The opening date for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World Resort has been announced. The new Magic Kingdom attraction will be opening on June 28, 2024. An opening date for the Disneyland Resort version of the attraction has not been announced yet but will be later this year. A press release was shared this morning revealing the date. It appears that Disney plans to officially announce the opening date during American Idol tonight.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will see guests going with Princess Tiana, Mama Odie, Louis, along with a host of new friends on a new musical adventure. This attraction will have dozens of new Audio-Animatronics, a brand new soundtrack, and a celebration that welcomes everyone.
Music
A key component in this attraction will be music. Music is at the heart of New Orleans. Walt Disney Imagineers have tried to be as authentic to the culture of the crescent city as possible. Guests will find that much of the music they experience while floating through this attraction will be created by a plethora of adorable critters. They have created instruments out of the natural materials found around them in the bayou. Some of these new friends include an otter, raccoon, beaver, turtle, and much more. They bring music to life in a variety of styles found in the New Orleans region. This includes Zydeco, Rara, and Afro-Cuban music. Along with some of the favorite songs from The Princess and the Frog, there will also be some new, original music on the attraction. This was created in collaboration with award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard.
Voices
There will be quite the cast of talented voices found in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This includes multiple voices from the original film. Buno Campos will be returning as Princess Naveen. Jenifer Lews returns to voice Mama Odie. Michael-Leon Wooley brings the voice of Louis to life. Anika Non-Rose will be once again voicing Princess Tiana.
Critters
Rufus the Turtle – Rufus may be a turtle, but he’s quick to jump into rhythm with his harmonica. He’s also the first to join in on new adventures! He’s genuine and sincere but may come across as a little sarcastic at times with his habitual sighing. Rufus loves going on adventures with Apollo. Apollo the Raccoon – Apollo loves transforming abandoned objects into works of musical art – like his squeezebox. He’s full of energy and storytelling, especially about the objects he finds in the bayou. He’s particularly close with Rufus and appreciates Rufus’ calm demeanor. Gritty the Rabbit – Always willing to dig a little deeper to help others, Gritty plays the washboard (a found automobile license plate) with a high-energy flair. It’s the perfect instrument for someone who’s often overzealous and digs to relieve her nerves. Timoléon the Otter – He’s the eldest of the band, but Timoléon’s fiddle-playing is inspired by all the ‘kids’ he spends his time around while in the bayou. When he’s not sawing out a jig, he’s famous for telling stories of days long ago about his explorations of every corner of the bayou. Beau the Opossum – Seeing limitless possibilities, no one finds more wonder in the bayou and the sounds of zydeco music than Beau. All she knows is beauty, especially her own. You can find her plucking out the low notes with her upright gourd bass, which of course, involves some musical dexterity with her tail. Byhalia the Beaver – Byhalia doesn’t just build dams; she helps build musical instruments using natural materials from the bayou. As a strong-willed percussionist, it’s safe to say Byhalia is the heartbeat of the band, as well as a natural designer and engineer. Octavia the Bobcat – Octavia plays the vaksin, a single-note horn instrument popular in Rara music. She’s an adventurous bobcat kitten, and she loves climbing and hanging out in trees almost as much as she loves performing. This daredevil almost never gets scared. Pawpaw the Bobcat – Not only is Pawpaw Octavia’s devoted grandfather, but he also taught her how to play the vaksin! Pawpaw lives to make Octavia smile and has the view that everything has a way of working itself out – he’s seen it all but isn’t jaded. Claude the Louisiana Black Bear – Claude is a salt of the earth kind of bear (or, as they say in the bayou, “salt of the mound”) who plays his horn along with the other members of his family. He’s a tinkerer who loves to create with things found in the forest, and is frequently funny without intending to be, especially when it comes to his home-grown creations. Bernadette the Louisiana Black Bear – Bernadette loves to enjoy life, from splashing in the waters of her bayou home with her cub, Sebastián, to playing the horn with her mate, Claude. She’s a clear thinker and is warm and supportive. Bernadette loves to sink into the bayou waters and munch on plants (so long as Sebastián is clearly within sight). Sebastián the Louisiana Black Bear – Though he’s definitely a “mama’s cub,” Sebastián charted his own musical course as a drummer, despite his parents being devoted horn players. He’s happy to follow his friend Octavia’s adventurous lead as they explore and play, and is fascinated with the small details in the bayou, like the insects and mushrooms. Phina the Gray Fox – Phina’s enthusiasm extends beyond her drumming, as she’s constantly thinking of new ideas with optimism and energy! This imaginative fox is continually starting new projects with excitement, and her friends accept and celebrate her unique thinking. Felipe the Frog – Deep among the cypress trees, you’ll hear band leader Felipe making musical magic on the piano! Felipe is also the proprietor of an exclusive bayou night club, where the local fireflies love to dance the night away to a musical recipe of hot rhythms and spicy melodies. He’s an old-school family guy, especially to his “family” in the band.Mayra the Frog – Have you ever seen a frog play a flower blossom like a trumpet? You will when you meet Mayra; be sure to stick around for one of her toe-tapping solos. Mayra’s the most ambitious of the four frogs and has been practicing her instrument since she was just a tadpole!Mondo the Frog – Mondo is a natural on the conga drums, which he made as a happy accident when his favorite bottle cap got stuck on his second-favorite acorn. From there, the rhythm in Mondo’s soul took over! He’s very copacetic and accepts what comes, a trait as steady and reliable as his drumbeat. Isabel the Green Tree Frog – Learning from Mondo’s example, Isabel loves getting lost in the music playing her congas. She’s the youngest member of the group, and there’s nothing she loves more than “going with the flow” and getting to play drums all night long!
The Experience
When guests board Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, they will get the opportunity to float through cypress trees and Spanish moss of the beautiful Louisiana bayou. Along the way, they may see some familiar faces included in the dozens of entirely new Audio-Animatronic figures. Along with Princess Tiana, Louis, and Mama Odie, watch for Eudora, Charlotte, Prince Ralphie, Prince Naveen, and others. This will be a musical journey that will include Disney’s legendary storytelling, technologically advanced Audio-Animatronics figures, and of course the thrilling 50-foot drop. This is an attraction that promises to have fun for everyone.
Authentic New Orleans
The Princess and the Frog takes place in New Orleans. This new attraction is packed full of authentic NOLA artistry. There is artwork from Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite found in a part of the queue. There is also original metalwork in the form of a weathervane from third-generation master blacksmith, Darryl Reeves and his apprentice, Karina Roca. The artwork of New Orleans artist Sharika Mahdi has been an inspiration for the attraction from the very beginning. On top of that, there will also be the smell of beignets being kept warm in the oven included in the attraction queue. This will take the senses to New Orleans in multiple ways as they prepare to board the attraction.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure continues the story and lesson of The Princess and the Frog that Tiana learns, everyone has the potential to make their own dreams a reality. This is exactly what teams of Imagineers, Disney Animation artists, cast members, and Louisiana artisans have done by working together on this attraction. When it opens on June 28, 2024, guests will get to experience it. The Disneyland iteration will open later in 2024 and guests on the west coast will get to do the same.
What do you think of the opening date of this attraction? Are you excited to experience it? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
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