Ignore the haters, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a joyful celebration worth the wait!

It’s hard to believe that it's been 15 years since The Princess and the Frog opened in theaters, but it seems only fitting that as we prepare for the film’s official anniversary this November, we get to see Princess Tiana’s legacy expand with the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disney’s Magic Kingdom! 

Replacing the highly outdated Splash Mountain, the new attraction brings the magic of New Orleans to Orlando as fans get the chance to travel down to the bayou for a Mardi Gras celebration with Tiana and all their favorite characters from the film, as well as a few new critters to enter the mix to help Tiana throw the perfect celebration. 

After months of anticipation, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure finally opens to the general public on June 28, but thanks to our friends at Disney, we had the chance to check out the new ride prior to its grand opening as part of a press event hosted by Disney this June giving us the opportunity to experience the magic of the ride first-hand!

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes place after the events of The Princess and the Frog 

Let’s start by setting the stage. While some rides at the various Disney Parks pull inspiration directly from the events of the films that inspired the rides, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure shakes things up by telling a new story that expands upon Tiana’s story in an exciting new way! 

Picking up after the events of the film, we rejoin Tiana sometime after the film, and our favorite princess has been quite busy since we last left her. After opening Tiana’s Palace, Tiana has continued to grow her business through an employee-owned cooperative called Tiana’s Foods. To expand her business, Tiana purchased an aging salt mine and its surrounding land which has since been transformed into a world that celebrates local artists and is filled with gardens full of vegetables, herbs, and spices that are used in her recipes. 

As we meet up with Tiana, she’s preparing to host a Mardi Gras celebration and has planned everything out for the party… there’s just one little problem, a mix-up between Louis and Prince Naveen has left Tiana in need of a band to play at the party. And as anyone from or who has ever visited New Orleans knows, you can’t have a true celebration without music! And that is where our true journey begins. 

Tiana asks for our help in finding the perfect band for her celebration and so we enter the bayou and join Tiana and Louis on an adventure throughout the bayou searching high and low for musicians to perform at the party, because after all the bayou is the best place to find talented musicians! So off we go on a visually stunning journey throughout the bayou in search of musicians to help perform at the party which is when we meet the ride’s many new faces: a variety of critters who have turned found objects into musical instruments. 

These critters include so many adorable new characters including Byhalia the Beaver, Gritty the Rabbit, Beau the Opossum, Rufus the Turtle, Timoléon the Otter, and, my personal favorite, Apollo the Raccoon — who helps greet guests as they arrive at the Critter Co-Op!

Mama Odie helps bring the magic to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Now, we can’t have a Princess and the Frog ride without our favorite voodoo priestess and Disney does not disappoint by utilizing Mama Odie in several key moments within the ride! 

When we first see Mama Odie in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, it’s via the magic of animation as she whips up a spell that helps shrink us down to size for a shortcut to help us get to the party.

What occurs after is an unexpectedly fun drop that takes us down to the bayou where we go on what I can really only best describe as a colorful treat for the eyes as the ride blends together vibrant pops of colors as we drift through the bayou enjoying the music from life-sized frogs and get to fly alongside the fireflies. It's also during this portion of the ride that we get to hear "Dig a Little Deeper," playing in the backdrop which is sure to have you singing along on your journey -- at least I know I was!

She then appears in the build-up to the ride's 50-foot drop which takes us into Tiana's Mardi Gras celebration. It's such a fun setup to the ride's biggest drop giving us a breathtaking view of the park including Cinderella's Castle, before the ride literally takes our breath away as we plummet down into the bayou.

We later spot Mama Odie as we’re leaving Tiana’s Mardi Gras celebration enjoying some beignets as our journey comes to an end, and this time we get to experience her again in all her glory via the stunning Mama Odie animatronic the Imagineers crafted for the ride. It’s a fun closing treat as our ride comes to an end, leaving fans with one last memory before they return to the streets of Magic Kingdom embarking on their next adventure.

“Special Spice” is an absolutely perfect treat and incredibly catchy

Our journey through the bayou reaches a climax when we make it to Tiana’s Mardi Gras celebration which is honestly the moment that is sure to fill fans with nostalgia and bring so much joy to their Disney-loving hearts. 

While we get to see various characters from the film across the ride, it’s through that finale scene that we get to see the full ensemble finally come together in the grandest of finales! We not only get to see Tiana once again, this time donning a stunning green dress, as well as our favorite trumpet-playing alligator Louis but also finally see Prince Naveen and Charlotte La Bouff join the celebration. Sure, we’d have loved for the two to have gotten speaking parts in the ride but getting to see them at the Mardi Gras celebration was a perfect touch. 

