Let the good times and water roll: Tiana's Bayou Adventure set for Disney World opening
If the voice of Mama Odie herself bursts into song aboard the newest and wettest attraction at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, you know there must be something cooking at Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
That's what happened at a preview on June 10 when actor Jenifer Lewis, who voiced the 197-year-old Mama in Disney's 2009 animated movie "The Princess and the Frog," headed for the bayou on the New Orleans-themed experience.
Sitting in a log-style boat waiting to move toward the conclusion of the journey, and delighting those near her, Lewis began to belt out "Dig a Little Deeper," an upbeat song she sang in the movie. She was emotional about the experience of the movie becoming an attraction: "Blissed," Lewis said.
Here's just a little taste of what's on the menu at this widely welcomed, rethemed attraction, which replaces Splash Mountain in Frontierland. Tiana's Bayou Adventure officially opens June 28 at Walt Disney World and later ths year at Disneyland.
What you'll see and hear
The water's still there, but a lot has changed around this part of Magic Kingdom.
The former "mountain" is now a foliage-covered salt mine. It's topped by a water tower bearing the words 'Never lose sight of what's important" and is "home" to Tiana’s Foods, an employee-owned cooperative. Throughout the line to the actual ride, there's much to see: Riders can learn more about Tiana's family and history, and see how she's made her dreams come true, through photos on walls, a prep kitchen and more. (Yes, that IS the piped-in scent of beignets in the air throughout the attraction; there's a recipe for them on one wall).
The action inside is set in 1927, continuing the story where the movie left off. Princess Tiana now owns a successful restaurant, Tiana's Palace, and is going to throw a Mardi Gras party for her community. Riders glide through the misty bayou with Tiana and trumpet-playing Louis the alligator to find critter musicians to play at the party, and Mama Odie shrinks guests down to the size of frogs so they can help out.
Familiar faces will greet guests: Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis and Mama Odie, and new characters, like Afro-Cuban frogs and a bobcat and bear band, are introduced. Listen closely throughout to hear some of the original voice actors who are back, including Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, and Jenifer Lewis. Zydeco music abounds, along with tunes from the movie, and the new song "Special Spice," written by Grammy winner PJ Morton and performed by Rose, adds a vibrant close.
It's a love letter of a ride
So why New Orleans? And why Tiana?
Disney Imagineers addressed those questions in a June 10 session with guests and media at Magic Kingdom.
As for New Orleans, that was the home of "Queen of Creole Cuisine" Leah Chase, the famed late executive chef and owner of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, said Carmen Smith, Disney creative executive.
Imagineers see the attraction as a "love letter to New Orleans."
"When Disney Animation visited New Orleans and sat down with Leah Chase, they knew this American original was the inspiration for Disney as a first African American princess," Smith said.
And how Tiana inspires? Charita Carter, Disney Imagineer and executive creative producer on "Tiana's Bayou Adventure," answered that.
"Tiana is everybody's princess," she said. "She comes from a real place in America. She wasn't born into royalty. She has a working mom. She has military ties, and there's so much about her life that is relatable. Everyone can find an aspect of Tiana's story in their own story ... so many people are inspired by her. Tiana is a dreamer and doer."
Speaking of those dreamers and doers: In May, Carter said, Imagineers heard about Layla Hildreth, a Shades Valley High School senior who'd made her own prom dress. It was based on Tiana's signature green and gold ball gown, and the Alabama teen's story garnered national media attention.
They were so taken by the story, Carter said, that they invited Hildreth and her family to Disney World. They were in the audience June 10 as Imagineers spoke, and were set for a ride later that day.
"I'm just so surprised ... they're continuing with the story, and a whole new attraction," said Hildreth, who said she was inspired by Tiana's big dreams and work ethic.
"I didn't expect for the story to touch so many people. I know people my age have seen Tiana, but they don't really talk about it as much as they used to. So I'm just glad it's coming back."
Is Bayou Adventure scary? And wet?
No to the first, unless the drop at the end is of concern. This is a sing-along-and-smile, watch-out-for-the-water journey, which includes several non-scary, dark stretches. And there's nothing alarming about the colorful, popping new audio-animatronic characters (48 of them) or the slight dips the logs take along the way.
Yes to the second: There's still the 50-foot watery drop, of course, so if you're ready for that ... you're ready. Small splashes throughout. And riders can get doused in that big splashdown, so take a poncho if you're not a fan of walking around in wet clothes.
Why did Splash Mountain close?
The attraction was based on a 1946 movie, "Song of the South," and featured a Br'er Rabbit theme, which critics said glorified plantation life and glossed over the horrors of slavery. James Basket, who won an Oscar for his role as Uncle Remus, an elderly Black man who told stories depicted in colorful animations, did not attend the film's Atlanta premiere because Black people were forced to sit separately in the theater's balcony.
In March 2020, Disney CEO Bob Iger was asked at a shareholders meeting if "Song of the South" was going to be added to Disney+. He said, "I've felt, as long as I've been CEO, that 'Song of the South' was – even with a disclaimer – was just not appropriate in today's world."
That same spring, more than 21,000 people signed a Change.org petition asking for the attraction to be rethemed.
Disney officially announced the change in June 2020, sharing that Disney's first Black princess would be featured and saying “The new concept is inclusive – one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.”
Splash Mountain closed in January 2023.
Watch the movie to prep
A tip: If you haven't seen the movie, consider trying to do so before experiencing the attraction. If the buzz that's been out there ever since the retheming was announced and the speed at which passholders scooped up preview invites are an indication, you'll have time before the lines die down.
Get familiar with the characters and the celebratory nature of the storyline and all the music to feel more a part of Tiana's journey.
For one Sanford woman who wasn't familiar with the story and attended a preview with her husband, the attraction did not hit home.
Sonja Chester, a Disney Vacation Club member, said she went in "without judgement and perceived notions of the ride since it did replace a ride that was a favorite of my family."
"To be honest I didn’t feel any emotional connection to the ride ... it is a one and done for me!" she said in an email to FLORIDA TODAY. "The animatronics were amazing but I feel like the ride just was not something I would’ve expected from Disney."
But Reagan Holton, 15, of Palm Bay, is ready to queue up for the salute to her favorite Disney princess.
"I love that she is an American Disney princess," she said. "Her hard work and determination to achieve her dream of opening her own restaurant is inspiring. The 1920s time period is a little more relatable than 'Once upon a time in a kingdom far away.' I really hope the ride captures the magical and colorful culture of New Orleans. Plus, I'm excited to see her best friend Charlotte, whose bubbly personality makes her one of my favorite Disney side characters."
Tiana's Bayou Adventure: If you go
There'll be a virtual queue (and no standby queue, at least for now) when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens. Guests will need to use the My Disney Experience app to enter the queue, which offers openings at 7 a.m. (you don't have to be in Magic Kingdom to enter queue at this time) and 1 p.m. (must be in park to join at this time). Paid Lightning Lane entrance will be available as well.
And all riders must be at least 40 inches tall to climb aboard.
Britt Kennerly is education/breaking news editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact her at 321-917-4744 or [email protected]. Twitter: @bybrittkennerly Facebook: /bybrittkennerly
USA TODAY-Network Florida's C.A. Bridges contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Go with the flow as Tiana's Bayou Adventure sets Disney World opening
