Back in January, Walt Disney World closed Splash Mountain forever to make way for a new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. While fans of Splash Mountain were sad to see the ride close, it wasn’t quite as heartbreaking since the west coast version of the ride was still in operation with no official closure date.

Now, Disneyland has announced the sad news that Splash Mountain fans have been dreading – when Splash Mountain is closing forever.

If you go to the Disneyland website and look up the Splash Mountain attraction, you’ll see a short video of the big drop on the ride as well as details about the ride. The ride is described as follows: “Drop into a whimsical world filled with classic characters and songs on this thrilling log-flume adventure.”

Look below the video on the screen, and there’s a new update in red to make sure we don’t miss it. This update announces the official closure date of the ride. The text reads, “Beginning May 31, 2023, Splash Mountain will be closed to undergo an exciting transformation, reopening in late 2024 as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a whimsical attraction inspired by the film The Princess and the Frog.”

That means that the very last date anyone will ever get to ride Splash Mountain at Disneyland is on May 30, 2023. Why the theme park is choosing to close the biggest water ride in the park right before the theme park’s hot summer months is a very good question. If I were to choose, I would’ve waited to close the ride in September, but I don’t have any say in the matter.

If you would like to ride Splash Mountain one last time, buy your theme park tickets and make your reservations now. You only have about a month and a half left before this ride is closing for good.

When the attraction reopens, it will be completely transformed and rethemed to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. According to Disneyland, the attraction will take place around Mardi Gras, and it will feature Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, and Mama Odie who “will reprise her role as the catalyst to that magic.”

Jenifer Lewis, the actress who voiced Mama Odie in the film “The Princess and the Frog” has agreed to voice Mama Odie for the ride as well. In addition, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and Louis will all be voiced by the actors and actresses who voiced them for the animated film, Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, and Michael Leon Wooley, respectively.

This new attracted is expected to open at both Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort in late 2024.

Are you surprised that Disneyland is closing Splash Mountain right before the summer months? Are you excited about the ride being rethemed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?