Disney World's Tiana's Bayou Adventure Splash Mountain Renovation

We're almost there.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the renamed Splash Mountain, will reopen June 28 at walt disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The makeover of the iconic water attraction was first announced four years ago. Similar modifications at Disneyland in California are expected to be completed before the end of the year.

Featuring characters from Disney Animation's “The Princess and the Frog,” Tiana's Bayou Adventure takes guests through the bayous of New Orleans as Tiana prepares a massive Mardi Gras celebration. And don't worry, the 50+ foot drop remains.

Riders will be immersed in a musical experience as they ride the ride to new, original music along with their favorite songs from the 2009 animated film. Along the way, riders will see familiar faces like Tiana, Louis, and Mama Odie, as well as a series of instrument-playing swamp creatures.

The renovation of Splash Mountain into Tiana's Bayou Adventure is part of Disney's broader strategy to infuse relevant, fan-favorite intellectual properties into its existing attractions and theme parks. It's all part of Disney's broader effort to invest $60 billion in its parks business over the next decade.

The company has already re-themed the iconic Tower of Terror at California Adventure to feature characters from Marvel's “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and turned the California Screamin' roller coaster into an “Incredibles” roller coaster (also at California Adventure). and replaced Maelstrom in Norway. Pavilion at Epcot with a “Frozen” ride.

Disney often refers to these updates as “plussing,” which is done to make attractions more relevant and improve the guest experience.

Splash Mountain has been a staple at Disneyland since 1989 and at Disney World since 1992. There is a third Splash Mountain in Tokyo, which also opened in 1992. In recent years, some park visitors called for the “Sound” to be removed. of the trip. The source material, a film released in 1946, has been considered racist by many, although the trip itself has not been criticized as racist.

For Disney, re-theming Splash Mountain allows it to improve elements of the attraction such as its animatronics, tie the attraction to a popular studio film, and develop a host of new products, foods, and beverages for guests to enjoy.

The Imagineers have developed fully electronic audio-animatronics for the ride, including for characters like Louis, the film's trumpet-playing alligator.

Disney revolutionized animatronics decades ago with its hydraulic, liquid fuel, and pneumatic, or air, systems, but Tiana's Bayou's electronic animatronics allow for more refined and precise movements, making them appear more realistic. Similar animatronics can be seen in the Smuggler's Run and Rise of the Resistance attractions, in Galaxy's Edge.

The interior parts of some of the animatronics were made using 3D printing, resulting in a lighter material.

The relaunch also comes with new clothing lines, themed hot sauces, plush toys, and a host of different snacks.

Park profits

In 2023, experiences were the best-performing part of Disney's business, accounting for 36% of the company's total revenue but 70% of its operating income. Meanwhile, Disney's entertainment division, which includes its movie and streaming businesses, accounted for 45% of revenue but only 11% of operating income.

The ability to get more out of the parks in recent years was crucial for CEO Bob Iger and Disney's board as they tried to make the company more profitable and improve stock performance.

“I looked at the return on capital invested in our parks and resorts unit during my tenure, really, and it was extraordinary,” Iger said during the MoffettNathanson Media Internet and Communications Conference last month. “And I asked how much were we planning to invest over the next decade, and I realized that if we believe that we are basically going to turn things around from a cash-free perspective, a free cash flow generation perspective, which we have done, and we're doing it, then we have the opportunity to invest in the business that has the highest returns.”

Disney has already announced that the revamped Country Bear Musical Jamboree will open on July 17 at Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando. In an all-new show, the Twangin' Bears will sing renditions of classic Disney songs in different country music genres, including bluegrass, pop-country, Americana and rockabilly.

Additionally, a stage production of “The Little Mermaid” inspired by the 1989 film will premiere later this year.

The company is also developing what it has called “blue sky” ideas for its parks: projects that are still in their early stages of development and may ultimately not see the light of day.

Disney has teased that an area based on either “Coco” or “Enchantment,” or both, could be in the works at Magic Kingdom. There was also talk of opening an area of ​​the Magic Kingdom that would be invaded by Disney villains.

During the company's investor meeting in April, Iger even teased the possibility of an “Avatar” land at Disneyland in California.

The prices of these projects will vary, if they come to fruition. The recent additions of the two Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge lands at Disneyland and Disney World are estimated to have cost $1 billion each.