Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom closes Nov. 2 for its first big refurbishment since opening in 2024. The ride and its gift shop are expected back Friday, Dec. 18.
If Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is on your Disney World list this fall, you’ll want to ride it soon.
The Magic Kingdom water ride closes for refurbishment on Monday, Nov. 2, according to Walt Disney World. Its gift shop, Tiana’s Bayou General, closes the same day.
Both are set to reopen Friday, Dec. 18, according to WDW News Today. That’s one week before Christmas.
When does Tiana’s Bayou Adventure close?
Nov. 2. Disney World’s website says the ride “will temporarily close for routine refurbishment” that day and is expected to reopen in December 2026.
WDW News Today has a more exact reopening date of Dec. 18. That works out to a little under seven weeks without the bayou.
Refurbishment dates can shift, so check the My Disney Experience app before your trip.
Why is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure closing?
Disney calls it routine refurbishment. It’s common for water rides to get work done in the cooler winter months, when fewer people want to get soaked.
This will be the ride’s first major refurbishment since it opened in 2024, according to WDW News Today. In January and February 2025, the ride closed early on several days instead of shutting down completely.
Frankly, it needs a refresh.
Many of the animatronics have been broken off and on. Various set pieces need to be repainted or repaired.
What is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?
It’s a log flume ride in Frontierland based on Disney’s 2009 movie The Princess and the Frog. You float through the bayou with Princess Tiana and Louis the alligator, looking for critter musicians to play at Tiana’s Mardi Gras party.
It ends with a 50-foot drop, and Disney warns there’s “a strong chance” you’ll get wet. Riders need to be at least 40 inches tall.
You’ll also spot Mama Odie and Prince Naveen along the way.
When did Tiana’s Bayou Adventure open?
At Magic Kingdom, it opened on June 28, 2024. It replaced Splash Mountain, which opened at Magic Kingdom in 1992 and closed on Jan. 23, 2023.
Disney first announced the retheme in June 2020. Disneyland’s Splash Mountain closed a few months after Magic Kingdom’s, on May 31, 2023. Its Tiana version opened on Nov. 15, 2024, and this closure doesn’t affect it.
What can Tiana fans do at Magic Kingdom while the ride is down?
Quite a bit, actually. You can still meet Princess Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland.
Tiana’s Famous Beignets are sold at Golden Oak Outpost in Frontierland. 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort also serves Tiana’s Gumbo.
For bayou-themed gear, Disney lists the Critter Co-Op shop on its Tiana’s Bayou Adventure page.
What other rides are near Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is just down the path in Frontierland, if it’s running when you visit. While the log flume is down, it’s the closest thrill ride to Tiana’s.
You can also take a raft to Tom Sawyer Island or catch the Country Bear Musical Jamboree nearby.
Is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure open during the Christmas party?
Not for most of it. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party runs on select nights in November and December, and the ride will be closed until Dec. 18.
That means only party dates on or after Dec. 18 could include the ride, if it reopens on time. Several party dates have already sold out, according to WDW News Today.
So if you want one more trip down that 50-foot drop before winter, you have until Nov. 1.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WDW News Today (Oct. 9, 2026), the Dec. 18 reopening date, the gift shop closure and the ride’s refurbishment history
Walt Disney World (Oct. 2026), the Nov. 2 closure, the December reopening window, ride details, height requirement and related Tiana experiences
Wikipedia, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure entry, the opening and Splash Mountain closing dates
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