Walt Disney World has officially announced that Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom will be closed starting January 23, 2023. Your last chance to ride the attraction in its current form will be January 22, 2023.

This ride is being reimagined as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, inspired by the animated Disney film “The Princess and the Frog.” The new attraction is set to open in 2024. A closing date for Splash Mountain in Disneyland was not announced.

As part of today’s announcement, concept art for a new scene on the upcoming attraction has been revealed, as well as additional story details.

Disney says Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will feature new characters, and will contain scenes that take place after the events of the original film. The ride will be set during Mardi Gras season as the characters prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans.

The new scene, depicted in the concept art above, is the moment you first drop into the bayou and encounter some of the familiar and new characters.

The following excerpt comes from today’s official announcement:

As you can see here, fireflies will light up the night and invite you deeper into the bayou … almost like they’re waving you forward. What you can’t tell from this rendering – so you’ll just have to trust me on this one – is that beautiful zydeco music will fill the air. Zydeco is a special blend of rhythm and blues that was born in Louisiana, and when you hear it, you’ll feel like you’ve truly stepped into Tiana’s world.

Here you’ll find Louis, who explains where this amazing music is coming from. Tiana made some new friends out here – a band full of adorable critters, including an otter, a rabbit, a racoon, a beaver, a turtle and others. The band members sing and play instruments made of natural materials they found in the bayou. It feels like they may have a bigger role to play in this story … but we’ll just have to wait and see on that one.

Like so many musical genres, zydeco brings together the sounds and styles of many cultures. We wanted that spirit reflected in this scene (and throughout the attraction) so that all our guests feel welcome to join in the celebration. It’s emblematic of what we’re always striving for with our attractions – bringing people of different backgrounds together through timeless Disney stories. This new musical adventure provides us with a song sheet to write that concept into reality.

First announced in 2020, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is set to open at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort in 2024. Stay tuned for more information and construction updates as this project kicks off at the Magic Kingdom next month!

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