Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro presented the “A Celebration of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” event this morning at Destination D23 where fans learned of some upcoming projects the company is working on.
To open the show, D’Amaro gave fans a first look at the animatronics being built for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Animatronics Coming To Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Three years ago, Disney Parks shocked the nation after announcing the iconic attraction — Splash Mountain — at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland — would be closing permanently and that the ride would reopen as a “Princess and the Frog”-themed ride. This announcement came as the company pushed for more inclusion.
The storyline will follow Tiana as she purchased the salt mine and the surrounding areas from which the salt dome operated. Fans 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.
At the D23 event, Josh D’Amaro showed the new animatronics coming to the ride. In the photos shared, we can see Imagineers working on the Louis animatronic, which will be part of the new attraction at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.
The new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will open at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California sometime in 2024.
What Else Disney Fans Can Look Forward To
Disney Imagineers are currently working on putting the final touches on Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana which will open at EPCOT in Disney World later this year. The company has referred to Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana as a “lush exploration trail” which will allow Guests to “play with magical, living water.”
Disney World describes the upcoming attraction as, “Stroll along a self-guided outdoor trail where you can play and interact with water as it travels from the sky to the oceans and back again. Along the way, learn about the importance of water and discover its playful personality—just as Moana did on her heroic voyage.”
The website continues, “Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is scheduled to open within World Nature—the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of the natural world.”
The upcoming attraction, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, is based off of the hit film, “Moana,” which quickly became one of Disney’s most popular animated movies.
In addition to Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana at Walt Disney World, over at Hong Kong Disneyland, the Parks are getting ready to open up Arendelle: World of Frozen. The new “Frozen”-inspired land is set to open up its gates in November and will allow Guests to see fan-favorite characters from the film and ride “Frozen”-themed attractions, including Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs roller coaster — a ride that will take Guests on a journey through Arendelle after they pay a visit to Oaken’s famous store.
“The entire themed land is a recreation of the kingdom of Arendelle drawing upon the natural landscape of Lantau Mountain behind Hong Kong Disneyland as a backdrop,” Disney shared of the new land, which will open on November 20.
