Key Points
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open on June 28th in Frontierland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
- The animatronics in the ride are impressive, but the ride lacks the rich plot and story that Disney has been known for in the past.
- Overall, it’s well worth riding. But big Disney fans may yearn for a thicker, original plot that does justice to one of Disney’s best princesses.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a re-theme of the iconic Splash Mountain attraction in Frontierland of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
The ride is set to open on June 28th, but I had the chance to ride it during an Annual Passholder preview. Here’s what you should know about the ride.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure In Pictures
Overall impression of the ride
The ride is fine. Anyone who goes on in without any context will enjoy the ride while they’re on it, then go about their day and move on.
It’s a fun ride, but there’s nothing too memorable about the ride elements. Everything sort of blends together in a weak story that leaves you wanting a bit more.
The Ride Story
The plot of the ride is that it takes place after the events of the film, where Tiana has started a larger food business to supplement her restaurant.
In the queue, you walk past various food supplies and through her kitchen, which is reportedly supposed to smell like beignets (though that was not the case when I went through). You then travel down into a salt mine, which is supposed to be the “mountain” of the ride you see outside (where are there hills in the bayou?).
From there, you board your log and travel down the bayou, searching for critters per Tiana’s instructions to play in a band at Tiana’s big party at the finale of the ride.
Where’s the Villain?
Splash Mountain was iconic for the drop and the ride photo taken during it. It transcended the Disney Parks community and was a part of the general American culture. Splash Mountain built up anticipation for the drop.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure makes the drop forgettable and offers no real reason as to why you’re falling. You just end up going over the falls for no reason. I can’t comprehend why the plot of the ride didn’t involve the Shadow Man villain from the original film in some way, singing the spooky voodoo song “Are You Ready” and featuring the dancing shadows and colors depicted in the film. It fits so perfectly in the space leading up to the big drop.
The Downsides
The biggest flaw of the ride is its lack of story. Disney used to pride itself on its storytelling but seems to have lost its way in this department.
Effectively, the ride based on the Princess and the Frog movie forgets what its source material was.
Should I Ride It?
Yes! It is absolutely worth a ride when you visit the park, and some riders may even find it more fun than the ride it replaced.
The new animatronics are impressive, the ride is pretty at night, and it brings a welcome capacity increase back to the world’s busiest theme park. There are some fun and exciting effects that are sure to make everyone in your party smile.
The Bottom Line
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a good ride, it just leaves Disney fans wanting more from a company that seems headed down a track toward mediocrity. It just feels frustrating that Tiana couldn’t get her own boat ride.
I think Tiana is one of Disney’s best princesses, and she deserves an original ride that everyone can enjoy – not a thrill ride with a height restriction to prevent kids from experiencing it.
