Tiana's Bayou Adventure Review, Magic Kingdom Log Flume | Better than Splash Mountain?

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure recently opened at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. This is the reimagined version of Splash Mountain, featuring the characters and music from Princess and the Frog. The ride covers the same layout, but it has an all-new story and upgraded animatronics. Is this ride better than Splash Mountain? Find out in this review!
Video Credits
Guardians Boarding Group (Paging Mr. Morrow)- • Epcot Guardians of the...
Princess and the Frog (Disney)
Song of the South (Disney)
Splash Mountain Tokyo (ElToroRyan)- • Coaster Idiot Marathon...
Tiana POV (Disney Parks)- • FULL Ride POV: Tiana's...
Background Music
Zydeco Piano Party (No Copyright Audio)- • No Copyright Audio(100...

[@katef96]

The main problem is that it feels like a Fantasyland dark ride that was stretched out to fit into Splash’s structure. Also, MK needed more capacity so a brand new ride would have been preferable for that reason alone.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I agree it would fit better in Fantasyland, but I love the ride in a vacuum.

[@darealsavage3472]

It fits better with the california version because it's faster paced there

[@travisvanalst4698]

Honestly, the movie deserved way more than this ride. It doesn’t feel like a Tiana ride. It feels exactly like they felt that Splash Mtn was problematic, so they rushed a design and story to cover everything and fit into Splash Mtns ride. This is Splash Mtn with Tiana characters that don’t exactly fit, not a Tiana ride with a fitting story and characters.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I thought the ride served Tiana well.

[@someguy4253]

@CanobieCoaster You thought wrong lol.

[@bewarebewear1507]

Its just not as good, sure the tiana, louis, and odie animatronics are good but the rest are glorfied animal plushes, they dont have any animation compared with splash animatronics, and there is much more deadspace compared with splash. I just hate how they couldnt atleast save even one splash critter to repurpose for the ride its such a disappointnent that we lost more than 130 animatronics in total for these 2 Tiana rethemes its such a huge loss

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish they could have repurposed some of the old AAs, but I figured they'd want a clean break.

[@justintime1234]

@@CanobieCoastera clean break won't be possible for some 50 years when all the Gen Xers are dead. And why did they nod to splash with a couple "easter eggs" that are apparently on the ride if they wanted all forgotten?

[@coastercult4142]

I feel like nostalgia is taking over the facts for most people. Everyone keeps saying stuff to make the ride better. Why can’t everyone just enjoy the ride for what it is?

[@CanobieCoaster]

I love both versions.

[@garywillig5143]

In my opinion, the ride would be better if they made it a flat boat ride like Navi River Journey. Since the story has no villain, danger, or tension whatsoever, the drops are out of place, especially the big one, and only serve to take guests out of the experience since they clash so completely with the story being told. Disney did not attempt to make a story that fit with the preexisting layout and instead made a story that clashes with the layout. A Navi River Journey 2.0 where the focus was entirely on the sets, animatronics, and screens would have been great.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would possibly work better with the story they selected, but I do like the final product anyway.

[@RankingTheMouse]

This is a fantastic review, Canobie. Even as someone who greatly prefers Tiana to Splash, I really can't disagree with a single point you made in comparing the 2. I think your review is spot on & extremely objectively fair to both Tiana & Splash. Well done sir 👏

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks!

[@mrprobro522]

What coasters do you prefer over this ride?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Maybe 25 if that.

[@mitchellries256]

We were right. Splash Mountain was the better version of this log ride. I've read multiple comments from multiple videos of this ride, and they all say Splash Mountain instead of this. I will confess that this ride does in deed look a lot better of a flume than what we were worried it would look like, and this could probably be the second best out there behind the original Splash Mountain, but Princess and the Frog isn't really mt type of IP in the first place, so I'd probably still prefer Splash Mountain and even Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls at Universal's Islands of Adventure over this as well.

[@jasonimmel8735]

I agree

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's very close for me. I love the ride, but I would have preferred the funds go towards an all-new ride.

[@athenaclark2567]

Splash Mountain was undeniably an incredibly charming ride packed with energy, but I completely understand why it had to change due to the disaster film it was based on. Ultimately, Walt Disney himself once said he wanted the Disney parks to grow and change with the times and not remain static, and now today’s kids will have their own ride to build memories with!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I like the new version. It's different, but very good.

