Disneyland's new bayou ride All things Pixar
Buh-bye, Splash Mountain. Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Disneyland's newest attraction, is expected to open in late 2024, complete with log flume ride, jazzy music and Mardi Gras vibes, and a new chapter in the “Princess and the Frog” tale. Look for Princess Tiana-themed eateries including Tiana's Palace, which opened in September with a New Orleans-themed menu of gumbos, po-boys and beignets.
And several new restaurants are headed for the theme park's Downtown Disney area this year, including Michelinstarred chef Carlos Gaytán's Mexican-inspired Paseo and Céntrico and soup-dumpling cult fave Din Tai Fung.
Meanwhile, over in Disney California Adventure Park, the 15-story Paradise Pier Hotel will reopen Jan. 30 as the new Pixar Place Hotel. Expect Pixar movie and character shout outs, right down to a gigantic version of Pixar's signature anthropomorphic desk lamp. There's a rooftop pool and snack bar, dubbed Small Bytes. And the hotel's Great Maple restaurant is already open.
The popular SoCal eatery, which has locations in San Diego, Pasadena and Newport Beach, is known for its modern American comfort food — think Fried Chicken and Maple-Bacon Doughnuts, Pancake “Pops” and BLTs in classic and vegan forms. Those Pancake “Pops” ($21), by the way, are billed as Great Maple's take on Pigs in a Blanket — we think they're more like petite corn dogs but whatever — with the pigs played by breakfast sausages, wrapped in pancake batter blankets and served on sticks with maple syrup and salted caramel for dipping.
Adding to the Ember, Nemo and Jack-Jack action: a reimagined Pixar Fest will be back in April with a new “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade at Disney California Adventure Park, and an updated “Together Forever — A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” at Disneyland Park. Details: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/