Disney recently announced that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom will now be opening in the summer of 2024!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
When the ride re-theme had initially been announced its opening timeline was set for late 2024. Now that Disney has moved up the opening date (we’re still waiting for a specific date to be announced), we can’t help but keep track of all the new updates we’ve been seeing!
We stop by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure every time we visit Magic Kingdom (which is A LOT), and we’ve started to see some BIG updates happening. Let’s go through six of the most recent (and some of the BIGGEST) changes to the ride that we’ve noticed on the outside.
Log Changes
The plan for the ride vehicles on the new ride is that the same logs from Splash Mountain will be used. However, we recently saw a change to the logs. While they were lined up at the bottom of the drop, we noticed the fronts of the logs were completely empty. Br’er Rabbit used to be on the front, but he has seemingly been removed from all the logs.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride Vehicles
For comparison, here is what the logs looked like before when they were being used for Splash Mountain.
Splash Mountain ride vehicles
We don’t know if Disney plans to add Princess and the Frog characters to the logs or simply leave them blank, but we’ll be watching for any other changes!
Blank logs for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Water Is Flowing
If you stop by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, you may notice water in the ride track outside!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure filled with water
Water in the track is a HUGE step in the right direction towards opening! We know that the ride will use the same track as Splash Mountain, and the fact that there is water in it, means we’re certainly getting closer to enjoying the new ride.
Ride Testing
Water in the track also means that Disney can test the ride! Ride testing has been occurring at night, and we caught a glimpse of it while in Magic Kingdom one evening.
The water is flowing again and MORE ride vehicle testing is being done tonight at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom! 💚 pic.twitter.com/fYZ0zTImoi
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 22, 2024
The log changes, water in the track, and ride testing are significant milestones for the ride and certainly indications that we’re nearing opening day.
Scaffolding
When construction began on the facade of the mountain, there was A LOT of scaffolding put up — like a ton of scaffolding.
Look at all that scaffolding!
But most recently, much of it has come down! It looks like most of the greenery has been added, and they are beginning to bring down the scaffolding as they work on other areas of the mountain.
There’s far less scaffolding now.
You’ll still find lots of signs of the construction going on, but it looks like things are slowly getting done!
A Hidden Mickey Has Disappeared
If you’re a Hidden Mickey hunter, you may remember finding the Hidden Mickey located right at the peak of the big hill just before tumbling over the side. It appeared to be a profile view of Mickey Mouse that was made out of the rock formation.
Hidden Mickey
Now, the main rock on the outside of the ride that made up Mickey’s nose has been removed which we anticipate means that we will no longer find this Hidden Mickey when we go over the hill and down the slope.
Comparison of the fronts of the two rides.
It would be neat to see other Hidden Mickeys added around this ride, so we’ll be on the lookout for them as soon as we can journey through the bayou with Tiana!
Greenery on a Tree Trunk
A little while back there was speculation on the internet that a tree stump that was added to the mountain was a tribute to the huge tree that used to sit on top of Splash Mountain.
The stump
We never received true confirmation on whether or not the stump was in memory of the old ride, but we may have our answer now. We saw, on our last trip to Magic Kingdom, that the stump is now completely covered in greenery, to the point that you may not have even realized it was a stump at all.
There’s the stump covered in greenery
If it is a tribute to Splash Mountain, it’s very subtle. Perhaps it’s just simply more decor that has no meaning at all. We may have to wait to find out more (if there is more to learn at all).
Model of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the 2022 D23 Expo
We’ll be on the lookout for more Tiana’s Bayou Adventure details and updates in Magic Kingdom and on Disney’s website. Be sure to follow DFB for all your Disney news!
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Are you excited to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Let us know in the comments!
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Still looks like an explosion in a wedding greenery factory.
Trip already scheduled for July!!! Hoping maybe Passholder Preview could happen then….
Can’t wait to see all the changes around Splash Mountain that were made. Keep up the good updates on the attractions.