One of the reasons why Disneyland and Walt Disney World are such popular theme parks is that they’re always developing new and exciting attractions. For example, if you went to Disneyland just five years ago, you would never have experienced Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (which opened in 2019).
New rides and experiences are always par for the course, so it’s always exciting when the parks are about to launch something different. In 2024, Disney is taking it all the way back to 2009 with a ride based on the hit movie The Princess and the Frog. The story of how this ride came to be is just as topsy-turvy as the ride itself, and it’s not even open yet (as of April 2024).
So, let’s strap into our harnesses and take a trip down to New Orleans to experience the latest attraction from the House of Mouse: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
What is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a musical boat ride that takes guests on a magical journey throughout the Louisiana bayou circa 1927. This ride picks up where the movie ended and shows guests how Tiana has been faring since her time as a frog. The original voice actors are back for the ride, including Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Bruno Campos (Prince Naveen), and Michael Leon Wooley (the trumpet-playing alligator).
The main theme of the Bayou Adventure centers around Tiana trying to put together an animal band to help her restaurant. The band plays Zydeco music, and it consists of six new characters, including:
- Rufus the Turtle
- Apollo the Raccoon
- Gritty the Rabbit
- Timoleon the Otter
- Beau the Opossum
- Byhalia the Beaver
Each character plays a particular instrument, and at the end of the ride, they perform a rendition of “Gonna Take You There,” a song from the film.
According to first-look details, the animatronics for each character (including Mama Odie, Louis the Alligator, and Tiana herself) are spectacular and immersive, ensuring guests will have a memorable time throughout the ride.
Music is the heart and soul of this attraction, as guests will meet three unique critter bands. The first is the Zydeco band, then a group of Rara musicians. Rara is a form of Haitian folk music that’s popular in New Orleans, and the band is led by Mama Odie.
The last band is a jazz quartet comprised of four singing and playing frogs. They play a mixture of Afro-Cuban music and ensure the ride ends on a high note. Once guests finish this attraction, they’ll be singing and dancing through Main Street, USA!
The ride will open at Disneyland and Disney World in the summer of 2024. While an exact date hasn’t been set, construction and preparation are running on schedule, so there shouldn’t be any lengthy delays.
At Disneyland, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be located in Critter Country. At Walt Disney World, it will be in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom Park.
Considering that this ride is replacing Splash Mountain, it’s safe to assume there will be at least one major drop, so guests should expect to get a little wet (although not drenched).
In addition to the ride itself, Disney announced that there will be two new retail shops next to the Bayou Adventure (at Walt Disney World, at least). These shops include the Critter Co-Op and Tiana’s Bayou General. It’s unclear what kinds of items you can buy, but there are sure to be New Orleans-themed souvenirs and plenty of characters from the movie and the ride. Then, if you want to get a taste of New Orleans, you can head to New Orleans Square for some gumbo, jambalaya, or beignets.
The History of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Considering that The Princess and the Frog has been around for 15 years, it’s a little odd that it took so long for Disney to develop a ride based on the movie. However, the reason has less to do with the popularity of Tiana and Co. and more to do with the changing times of modern society.
Splash Mountain opened at Disneyland in 1989 and Walt Disney World in 1992. The ride was based on characters from the 1946 film Song of the South. Some of the notable members of the Splash Mountain gang included Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Bear, Br’er Fox, and Molly Cottontail. Like the Bayou Adventure, much of Splash Mountain was musical, with a stirring rendition of “Zippety Doo Dah” closing the ride with all the characters singing in unison.
Unfortunately, while the ride itself didn’t feature any troubling imagery, the fact that it was based on such a negative film led many guests and parkgoers to call for a shutdown. Over the years, the grumblings turned into a loud roar, and Disney finally capitulated to the masses.
On May 31, 2023, Splash Mountain was officially closed. From there, construction would start on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as a way of making amends for the original content.
Although there was some pushback from fans of Splash Mountain, the excitement surrounding the new ride is palpable, but we’ll have to wait and see how the public receives it.
How You Can Explore Tiana’s Bayou Adventure by Becoming a Boardwalk Travel Agent
If you’re eagerly awaiting to explore the Bayou from Tiana’s perspective, you can book a vacation to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Best of all, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get there. As a travel agent, you get access to special discounts and deals that aren’t available to the general public.
Worried about not having experience as a travel agent? We love new comers, and even have a whole post about how to become a travel agent without experience.
Typically, these discounts are meant to entice travelers to upgrade their stay and get extra perks, so if you take advantage, you’re sure to have the vacation of a lifetime. But it doesn’t stop there. There’s one more advantage to booking a Disney trip as a travel agent. You can earn a commission from your own trip.
How does that work, though?
Travel agents make money via commissions, which are paid from the travel vendors, not the agency. So, in this case, booking a trip with Disney means Disney pays the commission on your sale.
However, since you’re the one buying the ticket, you get a commission from your own vacation. That’s money back in your pocket that you can use during your stay at Disneyland or Walt Disney World, or you can put it toward another trip.
Finally, becoming a certified travel agent through an agency like Boardwalk Travel puts you in the driver’s seat of your earning potential. Not only can you make money from your own trips, but now you can earn commissions on the trips made by friends, family, and anyone else you can use as a client.
Simply put, becoming a travel agent allows you to pay for your vacations, either with commissions from other clients or as money back from your own excursions.
How to Become a Boardwalk Travel Agent
Does becoming a travel agent sound too good to be true? It isn’t! Boardwalk Travel Agency makes it so easy to start selling travel packages that you can start earning commissions much sooner than you think. Here are the steps involved:
- Step One: Sign Up – With other online travel agencies, you must pay a monthly or annual fee to use their services. Boardwalk only charges a single membership fee. This means once you create your account, you can use the system for life! This also means that more of your commission earnings go into your pocket and not back to the agency.
- Step Two: Learn the Ropes – Boardwalk offers a wide array of training videos and courses, all presented by experienced agents who have worked with the system before. The training materials are all available as soon as you sign up, so you can learn at your own pace and master your skills as quickly as you want. Best of all, your membership ensures you get assistance from Boardwalk Travel agents for as long as you use your account. So, whether you need help tomorrow or two years from now, you can get it!
- Step Three: Book Your Trip – Boardwalk Travel Agency works with all the top vendors, including Disney, Universal Studios, Expedia, Hilton, and many more. So, if you’re a Disney lover, you can book trips to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Shanghai Disney, Tokyo Disney, Aulani, and many more. Best of all, you get access to special deals and discounts if you want to upgrade your trip and stay at a Disney resort.
- Step Four: Start Making Money – As we mentioned, you can earn commissions from your own trips, but you should also book other clients. The best way to start is to work with friends and family members. Then, once you have a few bookings under your belt, you can expand your network and appeal to clients anywhere in the country!
One thing to keep in mind is that you will have to get an official business license within your state. Most states have a simple process to form an LLC or sole proprietorship, and the costs are pretty affordable.
If you live in Florida, there are a few other administrative hoops you have to jump through, such as becoming a certified travel agent. Overall, before you start selling to more clients, make sure you have all the right documentation.
Sign Up for Boardwalk Travel Agency Today!
Are you ready to start exploring Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the rest of the magic that Disneyland and Disney World have to offer? Sign up with Boardwalk Travel Agency today and see where your passion for travel can take you. With such a simplified and streamlined system, you can turn this side hustle into a full-fledged career in no time!
