Disney Installs New Tower Outside Of Upcoming Tiana-Themed Ride

Walt Disney World Imagineers are continuing to make progress on the new "Princess and the Frog"-themed attraction. Tiana's Bayou Adventure is replacing the iconic, now closed, ride Splash Mountain. This decision was announced in 2002 as the Walt Disney Company pushes for more inclusion.

Disney Parks previously reported that the new ride will pick up where the beloved 2009 film left off, seeing how Tiana’s life is after the success of her restaurant debut and marrying Prince Naveen.

The storyline of the new ride will follow Princess Tiana after she purchased the salt mine and the surrounding areas from which the salt dome operated. Guests riding the new attraction will see beloved characters from the film, including Tiana’s mother, Eudora, her husband, Prince Naveen, and the lovable alligator, Louis, who all helped Tiana revive the old salt mine and the surrounding land, allowing them to grow fresh new ingredients such as vegetables, herbs, and spices for her recipes.

Now, Disney Imagineers have installed the new water tower, topped with Princess Tiana's tiara, which will be the centerpiece for the new ride. Per Disney, "The blue skies and sunshine of Frontierland at @WaltDisneyWorld are looking a bit more regal this morning! 👑☀️ Overnight, @WaltDisneyImagineering installed the tiara-topped water tower that will be the centerpiece for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. We can’t wait to journey down to the bayou and celebrate Mardi Gras together when the attraction opens in 2024. 💜💚💛"

The company also shared a video of the Imagineers installing the new water tower to Instagram, as seen below.

"Disney Imagineers really got us in the feels with the details on Tiana’s water tower 🥹✨ #Disney #DisneyParks #Tiana #TianasBayouAdventure #BTS #DisneyWorld #MagicKingdom #Imagineering," they shared before adding, "Overnight, Disney Imagineers installed the tiara-topped water tower centerpiece for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, opening in 2024. 💜💚💛."

Fans are so excited to see this progress being made as one user commented, "She’s a beauty!!!💚✨🫶🏼." Another wrote, "Looking good! Can’t wait to see the Disneyland version start to take shape too."

The new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will open at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California sometime in 2024.

Disney previously confirmed that Guests riding the attraction will see many familiar faces from the 2009 animated film. As seen above, Disney Parks released new concept art that shows Mama Odie, the two-hundred-year-old Bayou Fairy Godmother from “The Princess and the Frog.”

“As depicted in this newly released rendering, Mama Odie jokes with guests along their journey after a special display of her magic,” Disney Parks shared alongside the concept art. “We’re so delighted that legendary actress Jenifer Lewis, who starred as the voice of Mama Odie in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog,” is once again returning to her role for the attraction.”

Mama Odie isn’t the only character from the 2009 Disney animated movie that Guests will see along the journey on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Disney Parks also shared that Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Mama Odie, Louis, Eudora, Charlotte, “Big Daddy,” the King and Queen of Macedonia, and Prince Ralphie will all be part of the attraction.

Guests can also look forward to brand-new characters within the attraction and new, original music alongside favorite songs from the 2009 animated film.