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Credit: Chris Dikos. FlickrMagic Kingdom Park is undergoing some major permanent changes, and it’s only a matter of months until they are fully implemented.
If you’ve visited Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort, you know that the entire Disney World park is divided into immersive and unique lands– like Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, and Tomorrowland– each with its own attractions and entertainment offerings. Some things at the theme park never change– such as iconic attractions like Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and “it’s a small world”– other things, however, must make their way out of Magic Kingdom to make way for new experiences.
As you probably already know, Disney closed down Splash Mountain back in January 2023 to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Since that point, Walt Disney Imagineers have been hard at work designing and carrying out construction. Just recently, Disney announced that the new attraction will open in the summer, and there will be some changes to Magic Kingdom as a result of its opening, as well.
Disney recently shared that there will be updated music on the attraction, which you can read about below.
“There’s a lot to enjoy about New Orleans, and one of my favorite things is hearing all the jazz, zydeco music and more,” Disney shared on its blog. “We’ve already talked about how we are collaborating with industry legends PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard on new original music for the ride, alongside some of the tunes from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “The Princess and the Frog.”
In addition, there is going to be a little “preview taste” of what you might expect when the attraction officially opens this summer. Tiana’s famous beignets are currently available inside the theme park at Golden Oak Outpost and will continue to be available until March 31, 2024. Though the beignets will reportedly leave the theme park for a short time, we expect that they’ll be a permanent part of the experience over in Frontierland– or potentially even New Orleans Square if Disney elects to make this change– as a permanent experience inside the theme park.
Over the course of the last few years, Disney has slowly taken Magic Kingdom and transformed it back into the theme park that fans knew and loved prior to the pandemic. The Festival of Fantasy Parade (in 2022) and Happily Ever After (in 2023) nighttime spectacular both made their triumphant return. In that same time frame, the company opened TRON Lightcycle / Run and updated the Tomorrowland Launch Depot to include gear from the new coaster, which also serves as the exit to Space Mountain.
Disney also previously shared that the new Princess and the Frog attraction will “focus on Tiana.” The attraction will require guests to be at least 40 inches to ride.
“Join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis on their journey through a shimmering bayou as they prepare for a spirited celebration during Mardi Gras season,” Disney shared. “Along the way, you’ll see familiar faces and make new friends as you’re brought into the next chapter of Tiana’s inspiring story.”
What do you think of the changes Disney is making to Magic Kingdom? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!