Exclusive:
Disney has transformed Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, complete with a rich story and the inclusion of 19 brand new characters. It’s all part of a $60billion investment into their parks, and it’s clear they’ve spared no expense getting the 15-minute ride which made it’s debut last year spot on.
As lively jazz notes sound in the air, it’s hard to keep my toes from tapping on the ground. I might be in Florida, but I’ve been transported to New Orleans.
OK, so I might also be joined by a singing crocodile and other musically inclined creatures by a swamp, but that’s the magic of Disney. It’s been 16 years since I first saw Princess Tiana on the silver screen with my sister, and that old excitement is bubbling up again as I queue for the Princess and the Frog-inspired ride.
It already feels like more than just a ride. In Disney World time, only one year has passed since Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen wed and she opened her restaurant. As we hop into a log flume, we’re taken on an adventure to explore their life together.
Disney has transformed Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, complete with a rich story and the inclusion of 19 brand new characters. It’s all part of a $60billion investment into their parks, and it’s clear they’ve spared no expense getting the 15-minute ride which made it’s debut last year spot on.
Nestled into a log flume, you head down the bayou as Tiana and Louis search for the perfect band to bring the community together for a Mardi Gras celebration. But watch out for that 50ft drop. As a Princess and the Frog fan, I adored all the little details sewn into the ride. We then pulled ourselves away to explore the rest of Magic Kingdom and were spoiled for choice.
Classics like Space Mountain and Jungle Cruise are a must, but don’t miss out on the newer thrill rides. There’s nothing like straddling a motorcycle and taking off into the wind on TRON Lightcycle/Run. One way to speed up waits is through Disney Genie+ allowing guests to select the next available time of an attraction and enter the Lightning Lane through the My Disney Experience App.
You can also buy Individual Lightning Lane entry selections for up to two attractions per day.
Nostalgia hit me as we went further into Adventureland. It’s nearly 20 years since I visited Disneyland Paris, and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride was just as eerie as I remember.
As a Disney World Florida newbie, its enormity is at first overwhelming. As well as Magic Kingdom, there’s Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom – and its water parks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. But you quickly settle into the Disney rhythm and you can easily cover two parks in one day. After a packed day we headed back to the Contemporary Hotel a 10-minute walk away.
I was lucky enough to have a ninth floor stunning ‘water view’ of the resort’s glittering pool and lake. Or you can have a ‘theme park view’ offering the sight of Cinderella’s Castle and the fireworks.
The next day breakfast at Chef Mickey’s on floor two was essential with Mickey waffles galore drenched in syrup and endless amounts of Bloody Marys to be consumed. There is an endless amount of viral food to try at Disney World – but are any of them worth the hype? On a hot Florida day, my first tangy taste of a creamy dole whip at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom told me absolutely yes. A greasy cheeseburger spring roll? Maybe not. The amount of fast food options in multi country-celebrating Epcot can make your head spin. But we’re in the US, so obviously we had to try American food. The Regal Eagle Smokehouse’s burger with its melt-in-the-mouth garlic bread toast and fries went down fine.
Disney World also has a vast amount of restaurants for dinners. If you want to push the boat out, book Narcoossee’s. Perched on the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon, it offers a gorgeous view of the waterfront.
To get to the seafood joint, you need to make your way through the gasp-worthy Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. With its elaborate chandeliers and Palm Beach-style elegance, unsurprisingly it’s the most expensive Disney resort.
My tingling tongue from a jalapeno-spiced lime cocktail didn’t stop me enjoying my food. The tomato and chickpea tart was a delicious starter. But the red wine-glazed salmon was the star. To round off a perfect evening, we headed to Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After fireworks at Cinderella’s Castle. For a prime spot in the Plaza Garden, you can pay around $59 for children and $99 to $109 for adults before heading back to the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant for chocolate silk tarts, cheeses and drinks.
Over at Animal Kingdom, we were left flying high on Avatar’s Flight of Passage ride and ventured to an evening view of the Tree of Life, Disney’s 145ft sculpture of a baobab where artistic depictions of Simba’s story flickered on the tree as the Lion King soundtrack played.
And there is more magic from Disney’s huge parks investment – from the reimagined half-century-old Country Bear Musical Jamboree to a brand new Little Mermaid production at Hollywood Studios for 2025.
It’s not an easy feat to keep that childlike wonder present in all the parks. The constant innovation from Disney’s team keeps that excitement bubbling through the years.
“If you can dream it, you can do it,” Walt once said. They’ve definitely done just that.
Book the holiday
- Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers 14 nights room-only at Disney’s All Star Movies Resort in Orlando from £2,025pp, based on a family of four sharing and flying with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow on July 29. Includes 14 day Disney Magic Tickets. virginatlantic.com/holidays
- More info at visitorlando.com visitflorida.com
