Disney has provided new information about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in a sneak peek with Nola.com. While the story covered new details about the queue and other elements in the attraction, the most exciting information is about the ride’s animatronics.
Specifically, we now know that the Tiana animatronics will use the same technology as the new animatronics over in World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland. They will NOT use the rear-projected face animatronics that have been ridiculed in EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After ride.
Via Nola.com:
Although he hinted there might be a few subtle nods to the old Splash Mountain, the animatronics in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be the latest and greatest, the same high-tech versions used in Hong Kong Disneyland’s recently opened World of Frozen area.
If you aren’t familiar with the animatronics used in the World of Frozen, you’re in for a treat. They’re outstanding and make the animatronics with rear-projected faces look outdated.
Below is a video of one of the Elsa animatronics from Hong Kong Disneyland to get an idea of how the new Tiana animatronics may function.
At the very least, Disney is using their very best animatronics in their controversial retheme of Splash Mountain. The animatronics seen in Hong Kong Disneyland are a big leap forward, and we’re excited to see them.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is still scheduled to open in 2024 at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. Magic Kingdom’s version of the ride was the subject of the sneak peak, and may include additional changes to Frontierland.