find an abundance of details, from the water tower to the gardens to the antique car Tiana uses for deliveries. The exterior walls of the main entrance feature two murals by artist Malaika Favorite telling the story of Tiana’s successful career from start to present (1927) day.

Once indoors, a blackboard on the wall has a list of party preparations checked off, except for one thing. It seems that Louis forgot to get a band! But no problem: this is New Orleans! Plenty of bands, right? As you pass Tiana’s office, you’ll see a newspaper headline announcing Tiana’s party. The plot thickens with a secondary headline: “New Orleans bands booked for Mardi Gras season!” Uh-oh…

Climb some stairs and you’re in a hall filled with photos, ribbons, and family pictures, passing the kitchen where there’s a big platter of Tiana’s Beignets. Near the end of the queue, you enter the salt mine that Tiana has purchased and revived (more on that later), before stepping onto the loading platform.

2. You’ll help search for a band, tour the bayou, then drop 50 feet!

Once seated in your log, you’ll start out traversing the open-air bayou. Music from the animated soundtrack accompanies your travels. As you climb a bit higher, the Audio-Animatronic Tiana explains that she needs your help to assist Louis the Alligator in finding a band for the party. The views of the Magic Kingdom are spectacular and even more magical by night!

A small drop takes you into the bayou where Louis welcomes your help. And, you’ll pass the source of the Zydeco music you hear: a bayou band of diverse critters. As you float along more critters and more new band members are found and recruited. And then you come to Mama Odie, who shrinks you to frog-size so that you can recruit amphibian brass and rhythm sections for the band.

Mama Odie restores you to life-size just before the famous 50 foot so “you’ll make a bigger splash – at the party!” And you’ll find that party at the bottom of the drop, where you float through Tiana and Naveen’s new home. It’s a spectacular, colorful finale with all the animatronics, colors, and music. Mama Odie sends you off with the message that the party’s never complete without you!

3. TBA’s Imagineering Story

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a re-theming of the former Splash Mountain ride. Splash Mountain was based on Song of the South, an early Disney film with some controversial race-related story elements. Although the retheming was announced in 2020, it was reported that Disney had been discussing removing the Song of the South connection for at least five years. Splash Mountain closed in the Magic Kingdom on January 23, 2023, and in Disneyland on May 31st, 2023.

From the start, Disney set out to create a new, inclusive concept that would “speak to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks.” Imagineer Charita Carter led the project, and Splash Mountain Imagineer Tony Baxter was on board as a creative advisor.

As creative preparation, Imagineers visited New Orleans. They consulted with cultural institutions, chefs, academics, and musicians. The goal was to ensure not only historical accuracy but respect for the traditions.

New music was written by New Orleans musicians PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard. The new queue features a mural designed by Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite. Louisiana blacksmiths Darryl Reeves and Karina Roca created the prominent weathervane seen on the attraction’s exterior. Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Michael-Leon Wooley, and Jenifer Lewis reprised their voice roles. And since New Orleans is at sea level, the Imagineers explained the iconic drop by setting the ride on a salt dome.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened June 28, 2024, at the Magic Kingdom (November 15, 2024, at Disneyland). The story, decor, and animatronics were changed but it still has all the much-loved dips and big drops people remember. In total, 48 new Audio-Animatronics were featured. The ride, from start to finish, emphasizes that everyone is welcome, everyone belongs and we’re better together. “Princess Tiana throws Mardi Gras party for all of New Orleans – everyone is invited!”

4. The attraction is packed with secrets (and recipes) too!

I’ve got to be honest: there are so many details, secrets, Easter eggs and hidden Mickey’s in this attraction that it would take another article to list them. So, I’ve whittled the list down to a few of my favorites – purely subjective.

⭐ The bulletin board in Tiana’s office has a couple of notable things posted on it. One is a poster for Louis’ band; the name is Firefly Five Plus Lou. The name is a very subtle reference to a band formed by some Walt Disney Animation Studios artists which performed at Disneyland’s early days. Their name? The Firefly Five plus Two.

⭐ There are several details about Tiana’s father James to be found on the walls of the queue. One makes it clear that he served in the 369th American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, one of the first African American regiments formed and noted for their bravery.

⭐ On the kitchen table is a recipe card with Tiana’s beignet recipe. Snap a picture and give it a try!

⭐ The stars on the water tower tiara are a nod to Ray and Evangeline’s stars! The are at least two other places where you can see two stars in the queue.

⭐ Under the kitchen island is the big brown pot that Tiana and her father used to make gumbo in at the beginning of The Princess and the Frog. The gumbo recipe is framed and hung on the wall in the queue.

⭐ As a nod to Splash Mountain, the statues on the shelf in Tiana’s office are a bear, fox, and rabbit. They were the 3 main characters in the Splash Mountain attraction. There are several more nods, so keep your eyes open.

⭐ As for hidden Mickeys, look at the lily pads to the left of your log as you ride through the open-air bayou. There are more, of course, so let us know your favorites in the comments.

5. The Nuts and Bolts.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is located in Frontierland, to the left of Big Thunder Mountain. There is currently no standby line; you must join the Virtual Queue or use Lightning Lane Multi Pass to ride. (Step-by-Step: How to Ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disney World) As a partly outdoor attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure may close in bad weather. And you may get wet, so plan ahead and dress accordingly.

The ride vehicles are “logs” that each have four rows, seating two adults per row or maybe two adults and a small child.

Guests must transfer from a wheelchair or ECV to the ride vehicle. You must be 40 inches tall to ride, so Rider Switch is available.  For safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride. Service animals are not allowed.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is not open for Early Theme Park Entry or Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. In total, the experience lasts about 18 minutes.

The Bottom Line.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is not to be missed – when it’s operating. It seems that the complexity of the attraction means it often closes due to mechanical issues. Still, we believe it’s yet another demonstration of the Imagineers’ dedication to authenticity while honoring history and providing guests with a whole lot of fun. It retains – and improves upon – many things that made Splash Mountain a favorite, and we think it’s an entertaining attraction everyone in the family will love.

Have you experienced Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? What did you think? What was your favorite feature? Let us know in the comments.