November 2024 – present
BACKGROUND
Bayou country has had many iterations since it opened in 1956. First, the area started simply as an extension of Frontierland called Indian Village, and housed Native American shows and attractions, including dances and canoeing. But the land wasn’t very popular among park guests (not to mention the majorly problematic offerings and “cultural displays”), and Disney soon turned back to the drawing board to find a better use for the space.
From 1971-1972, the area underwent an extensive overhaul and became Bear Country. This new land celebrated the forests of the Pacific Northwest, with the now-closed Country Bear Jamboree as its centerpiece. But before long, guests were bored by Bear Country, and with extremely low attendance, Imagineers needed to find the land a headline attraction. So in 1988, the land was finally dubbed Critter Country to celebrate the opening of Splash Mountain, a ride based on the all but forgotten Disney animation Song of the South, which didn’t exactly solve the “problematic” issue this area couldn’t seem to escape.
Finally, in 2023, Disneyland began construction to change Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which would also mean the land’s theming evolved once again. In 2024, the space officially became Bayou Country, a mixture of bayou waterways and surrounding woods.
THE EXPERIENCE
Follow the path along the Rivers of America, past the Haunted Mansion, and you’ll reach the bayou. Your immediate welcome into the land is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, where beautiful greenery and a tranquil waterfall gets periodically interrupted by guests screaming as they brave a 53 foot drop. Continue your stroll further into the land and the chaos dissipates into one of the park’s most peaceful lands.
In the heart of Bayou Country, you can visit Winnie the Pooh, shop at the confectionary, or ride a canoe along the Rivers of America. And once you get hungry, a quaint barbecue is ready to serve up some comfort food. Bayou Country is covered with quaint details: little hanging lanterns, antique signs, and carved statues of forest creatures. It’s the perfect place to take a stroll and enjoy a little greenery during your visit to the park.
CHARACTERS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER
- Winnie the Pooh
- Tigger
- Eeyore
ATTRACTIONS
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
- Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes
DINING
- Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree
- Harbour Galley
SHOPS
- The Briar Patch
- Louis’ Critter Club
- Pooh Corner
- Ray’s Berets
TRIVIA
Every year, Disneyland cast members participate in a race on Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes.
Bayou Country brought in a lot of little details to honor The Princess and the Frog, the theming behind Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. One of my favorites is a framed photo of Evangeline’s star in Ray’s Berets!
TOURING TIPS
Now that Galaxy’s Edge connects a complete loop around the Rivers of America, this area is no longer a “dead end” in the park. As a result, it never really builds major congestion. That being said, I prefer to visit Bayou Country in the afternoon, especially when New Orleans Square is a congested nightmare. It’s so nice to walk down and grab a sweet treat at the confectionary in between lightning lanes.