[@JSwag_Reviews]

@@athenaclark2567 really cuz I find song of the south more progressive then Tiana. This review is a lie.

[@jasonimmel8735]

I don’t like Tiana’s bayou adventure. It has less animatronics, a confusing story , and some dead space filled with screens.I hope they fix it or make a new story that is better for Disneyland.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I didn't think it had dead space. The music and visuals worked for me.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

I haven’t ridden this but I’m surprised they didn’t do this theme with a dark ride I think it would’ve made more sense

[@CanobieCoaster]

I still love it.

[@teddym2808]

It will never ever feel the same to me without the song at the end after the drop. That was so joyous and used to fill ME with happiness every time I rode Splash Mountain. I am in the against camp for the redo, but, respect your opinion.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The final song in the last scene is good for me as well.

[@teddym2808]

@@CanobieCoaster You mean previously zip e de doo dah have a wonderful day? Or the song they've replaced that with?

[@eraser2592]

I like how the animatronics are time so each viewer can see the animation without it going on a loop. Plus it means it won’t have any bad malfunctions

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's possible the timing could get thrown off, but it still makes for a nice show when correct.

[@carsonmckenzie4836]

I loved splash mountain but I really think this is a great replacement it’s a very good ride

[@CanobieCoaster]

I really like it.

[@cookimaus1]

I feel like him being dead is a lazy excuse not to include facilier. He would have brought a sense of danger to the ride. They could have made something work. It's lazy thinking

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's unfortunate since that would have given tension.

[@ElectriKong-]

So, Disney reused the plot of Super Mario Odyssey's VR mode for Tiana's?

[@gameplayxtreme3389]

That's... My god that's right

[@CanobieCoaster]

I haven't played that game, but that's funny if true.

[@theduh1011]

Louisiana is part of the western expedition, aka part of the original Frontier(land), so it fits the theme perfectly

[@CanobieCoaster]

I guess that's one way to view it, but the colors don't quite match for me.

[@metallicnole4514]

I actually enjoyed the retheme to tiana’s. Though I had no attachment to the original splash mountain theming. It was all about the drop for me since it was the first ride I went on that had a big drop.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I agree it's still an excellent ride.

[@zacg_]

My understanding (and if I'm wrong please let me know) is that they set the ride after the events of the film because they felt it might be insensitive to include Dr Facilier because he represents a cartoonish form of voodoo that might be considered offensive to practitioners of traditional voodoo. So they wanted to avoid offense with that and they preferred to keep it light hearted. In a way they're saying that the film the Princess and the Frog was enjoyable but problematic. I can understand that. But it is a curious thing to have done. I personally love the character of Dr Facilier and he would have done a lot to build tension in the ride. But let's put my bias aside. If my understanding is correct, that means they decided to replace Splash Mountain with a ride based on characters from an animated film that they retroactively feel has offensive parts but it would be okay because they were just using some of the characters and leaving out the offensive stuff. Just a curious choice.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That very well could have been the reason for the time selected. I just wish they found another antagonist if they found him inappropriate to include.

[@TheWolfXCIX]

I havent ridden it, but my impressions from watching POVs is that the ride seems very generic. Why Facilier, possibly the coolest Disney villain of all time, was sidestepped for a party theme is baffling to me

[@CanobieCoaster]

I thought the atmosphere and animatronics worked. I just wish there was an anamatronic.

[@TheWolfXCIX]

@@CanobieCoaster I mean my favourite flume is Chiapas so it's a bit hypocritical to say I don't like the theme, but I don't know I guess I just wanted more...

[@coastercult4142]

I don’t know why this ride gets so much hate. It looks good to me

[@ToneTitan]

It’s because Tiana is black, although she’s been a Disney IP for years

[@RobertoBollijr]

Quite the opposite. It's because some loud mouths forced Disney to redo Splash, even though the attraction itself wasn't racist in any way, and was consistently ranked as the world's best water ride on multiple polls. So people are bitter and angry, as they should be, that it was replaced by an attraction with a lame story, lots of empty space, and an arguably worse soundtrack (though the latter is debatable).

