Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is shaping up to be quite the musical adventure, coming this year to Magic Kingdom and a later to Disneyland. Today, we have details on several more critters who will be providing the soundtrack for the upcoming retheme of the former Splash Mountain.

What to Expect

In the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Princess Tiana is getting ready to throw a big party, but there’s been a bit of a mix-up between Prince Naveen and Louis and now the search is on for a band.

We already met a cute critter crew who will play in Zydeco style with a blend of fiddle, accordion, washboard, and other instruments and now we’re meeting a whole new group who will play in the the musical style of Rara! Disney shares that Rara, often found at festivals and street processions, is a musical tradition from Haiti that’s part of the musical history and melting pot of New Orleans. The genre includes unique instruments with beautiful, distinctive sounds.

About the Critters

Each of the new critters has their own intricate name and backstory.

• Octavia the Bobcat – Octavia plays the vaksin, a single-note horn instrument popular in Rara music. She’s an adventurous bobcat kitten, and she loves climbing and hanging out in trees almost as much as she loves performing. This daredevil almost never gets scared.
• Pawpaw the Bobcat – Not only is Pawpaw Octavia’s devoted grandfather, but he also taught her how to play the vaksin! Pawpaw lives to make Octavia smile and has the view that everything has a way of working itself out – he’s seen it all but isn’t jaded.

• Claude the Louisiana Black Bear – Claude is a salt of the earth kind of bear (or, as they say in the bayou, “salt of the mound”) who plays his horn along with the other members of his family. He’s a tinkerer who loves to create with things found in the forest, and is frequently funny without intending to be, especially when it comes to his home-grown creations.
• Bernadette the Louisiana Black Bear – Bernadette loves to enjoy life, from splashing in the waters of her bayou home with her cub, Sebastián, to playing the horn with her mate, Claude. She’s a clear thinker and is warm and supportive. Bernadette loves to sink into the bayou waters and munch on plants (so long as Sebastián is clearly within sight).
• Sebastián the Louisiana Black Bear – Though he’s definitely a “mama’s cub,” Sebastián charted his own musical course as a drummer, despite his parents being devoted horn players. He’s happy to follow his friend Octavia’s adventurous lead as they explore and play, and is fascinated with the small details in the bayou, like the insects and mushrooms.
• Phina the Gray Fox – Phina’s enthusiasm extends beyond her drumming, as she’s constantly thinking of new ideas with optimism and energy! This imaginative fox is continually starting new projects with excitement, and her friends accept and celebrate her unique thinking.

See it for Yourself

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure retheme of Splash Mountain is expected to open at Magic Kingdom Summer 2024 and at Disneyland late 2024. An official opening date for either attraction has not yet been announced.

MORE INFO: Check out all of our coverage for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure