Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Resort is still relatively new, but that hasn’t stopped it from experiencing unexpected hiccups. A recent ride breakdown led guests on an unplanned backstage journey, giving them a rare look behind the scenes of the Splash Mountain retheme.
An Unintended Behind-the-Scenes Look
The Disneyland Park version of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened on November 15, 2024, following the Magic Kingdom Park version’s debut in June. The attraction, which replaced Splash Mountain’s controversial Song of the South (1946) theme, takes guests on a lively, music-filled journey featuring Princess Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley), and Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis).
While Disneyland Resort’s version initially operated with fewer issues than its Walt Disney World Resort counterpart, technical difficulties have started to mount. Just days ago, a bizarre audio malfunction left guests hearing distorted and slowed-down dialogue from the ride’s animatronics. Now, another issue has emerged—one that gave riders an unexpected look backstage.
Guests Walk Off Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Into Backstage Area
Disney Park guest and TikTok user @livsandtrent shared a firsthand account of the sudden breakdown, referring to it as a “VIP backstage tour…but not by choice.”
@livsandtrent This is NOT how we expected our Disneyland day to go. Tiana’s Bayou broke down, we got stuck, got wet, and all we got was a FastPass. Disney, where’s my merch voucher?! How about a dry shirt instead? 😂 #disneyland #disney #fun #fyp
According to the TikTok video, multiple ride logs became stuck near the attraction’s exit. Disney cast members evacuated guests one log at a time. Instead of leading them through the standard exit, cast members guided guests through the ride’s set and into a backstage area, where they got an up-close look at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure’s animatronics and water reserve.
As compensation, evacuated guests received a complimentary Lightning Lane Pass, which they could use to re-ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure if it reopened or redeem at another attraction. The TikToker joked:
“Tiana’s Bayou broke down, we got stuck, got wet, and all we got was a FastPass. Disney, where’s my merch voucher?! How about a dry shirt instead?”
Though the exact cause of the breakdown is unclear, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure eventually reopened and was fully operational at the time of this article’s finalization.
Have you evacuated a Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort attraction? Share your story with How to Disney in the comments!
