Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the Splash Mountain replacement, opened November 15, 2024. There are currently two ways to experience the ride: a virtual queue and via Lightning Lane Multi Pass. In this post, we break down these options and discuss your best options for getting on the ride.
Note: Photo from Disney World, post about Disneyland
Dec 12 Update: First Couple of Days With Standby Queue are Rocky
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure began using a standby queue—dropping its virtual queue—on December 10. The first two days were bumpy, with some significant chunks of downtime. The bottom line immediately is that Tiana’s is one of the most popular rides in the park, both on Lightning Lane Multi Pass and in standby wait times.
You can check out the Thrill Data page for the ride, but here are our bottom lines.
You could rope drop Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, but we probably wouldn’t. The ride’s popularity justifies starting with in at rope drop—particularly if you don’t have Lightning Lane Multi Pass. But with the ride still showing relatively frequent interruptions in operations, it would be a real bummer to walk all the way there only to find it closed. Also keep in mind that Tiana’s isn’t a part of Early Entry and probably never will be.
The thing I’d say in Tiana’s favor for rope drop is it’s at least not too far from Haunted Mansion Holiday (operating through January 6). At least if Tiana’s is closed you’ve got another very popular ride right around the corner to try.
You could pick Tiana’s Bayou Adventure first on Lightning Lane Multi Pass, but we probably wouldn’t. This is basically the same problem—location. You usually want to start your day by covering the dense, shorter waits around Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Interrupting those to walk all the way to Tiana’s won’t be worth it early on. Keep an eye on return times—it is popular—but I wouldn’t pick it first.
The rest of this post is now moot.
Basics and Background on the Tiana’s Debut at Disneyland
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the rebuild/retheme of the old Splash Mountain attraction. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has replaced Splash Mountain at both Disney World and Disneyland. This post supplements our existing Disneyland content in light of the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure debut on November 15, 2024. Because the initial days of any ride debut can be unconventional and unpredictable, we like to have a separate space to talk about the ride for a bit. Sometime after it opens, we’ll retire this post and combine everything into our core Disneyland posts.
When Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opens at Disneyland on November 15, 2024, there will be two ways to experience the ride: a virtual queue and via Lightning Lane Multi Pass. We’ll discuss these specifically later, but I want to cover some background first.
When it debuted at Disney World, Disney announced Tiana’s Bayou Adventure would use a virtual queue instead of a standby queue during the “attraction's initial opening days.” This was presumably due to a combination of expected high demand and some reliability issues. We’re well past the initial opening days (it debuted in June), but the ride continues to use a virtual queue. While it still does experience some significant downtime, it’s actually be pretty reliable as of late (go check out Thrill Data for specific data points).
This brings us to Disneyland. My understanding is that the Disneyland version of the ride does not have reliability issues anywhere near as significant as in Walt Disney World. Moreover, the ride will debut on a day with a high temperature of 65°F. That’s not cold, but it’s also not “rush to the water rides” temperature, either.
These factors lead us to reasonably conclude that Tiana’s likely won’t use the virtual queue for very long at Disneyland. With Thanksgiving having past on November 28, we’re surprised the virtual queue has lasted past December 2. Disney used the phrasing “initial opening days”—just like they did in Florida—but apparently they’re interpreting that fairly liberally—again, as they did in Florida.
Finally, I need to add—you can ride the ride via both the virtual queue and Lightning Lane. If you get a spot in the virtual queue, you can still try to book the ride on Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Since Disneyland’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass bookings open when you enter the park, there usually won’t be a conflict between booking the virtual queue and snagging your first Lightning Lane.
Now, let’s talk specifically about the two ways to get on the ride when it debuts. We’ll start with the Lightning Lane option.
Riding Tiana’s Via Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland
Reminder: We have a full Disneyland Lightning Lane Strategy Guide here.
Let’s start with the more straightforward way to ride Tiana’s. When it debuts, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be the 13th ride at Disneyland park that’s a part of Lightning Lane Multi Pass. As long as it uses a virtual queue, we think you’re justified in making Tiana’s Bayou Adventure your first Lightning Lane pick.
I’m not going to belabor this point. There are a lot of factors—expected demand, risk tolerance, details of virtual queue vs. Lightning Lane systems—that go into this advice. If you’re set on a Lightning Lane strategy that doesn’t start with Tiana’s, that’s fine. You can still try the virtual queue, and you can still try to grab a Lightning Lane sometime after your first pick. But if I were in the park that day, I’d be grabbing it first on Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Riding Tiana’s Via Virtual Queue at Disneyland
Reminder: We have a full one-day Disneyland Itinerary post here.
If you don’t want to pay for Lightning Lane access (or if you get a Lightning Lane but want to ride twice), your other option is to use the virtual queue. The virtual queue will be accessible in the Disneyland app and will have three enrollment periods, at 7AM, 12PM, and 4PM. You can read more virtual queue details at the Disneyland website here.
While we’ve only ever missed out on a virtual queue once (I think) in dozens of tries, it’s worth remembering it is something close to a lottery. You want to be in the system ready to tap at 6:59:59AM. Then you get whatever boarding group you get, and you hope it gets called.
When would I rely solely on the virtual queue? Personally, I think if you aren’t buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass already, I don’t think you need to buy it just for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. That said, these things always turn on how much of a “must ride” it is for you.
What’s Next?
Once the ride switches the regular standby and its place in rope drop and Lightning Lane priority settles, we’ll update the rest of our posts. For now, you either get on it via the virtual queue or via Lightning Lane Multi Pass (or both), and you just ride when it’s your time.
All Your Other Disneyland Planning Questions Answered
Don’t be overwhelmed by Disneyland planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you’ll not only be an expert, but you’ll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Disneyland Planning Guide. When it comes to hotels, we’ve got reviews of all three Disney hotels: Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel. As for tickets, check out where to find discount Disneyland tickets.
Know what to ride with our: Disneyland Rides Guide and Disney California Adventure Rides Guide. And just as important, know how to get on the best rides without the wait with our Disneyland Lightning Lane Strategy! For the complete guides to a day at the park, we have a One Day Disneyland Itinerary and a One Day Disney California Adventure Itinerary.
We always recommend arriving at the parks early. If you can get access to Early Entry at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, you’ll have the most time in the parks. Even without those bonus hours, you’ll need to know Rope Drop Strategy at Disneyland and Rope Drop Strategy at Disney California Adventure.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you’re interested in saving, there’s no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.