Of all the projects in the works at Disneyland and Disney World (and there are a lot of them!), one of the most highly anticipated is the Splash Mountain re-theme. Disney announced in July 2020 that the attraction would get a Princess and the Frog makeover on both coasts, but they didn’t give many details about WHEN the re-theme would take place.
Splash Mountain
We’ve seen several updates about this project since then, including some awesome concept art and more details about the story and characters. But Disney has been mysteriously silent about the timeline for the re-theme — UNTIL NOW. We finally have a DATE for Splash Mountain’s Princess and the Frog transformation!
Right now, the Essence Festival of Culture is happening in New Orleans (running from June 30th through July 3rd), and Disney celebrated the event by sharing more details about the Splash Mountain project. Specifically, they announced that the re-theme will be completed and the attraction will be open by late 2024! Not only that, but we now know that the attraction will be called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure!
©Disney
Disney also shared that more details would be announced at the D23 Expo later this year, but they did share some updated concept art of Tiana’s new look!
©Disney
Previously, we heard rumors about a 2024 opening date from Anika Noni Rose (the actress behind Tiana), who stated on the Live with Kelly and Ryan show that the ride would open that year. After that announcement, however, Disney stated that the timing hadn’t been determined yet. So we’re happy to finally have an official timeline for this project!
The New Name!!
When the re-theme is finished, the ride will feature Princess Tiana and Louis (along with some new characters!), who take guests on an adventure that culminates in a big Mardi Gras celebration finale. Disney has said that the ride will be “a musical adventure” with songs from the film, with a storyline that takes place after the final kiss of The Princess and the Frog.
Princess and the Frog attraction Concept Art ©Disney
Disney Imagineer Charita Carter (who oversaw Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway) is overseeing the re-theme, and the goal is to have a “new concept [that] 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.”
©Disney
Disney has many other projects in the works right now, including some big changes at EPCOT, the TRON: Lightcycle Run coaster in Magic Kingdom, and updates coming to Fantasmic! in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For several of these projects, Disney hasn’t given an opening date or timeline yet (although we know that Fantasmic! will be returning sometime in 2022).
TRON construction in Disney World
We’ll be keeping an eye on these and more of Disney’s projects, so stay tuned with DFB for more of the latest Disney news!
Click here to learn more about the Splash Mountain re-theme.
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I hope the ride is made where you don’t get as wet! Who wants to walk around wet all day after spending thousands of dollars on your trip.
Am I missing something?
You never revealed when the shut down will be
I think they should of called it “Princess and the Log” 😂
When will it close for the re furb though ?????? Thanks
Hi Tracy! Disney has not yet released that information, but we are keeping an eye on it and will post as soon as we know.
This makes me so sad that they are destroying Splash 😔
Leave at least one alone, like with Tower of Terror…
Another Classic is going bust 😭
Splash Mountain is the best ride at the park. I hope it isn’t going to ruined like the Tower of Terror was. They’re taking all the magic out of Disney.
Why is it taking so long to re furb Splash Mountain [nearly 2yrs if the re opening date is correct] when it only took 12 months to build originally from scratch, or am I missing something!!!!