How Disneyland's newest ride proves that 'progress is impossible without change'

06.12.2024 - 13:35 / thepointsguy.com / princess Tiana

Walt Disney has countless inspirational quotes that I could have used in the headline for this story, but George Bernard Shaw's words felt more appropriate.

Many Disneyland guests, myself among them, visit partially for the familiar sense of history and nostalgia that the park offers. It was, after all, the only Disney park that Walt himself spent time in. When you walk down Main Street, U.S.A., you are quite literally walking in Walt's footsteps.

Although Disneyland archetypes like Sleeping Beauty Castle and Dumbo the Flying Elephant look much the same as they did when the park opened in 1955, much of the current Disneyland would be unrecognizable to Walt.

The resort now has two theme parks with several lands and attractions themed to characters and film franchises that hadn't even been dreamt up when Walt passed in 1966. However, the only way to create the same feelings of nostalgia for the next generation when they grow up is through change.

I guess we aren't going to escape this story without a quote from Walt himself. "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we're curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths," he said.

Related: 3 ways Disney is becoming a more magical, inclusive place to visit and work

On Nov. 15, that "new path" led to the opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disneyland, a ride based on the 2009 Disney animated film "The Princess and the Frog." This ride wasn't constructed from the ground up. It is a reimagining of Splash Mountain, an attraction that opened at Disneyland in 1989; however, the Splash Mountain storyline was wrought with insensitive stereotypes and caricatures that have no place in today's world.

Though there's always a grumble or two when Disney makes changes to a beloved attraction, this new ride is already proving its worth in more ways than one.

Not only is it a fun-loving, toe-tapping jaunt through the bayou with Princess Tiana and her cast of musical critters, it exemplifies Walt's vision for Disneyland: that it would be "a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."

I was lucky enough to squeeze in several rides on Tiana's Bayou Adventure during the attraction's grand opening events at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

For me, experiencing the final product was the culmination of four years following its progress. I heard the initial announcement in 2020 and saw the audio-animatronics up close at Walt Disney Imagineering headquarters earlier this year.

Related: First look: Disney's Splash Mountain to get 'The Princess and the Frog' makeover

I returned from Disneyland nearly a week ago, and I am still happily singing the songs from Tiana's Bayou Adventure — both those from the film and the original music