Photos: Our First Look at Disneyland’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens on November 15, 2024 at Disneyland, but we got to ride during one of the preview days for Magic Keyholders and cast members. In today’s post we’re going to take a quick look at the queue and the ride itself. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure replaces Splash Mountain, in the area now known as Bayou Country, which was previously called Critter Country.

Here’s the ride’s marquee. It’s located right across from the Hungry Bear Barbeque Jamboree quick service restaurant.

The front of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is still walled off. But the walls should be coming down soon.

The queue starts in Tiana’s garden where she grows crops for her restaurant.

Onions, brussels sprout and celery in Tiana’s garden.

A stand with some gardening tools inside of the queue. The queue moves past some hand painted murals on the wall. These were created by artist Malaika Favorite from Louisiana.

From here you get a peek into an early part of the ride and a hidden Mickey.

At the end of the ride’s outdoor queue you’ll find the main entrance structure. This is home to Tiana’s office and test kitchen.

Tiana’s office.

There’s some great details to discover here. Be sure to listen for a radio station with music and chatter made specifically for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

Just past the office is this fireplace along with some pictures of Tiana’s family.

Tiana’s friends and family watching the tiara being placed on top of the Tiana’s Foods water tower.

More pictures and ephemera.

Heading into the test kitchen you’ll find the area stocked with ingredients.

My favorite detail in the test kitchen is the beignet dough rolled out, cut, and ready to be put in the oven. Also, this area smells like beignets.

On the test kitchen’s opposite wall you’ll find various awards and magazine covers given to Tiana.

Heading, into the ride’s load and unload area you’ll see a crane overhead.

When you’re on the ride your log starts by slowly drifting past the front of the salt mine. Here you can get a good look at the 50 foot drop you’re about to experience.

Tiana is putting together a party for Mardi Gras and we need to help gather all the musical critters to help with the celebration.

After the lift hill we go under a large Tiana’s Foods sign.

Obviously, Louis is here to help us find the critters.

We also get our first glance at Lari the Armadillo, whom I’m instantly a big fan of.

Riders are then plunged into the bayou. Here we can see some impressive lighting and projection effects.

Louis is one of the many fantastic animatronics on this ride.

You’ll come across a few different all-animal bands on our journey. One of them is the Zydeco Band, which play makeshift instruments.

Another appearance from Tiana and Louis

Riders are then shrunk down by Mama Odie’s magic to find the Afro-Cuban Jazz Band, which is a quartet of frogs.

Here’s another frog with a flower trumpet.

Tiana and Louis peek in to take a look.

This frog is jamming on the piano.

We also get a glimpse at a ton of fireflies.

Beams of colored light hit the riders as the log ascends up the lift hill.

Mama Odie tells us we need to make a big splash for the party. From here the log descends down that 50 foot drop we saw earlier.

Another appearance from Lari the Armadillo. This time with a lovely umbrella.

One of my favorite things about Splash Mountain was how the ride continued after the drop. It always felt like such a nice bonus. The same is true for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

The end of the ride show’s Tiana’s Mardi Gras celebration.

This part of the ride is so fun and vibrant. It’s the exact kind of spectacle we expect in a Disney theme park ride.

Off in the distance we get a look at Tiana’s Palace from the end of The Princess and the Frog.

Right before exiting you get one last goodbye from Mama Odie and another whiff of that delicious beignet smell.

Be sure to grab your on-ride photo when you get off. It’s free for Magic Keyholders and included with Lightning Lane purchase.

Overall Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is fun ride with light thrills that most of the family can enjoy together, if they’re over 40 inches tall. It’s also a showcase of the newest generation of Disney’s stunning animatronic technology. Like Splash Mountain before it, you absolutely will get wet, especially if you’re sitting in the front row. When comparing the ride to its counterpart in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, we find the Disneyland version to be a tighter experience with less empty space during the ride. The two are close, but we give a slight edge to Disneyland’s version. Not that it matters, the ride is popular in Walt Disney World and will be just as in-demand when it officially opens next month in Disneyland.

What do you think of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Share your thoughts in the comments.