When Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens this summer, Walt Disney World visitors can enjoy a little taste of the Louisiana Bayou right in the middle of Central Florida. The highly anticipated log flume attraction, which will replace Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom, picks up after the events of Disney’s hit animated film “The Princess and the Frog.”
Related: 30 best Disney World rides ranked
The attraction’s practical aspects will remain the same as when the ride was themed to Splash Mountain, from the meandering musical journey in a log flume to the “splashing” 50-foot drop.
However, the story is getting an upgrade worthy of a Disney princess.
Let’s “dig a little deeper” into everything you need to know about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, including how to get on the ride when it opens…or potentially even sooner.
How to preview Tiana’s Bayou Adventure before it officially opens
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens June 28, 2024, in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Some guests may be able to experience the attraction before it officially opens to the public.
Disney World annual passholder previews
Disney World annual passholders can experience the attraction during passholder previews on June 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 20.
To experience the attraction, passholders must make a park reservation for the date they wish to visit during the preview period. And unfortunately, availability to make a Magic Kingdom park pass reservation with an annual pass went very quickly once that announcement was made, but keep checking for availability as it can change. If you want to join the 7 a.m. virtual queue, you must make a park reservation for Magic Kingdom.
However, you can try for the 1 p.m. virtual queue with any park pass reservation that day, so start at another park if you can’t get a Magic Kingdom park pass during that timeframe.
Related: How to ride Disney’s newest attractions with the virtual queue system
On the date of your visit, you can request to join the attraction’s virtual queue using the My Disney Experience app. You’re probably going to need to be very quick with your booking finger, so familiarize yourself with the process in advance. Full instructions are available on the Walt Disney World annual passholder website.
Disney Vacation Club previews
Disney Vacation Club members will also get a chance to preview Tiana’s Bayou Adventure before it opens to the public. Event registration opens May 16 at 10 a.m. for eligible DVC members who have a resort reservation using their membership during the preview event dates — June 12 or June 19.
Disney will email an event registration link to DVC members. Or, they can access the link via the News & Alerts section of the Disney Vacation Club website to sign up. Full instructions are available on the Disney Vacation Club website.
How to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure when it officially opens June 28
When Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opens on June 28, there will initially be two ways to ride: requesting to join the free virtual queue or purchasing Disney Genie+ and making a Lightning Lane reservation via that paid program. A standby queue will not be available, at least for the first few days when the ride opens, so you will need to use one of these two methods if you want to be among the first to experience this new attraction.
Virtual queue
Like other Disney World attractions that utilize a virtual queue, there will be two daily opportunities to join the virtual queue for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: one at 7 a.m. and one at 1 p.m.
You’ll use the My Disney Experience app to request to join the virtual queue. You’ll want to start the process about 10 minutes before the queue opens at either 7 a.m. or 1 p.m. Some like to use a World Clock site to see exactly as you approach 7:00 a.m. as this virtual queue is likely to fill in seconds.
Related: How to ride Disney’s newest attractions with the virtual queue system
From the app’s home page, click the “hamburger menu” (the three stacked lines) in the bottom right corner. Click the menu item called “Virtual Queue” and then select “Join Virtual Queue.” From there, click “Confirm Your Party” to ensure everyone in your travel party is listed correctly. You can do this starting one hour before the virtual queue opens (aka starting at 6 a.m.) on the day you want to ride.
When there are about 10 seconds left before the virtual queue opens (again, we recommend using the World Clock or Time.gov if you want to be extra precise), begin refreshing the “Join Virtual Queue” screen until the “Join” button appears.
From there, just follow the on-screen instructions, and you’ll hopefully see a screen with your boarding group number and estimated return time. When your boarding group is called, which you should receive via push notification, head to the attraction and a cast member will scan you in.
You can only hold one attraction virtual queue at a time. If you want to experience multiple attractions that use a virtual queue on the same day (like Tron Lightcycle Run), you will need to join one at 7 a.m. and the other at 1 p.m.
Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will also have a Lightning Lane entrance for guests who purchase the Disney Genie+ service. Disney Genie+ is a paid service that grants you access to Lightning Lane entrances at select attractions. Lightning Lanes allow you to skip the standby line and use the quicker Lightning Lanes for the attractions you select. This way, you can get to more attractions with less waiting throughout the day.
Related: Is Disney Genie+ worth it?
To get on this ride using Lightning Lane, you will need to first pay for Disney Genie+; you can do this on the day of your visit any time after midnight. The cost varies based on the park and date, but it starts at around $15 per person per day, but for Magic Kingdom is likely more often in the $25 – $35 per person range. You can purchase this service starting at 12 a.m. on the day you want to visit. (And yes, sleep is a limited commodity at Disney World sometimes.)
Then, starting at 7 a.m. on the day of your visit, you can make your first Lightning Lane selection. This should be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure if you want to guarantee a chance to ride. Click on the hamburger menu from the home page of the My Disney Experience app, click on “Today’s Plans” and navigate to the “Tip Board” at the top of the page.
Make sure you are viewing Magic Kingdom attractions and scroll down to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. You should see a box that says “Disney Genie+” with a return time. Click “Book Experience” and follow the instructions to reserve your return window. Then, visit the attraction during your return window to experience the ride.
The story of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The ride will follow Tiana and her musically inclined animal friends — including Louis, the trumpet-playing alligator — as she prepares for a blowout Mardi Gras bash. And you’re invited.
In fact, riders will join Tiana as she searches for a cast of critters to perform at the celebration. Along the way, you’ll encounter dozens of new and familiar characters in the form of new animatronics, like the magical Mama Odie, Prince Naveen, Tiana’s friends and family, and the aforementioned critter musicians.
You’ll be “almost there” after the wet-and-wild 50-foot drop. Based on the information revealed so far, it appears that you will arrive at the Mardi Gras celebration to sing and dance along with Tiana and all of her friends for the ride’s grand finale.
These characters will be brought to life through some of the most technologically advanced and lifelike animatronics Disney has ever created. Several stars from the film are also returning to reprise their roles, including Tiana’s Anika Noni Rose and Mama Odie’s Jennifer Lewis.
You’ll hear all-new music and familiar favorites from the film, but that isn’t the only “scent-sational” surprise Disney has planned. If you recall the movie, Tiana makes a mean beignet, and you may just catch a whiff of this hot-and-fresh treat as you walk through the attraction’s queue.
After the ride, you can sample Tiana’s special beignet recipe at Golden Oak Outpost and The Friar’s Nook in Magic Kingdom for a limited time. Of course, they are a permanent staple at the Port Orleans French Quarter resort, in case you want to plan a trip fully themed around Tiana and New Orleans.
Bottom line
Not only will Tiana’s Bayou Adventure be a new and exciting addition to the Magic Kingdom, but it will also be an important moment in Disney history. As the first Black Disney princess and, thus, the first Black Disney princess to get her own attraction, Disney is continuing to make good on its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Tiana’s drive and passion inspire children (and adults) all over the globe, and we can’t think of anyone more deserving of her own attraction.
We will share more details about this exciting new water ride after we experience it ourselves. We’ll provide updates about the influences, the inspiration and just how soaked you’ll be after a visit to the bayou with Tiana and her pals. Stay tuned.
Related reading:
