We got an EXCLUSIVE sneak peek INSIDE the new Critter Co-Op store that’s opening in Magic Kingdom alongside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and we’re taking you with us to check out this rethemed shop!

Critter Co-Op is located where The Briar Patch used to be, and the store has been updated to fit the new Princess and the Frog theme. There’s a LOT of new merchandise coming, and the decorations around it are so fun! Let’s check it all out!

Note that the new merchandise themed to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom will actually be located at the Emporium (the big store on Main Street, U.S.A.) when the ride first opens on June 28th. Shortly after the ride opens, all that merch will be moved to Critter Co-Op. You can use mobile merchandise checkout at both the Emporium and Critter Co-Op.

The entrance to the shop from the ride side looks like you’re going “backstage.”

One of the first things you’ll notice in the store is this big Bayou Community Band stage that’s located above the merchandise shelves. (This is where the Splash Mountain critters’ house set-ups used to be.)

Look carefully to spot some instruments up there…

…as well as a sign announcing that it’s currently intermission time, which is why the band isn’t there.

This musical theme continues throughout the store with flyers on the walls advertising various bands like the Bayou Community Band…

…Las Ranitas Verdes…

…The Bayou Bobcats…

…and Rufus and the Terrapins.

Over by the candy, you can see all of these bands featured on the list of upcoming shows!

Now, let’s check out the rest of the store. There are all kinds of souvenirs here, from Minnie ears to Loungefly backpacks, pins to jewelry.

Here’s a closer look at one of the display cases that’s showing off some of that jewelry.

There are lots of apparel options, too!

We have a feeling those Loungefly bags are gonna be popular.

Overall, it’s still a cozy little shop! The ceiling still has tree roots covering it, indicating that you’re “underground.”

Don’t forget to check out the edible souvenirs, including a line of spices from the Dooky Chase Restaurant in New Orleans. This represents the first time EVER that these spices are being sold outside of New Orleans. Leah Chase is the legendary inspiration behind Tiana from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog movie.

There are also snacks and treats like Mardi Gras Popcorn and Gummi Frogs.

You can grab a drink, too, at the refreshment station!

There are some cute nods to the ride and movie inside the shop, like this portrait of Tiana and the critters making gumbo together…

…and a pot of gumbo cooking over the fire! (Apparently, the secret ingredient is an old license plate. Who knew?)

In another corner, you can spot some musical instruments and a record player, along with a newspaper clipping about Louis the Alligator.

Overall, we thought the Imagineers did a great job redesigning this space.

But wait — Critter Co-Op isn’t the only new store coming to Magic Kingdom! Tiana’s Bayou General is another gift shop that has been announced by Disney, although they’ve been rather tight-lipped about what will be sold inside. From the sign, we can see that it might have “groceries, housewares, and dry goods.”

We can’t wait for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to finally open in Frontierland on June 28th. In case you’re not familiar with this re-theme, here’s a little background info.

Disney closed Splash Mountain about a year and a half ago to begin a Princess and the Frog-themed makeover. The ride’s storyline takes place “after the final kiss” in the movie, so it’s a continuation of Tiana’s story. Tiana has made her dream come true by opening her own restaurant, and now she wants to throw a Mardi Gras party for the people of New Orleans to thank them for supporting her restaurant. But she notices that the party is missing a key ingredient, and she needs our help to find it!

Guests join Tiana on a trip through the bayou, where we’ll meet up with friends like Louis and Mama Odie. The ride still has its thrilling 5-story drop, and you’ll probably still get very wet!

We got an exclusive invitation earlier this year to get an in-person look at some of the new animatronics coming to the ride, including several Tiana animatronics, a Charlotte La Bouff one, and ones for Ralphie (Prince Naveen’s younger Brother), Eudora (Tiana’s mom), and Mama Odie.

When the ride opens in Frontierland, it will use a virtual queue, meaning there will be no standby line. You’ll need to join that queue on the My Disney Experience app.

For more information about how to use Disney World’s virtual queue system, click here!

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be available as part of Disney Genie+, so if you purchase the skip-the-line service for Magic Kingdom, you’ll be able to reserve a Lightning Lane pass to skip the wait. Note that it’s part of Genie+ and does NOT have its own a la carte Individual Lightning Lane. We’re expecting the ride to be super popular when it opens, so if you do plan on using Genie+ to reserve a Lightning Lane there, make sure to get that one FIRST.

Learn all about Disney Genie+ and how to use it here!

Some people get to preview the new ride before it officially opens — learn all about those previews here:

• Disney Cast Member previews on June 3rd and 7th and June 23rd and 26th
• Disney Vacation Club member previews on June 12th and June 19th
• Disney World Annual Passholder previews on June 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and 20th
• D23 Gold Member Special Ticket preview on June 22nd

See a full ride-through of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure here.

We can’t wait to go down the bayou with Tiana and her friends. If you’re excited, too, make sure to check out our Tiana’s Bayou Adventure tee in our online DFB store!

We’ve also got a Splash Mountain Farewell Tour t-shirt.

In fact, we have a whole collection of Disney shirts — be sure to check them out before your next Disney World trip!

Shop our DFB Disney tees here!

Stay tuned to DFB, and we’ll bring you ALL the updates on the new ride!

Click here to learn even more about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. 

Are you going to ride this new attraction when it opens on June 28th? Let us know in the comments!

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Critter Co-Op. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