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In the summer of 2020, before Walt Disney World Resort reopened after its COVID closure, and while Disneyland still had no reopening in sight, Disney shocked everyone when it announced the permanent closure of Splash Mountain. The iconic attraction had been a staple in the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland for decades. Fans were absolutely devastated, and the ride closed in January at Disney World and in May at Disneyland Resort.
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Related: Splash Mountain Has Been Closed for a Year and You Should Be Excited
When announcing Splash Mountain’s closure, Disney also said that the attraction would be receiving a retheme based on the hit 2009 film, The Princess and the Frog. In 2022, the ride’s official name — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — was announced. And even though fans had two years to accept the news, many of them were still unhappy.
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Related: Your Ultimate Guide to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is slated to open this summer in the Magic Kingdom and later this year at Disneyland Park. In the Magic Kingdom, the ride is located Frontierland, but in Disneyland, the ride is in Critter Country. Critter Country is next to New Orleans Square, another perfect tie-in for The Princess and the Frog theme.
But, with the opening of the ride, is it time to say goodbye to Critter Country? In my opinion? Yes.
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Splash Mountain was the anchor for Critter Country, and the only other things in the land are Hungry Bear Restaurant, Hundred Acre Goods, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction. Now would be the perfect time for Disney to go all in on The Princess and the Frog.
Why not create an entire area dedicated to Dr. Facilier, along with meeting the man himself, of course? Then, there can be a whole section where guests can meet Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, and even Louis! The colors in the film are so vibrant that the entire area could look completely refreshed and vibrant with that kind of makeover.
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Related: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Welcomes First Riders at Walt Disney World
Now, do you remember when Disney closed Big Thunder Ranch to make way for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? That included the closure of the popular eatery, Big Thunder BBQ. Well, barbecue is big in the South, so, why not take Hungry Bear Restaurant and turn it into the perfect place to get some mouthwatering barbecue?
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Disneyland Park and the Magic Kingdom each have their own feel, so Disney should also consider retheming The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Guests already venture to hell when they ride Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in Fantasyland, so why not have a ride dedicated to Dr. Facilier and his friends on the other side? You could even do a kid’s ride where guests are invited to attend Charlotte’s ball!
The possibilities are endless, and Disney Imagineers are more than up for the job.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and may not reflect the views of Disney Dining as a whole.
Do you think Disney should say goodbye to Critter Country? What would you like to see there? Let us know in the comments!
