When Disney announced several years back that Splash Mountain would be rethemed to The Princess and the Frog at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, views were divided. Some complained that Disney was turning its back on an attraction that had been around for decades. Others noted the original IP (Song of the South) was problematic, and Walt Disney himself never wanted to see his parks become stale. The replacement, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, opened in June at Magic Kingdom and quickly won over fans with its fun and modern animatronics as well as the delightful music from the film. Oh and that splash — it seems like it gets you even better than before! It's a wonderful upgrade on an old classic attraction that should have people coming back to ride it again and again.
- Kurt Mensching
FanSided Senior Sports Director
What emotion defined this fandom this year?
Fun! And joy, truly. It is impossible not to have a smile on your face while you sing along to the music and get to see Tiana's world in ways you didn't even imagine. From the fun of the drops to the Zydeco music, to the gorgeous finale at the end, this attraction just truly delivers on the magic of Disney in such an enjoyable way.
How this fandom made the world a better place
It's about darn time that Tiana got featured in a big way in the Disney parks! Representation matters. Disney's self-made princess who used her hard work and talents to reach her dreams of becoming a restauranteur was at risk of being overlooked because of several wonderful movies that came along after The Princess and the Frog's 2009 release. Truly an underrated film with a wonderful theme, with the theme of acceptance occurring in multiple ways in the attraction, a message we needed to hear in 2024. Having having Tiana atop one of Disney's famed “mountain' attractions cements her position among the studio's best.