Disneyland has done a beautiful job taking the beloved Splash Mountain with a problematic backstory from the 1940s and turning the thrill ride into a tribute to Disney’s first Black princess that will delight generations to come.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened to the public last week, and the refreshed water ride will make you forget all about Splash Mountain. There’s a new Princess Tiana backstory, a host of adorable animatronic critters and a toe-tapping soundtrack. And yes, you will get wet.
The reimagined ride removes thematic elements related to “Song of the South” — the controversial 1940s film criticized for perpetuating racist stereotypes that has been disowned by Disney. Instead, it extends the “Princess and the Frog” storyline, picking up after the final kiss between Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen.
We follow Tiana and Louis, the trumpet-playing alligator, as they prepare for their first Mardi Gras performance and search for musicians. We have been asked to serve as talent scouts during our ride through the bayou. We come across a series of musical groups starring beavers, opossums, racoons, bobcats, frogs and other animatronic bayou critters.
There are a few spots along the way where you may need a little more backstory to understand what’s going on. Walt Disney Imagineering has come up with a convoluted concept to explain, for example, why Tiana is inside a mountain in the bayou.
As the story goes, the culinary-loving princess has set up a food co-op in a salt mine — which explains the oversized versions of Louisiana crops you’ll spot growing on the mountainside at the beginning of the ride. Deep inside the mountain, Mama Odie shrinks riders to the size of a frog — which explains why we see massive versions of Tiana and Louis peering at us via video screens.
The highlight comes after the big drop when riders float into the biggest show scene in the attraction. The riverboat grand finale from Splash Mountain has been transformed into a lavishly spectacular scene at Tiana’s bayou party with all the critters characters serving as the orchestra.
One thing that hasn’t changed during the transformation is the water. You will still get wet — and even drenched from head to toe if you happen to be sitting in the wrong spot. I sat in the back seat wearing a rain poncho and managed to only get a light misting. The people sitting in front of me got soaked. But they still seemed to enjoy themselves.