[@ToneTitan]

@@RobertoBollijr Describe “Woke”. What does that mean, actually? Can’t wait to hear your answer 😂

[@ToneTitan]

@@RobertoBollijr You removed “woke” from your original comment. Why is that?

[@ToneTitan]

@@RobertoBollijr What it comes down to is this: Splash is a dead IP. And Disney cannot make any money off it or anything connected to it. Disney needs to stay relevant because Universal is about to kick their ass, Tiana makes money, and Disney cannot rely on Elsa all the time. If it happens to attract black kids, then that’s just dandy but everyone loves Tiana. Dudes like YOU really need to get a life. You use the word “Woke” so casually and then run and hide when asked to describe what it means because the word itself is intrinsically racist

[@davidpalomeque4689]

Do you think the final drop (on its own) is better than the drops on Zoom Phloom or Canyon Falls (both in my home area of the Jersey Shore)?

[@BeatzByBryce]

Yes it is

[@darkridearts]

It’s a peak drop. Also there are so few dark ride log flumes, this remains one of the few in the world

[@CanobieCoaster]

I think so.

[@darealsavage3472]

The only drop that is better is the one on ripsaw falls

[@SonofBoss2000]

SuperSplash Hansa Park has a better drop and so does Posideon Europa Park

[@Chessingtondragonfury]

I like splash mountain better, tbh this version of splash mountain is like a curse, already having broken down for 4 hours straight one day and firefighters had to get involved

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Yeah that’s weird

[@Misscouchpotato-]

Honestly after comparing all of the Splash's together I think WDW's might of been the weakest out of the three. And that's the one I went on as a kid lol.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Hopefully they can fix the fire alarm issue.

[@maxmustermann6612]

As a person that has never been on the original I have to say the new exterior theming does look better to me personally

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's different, but it looks good.

[@skyguyismyguyr12turn]

Does anybody know Canobie Coaster's roller coaster milestones? I know he already has a video about that, but here's what I'm looking for: 1st roller coaster 1st wooden coaster 1st new roller coaster after becoming a coaster enthusiast(Yes, I count that as a coaster milestone. Do you? Why or why not?) 50th roller coaster 100th roller coaster to basically the most recent hundred number he achieved for that roller coaster

[@CanobieCoaster]

1st Roller Coaster- Rudy's Rapid Transit 1st Wood- Yankee Cannonball 1st Coaster as an Enthusiast is hard since I've been one as long as I can recall. 50- Dragon Coaster at Playland 100- Ride of Steel at Darien Lake

[@JavaCake]

24:25 It’s called Special Spice, but what you said is an easy mistake to make. Didn’t mean to be that person, just wanted to point it out.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Whoops, sorry about that.

[@darkridearts]

It's not as good as Splash at all, but it is what it is. Tiana and Splash both deserved better. I love what they did with the queue, the coaster dip, and the finale song is excellent even if it's based on the original secret ingredient storyline. Ultimately, I think they can fix it for disneyland and bring any pacing changes to Florida in the off season, if they want it to be excellent.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I have a feeling Disneyland's will be similar, but that one does move through the trough a tad faster. I prefer the slower speed myself to take in the visuals more.

[@KingGamingRoblox]

I hate this ride. Fun fact: Blizzard River at Six Flags New England, and they removed the waterfalls

[@CanobieCoaster]

Well that makes it less appealing on hot days.

Looks like it bites.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I think it's excellent.

[@ToneTitan]

There’s a HUGE park full of IPs kids love being built across the way, Disney needs to stay relevant if it’s to stay competitive. Kids love Tiana so I applaud Disney. You can’t depend on Elsa for everything 😂

[@cookimaus1]

It needed to be scary though. Even if he's dead in the story, facilier should have been added somehow.