Speaking of perfection, I can’t mention the ride’s finale without mentioning the new original song, “Special Spice,” which was written and produced by award-winning musician PJ Morton and performed by Anika Noni Rose! 

The new Disney song created for Tiana's Bayou Adventure is the perfect accompaniment for the ride's finale. Its vibrant mix of jazz, zydeco, and blues encapsulates the spirit of New Orleans, making it an auditory celebration of Tiana's journey. The song’s infectious rhythm and lively brass sections echo the joyful instantly engaging riders and enhancing the festive atmosphere. I haven’t been able to get the song out of my head since riding the ride as Disney once again delivered an amazing tune with “Special Spice.”

The song is not only a celebration of New Orleans and Tiana but is so perfectly in line with the film’s messages of inclusion and celebrating everyone’s uniqueness or as the song reminds us, “your special spice makes life complete.”

Yes, it’s true that Dr. Facilier isn’t part of the ride (but he’s not really needed!)

One of the biggest qualms people seem to have with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is that the ride does not include The Princess and the Frog’s iconic villain, Dr. Faciler. Given the character’s popularity, I understand why there might be a frustration over his exclusion in the ride but once you’ve actually enjoyed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure you’ll see that his exclusion was not a snub but rather a necessity. 

Sure, we all love the character, but his inclusion would not have fitted the narrative of the ride which sees Tiana and Louis seeking riders’ help in finding a band for Tiana’s celebration. Over the course of the ride, we set out to find the perfect musicians to help bring the music to life at the Mardi Gras celebration and the ride masterfully weaves together a story that features the film’s biggest characters with Tiana, Louis, and Mama Odie playing the biggest role in the ride. 

While it’s true that perhaps there could have been a way to throw Dr. Facilier into the mix briefly, his presence simply isn’t needed and wouldn’t have aligned with the story the ride tells. And let’s remember, the ride is set after the film and when we last saw Dr. Faciler in the movie he was being dragged into the voodoo spirit world. So in order to explain his presence in the ride, we basically would have needed an entire storyline explaining how he made it back to our world, and that would have deterred us from the amazing ride the storytellers at Disney crafted. 

So yes, while we can miss him, let’s be honest that Dr. Facilier isn’t needed for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and anyone who uses his absence to review bomb the ride clearly is missing the vision and just finding something to nitpick at. 

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue is full of Easter eggs 

While Dr. Facilier might not be included in the ride, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of Easter eggs for fans. In fact, the queue is full of special little references that fans are sure to love including a Disney signature, infusing an iconic scent with the ride to elevate the experience! 

If you’re standing in the queue waiting to ride the ride, you might find yourself craving beignets thanks to the sweet smell of the New Orleans signature dessert being pumped into the area to help make riders feel as though they’ve just stepped into Tiana’s kitchen!

Speaking of which, we actually get a glimpse behind the curtain into Tiana’s kitchen which is recreated in the queue and is full of fun surprises including the original gumbo recipe from Tiana’s great-grandmother and photos of Tiana’s family that really make the scene come alive. 

Keep your eyes out throughout the queue for newspaper clippings and photos of Tiana’s favorite memories that help to bring the ride to life and give us a glimpse into what Tiana has been up to since we last saw her in The Princess and the Frog. These clippings also help give you something to read as you pass the time while in the queue and just are part of Disney being Disney, going above and beyond with detail spared. Here are just a few of the easter eggs that await you in the queue:

In addition to many visual elements, while you’re in the queue, you’ll also hear a radio program throughout which includes New Orleans-inspired music arranged by and produced by Terence Blanchard who worked on The Princess and the Frog soundtrack as well as messages from the radio announcer inviting everyone to Tiana’s celebration! 

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure brings must-need change to beloved ride

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure brings about a much-needed update to Splash Mountain, replacing the outdated “Song of the South” inspirations with a vibrant celebration of New Orleans culture. This transformation not only honors the rich heritage and spirit of Tiana’s story but also aligns with modern values, creating an inclusive and culturally relevant experience for all guests.

Many continue to try to find fault with the ride, but don’t let the haters fool you! This ride is such a joyful celebration of New Orleans and the characters we all fell in love with when The Princess and the Frog was first released 15 years ago. The ride immerses you into Tiana’s world the minute you step into the queue and the journey through the bayou is one that Disney fans both young and old will remember for years to come. 

The animatronics featured in the ride bring our favorite characters to life with breathtaking visuals and scenery creating the magical world that surrounds us on the ride. Our favorite songs from the film are woven into the tapestry of the ride, and “Special Spice” is an amazing new addition to the Disney song catalog that is sure to have you singing along when you go back to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure again and again! 

When you next head out to Magic Kingdom, be sure to make your way down to the bayou to say hello to Tiana, Lous, Mama Odie, and all of their new friends as this ride is worth celebrating!