[@ToneTitan]

@@cookimaus1A new character made just for the ride also might have worked. Or they might be trying to get away from the “villain or something goes wrong” type-of-thing that’s often found on these attractions

[@cookimaus1]

@@ToneTitan i still think its silly because thats a tried and true formula. Facilier is probably the most iconic character from the movie and it wouldn't be hard at all to write around his death. The spirits and dark magic is involved after all-

[@ToneTitan]

@@cookimaus1 Correct! But you know how people are obsessed with “canon”. His appearance would have cracked open the universe somehow. People would’ve been fighting in the streets 😂

[@cookimaus1]

@@ToneTitan its a theme park ride its not that deep lol

[@crosswalkX]

I disagree with you Canobie Coaster, I think Tiana's Bayou Adventure is way downgraded than Splash Mountain. It looks incredibly boring and underwhelming, yes while I do like the songs and the animatronic characters, I do not like the way Tiana's Bayou Adventure is slapped together. I don't like the empty dark spaces, there's hardly anything exciting to look at, no lady butterflies or pink flamingos, no Dr. Facilier, no 3 frog hunters, or 2 Fenner Brothers or Lawrence to cause guests trouble. The worst part about this ride is the lame drop off, why didn't they play the last verse of "Almost There" or the villain song "Friends on the Other Side"? This ride reminds me of Belle's Magical World or Cinderella 2 Dreams Come True which were way better in comparison to Tiana's Boring Adventure. Yes I plan to ride it at Disneyland but I'll only go on it once and if it's that bad I'll forget about it. I would rate this Tiana's Bayou Adventure ride a 4/10 and if Disney World and Disneyland do not change this ride. I'll consider this one of the worst Disneyland and Disney World rides and will ride the Mad Hatters Spinning Teacups one of my worst Disneyland rides instead if this is the slapped together log flume ride we are getting. And if I ride it and I get letdown, I'll forget about it and will instead ride the Matterhorn or Star Wars ride instead. And maybe wait for a decade for a Pocahontas riverbend ride or Moana Island ride second retheme instead.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish the ride had a villain, but the visuals and music were engaging to me start to finish.

[@derekhafner3156]

hate all the screens

[@CanobieCoaster]

They complimented the physical sets for me.

[@chloejohnson6861]

This positive review is refreshing, since this ride has been getting so much hate. Looking at it with the positive spin, a lot of the visuals are stunning on this ride. I just hope they add some tension in the future so it doesn't feel like a Fantasyland ride that has a giant drop for no reason.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I doubt they adjust the story, but the ride is still fantastic as is.

[@jaydenswift9856]

This ride is kinda boring nothing actually happens and it looks more like everything was first drawn using crayons

[@CanobieCoaster]

I like the looks and music myself.

[@gameplayxtreme3389]

Oh boy, the comments will be definitely something

[@CanobieCoaster]

People have had mixed opinions, but none have been inappropriate.

[@gameplayxtreme3389]

@@CanobieCoaster I'm glad, seen a lot of reviews where comments will call them "shills" for liking the attraction. Good video btw!

[@CancelHappiness]

Better than splash mountain? Not even close. Shit's garbage. I was highly disappointed.

[@CancelHappiness]

@@Themeparkfan630 yeah. Absolute dogshit, just like anything done for insane, woke reasons.

[@CancelHappiness]

@@Themeparkfan630 yeah

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's very close for me. Love both.

[@jacobsekela8691]

Simply put, Splash Mountain shouldn’t have be changed in the first place. Disney is ruining its classic attractions (and entire parks in general) by forcing stupid IP’s on its guests because it is completely unoriginal and it saves the company loads of money all while delivering a sub-par product. Disney parks are getting really bad.

[@ethanshackleton]

Song of the south is an IP, maybe even more ham fisted than princess and the frog because no one remembers it.

[@CancelHappiness]

​​@@ethanshackletonthis ride is dogshit. Which is the exact same result you always get when you do things for ridiculous, woke reasons. Disney is disgusting. They do virtue signaling Bull-shit like this while simultaneously covering up the faces of any black people on their posters in China.

[@CancelHappiness]

@@Themeparkfan630 so does yours 😂 most overrated park in existence defending a ridiculous woke company like Disney. Not surprised, at all. Oh, and sorry kid but the VAST MAJORITY of people agree with me. I highly doubt you've even ridden it.

[@ToneTitan]

@@CancelHappinessYou sure did tell that 12 yo kid off. Must be so proud of yourself 😂

[@CancelHappiness]

@@ToneTitan cringe. I mean, you're definitely the one who would know all about 12 year old kids