Disneyland’s newest attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, is once again making headlines, but not for the reasons Disney likely hoped. A viral tweet is accusing the company of artificially inflating wait times to make the ride appear more popular than it is. Twitter user @BrerOswald shared a screenshot showing the attraction listed with a 95-minute standby wait on Disney’s app, alongside a photo of an almost empty queue. The post quickly picked up traction, with fans calling out the company for “lying about the wait time of their unpopular retheme in a desperate attempt to make it look good.”
The controversy highlights ongoing fan backlash since Disney announced the closure of Splash Mountain in 2020. The iconic log flume ride, beloved by many, was retired due to its ties to the 1946 film Song of the South, a movie criticized for its racist depictions and outdated stereotypes. In its place, Disney introduced Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, themed around the 2009 animated hit The Princess and the Frog.
Disney framed the change as a step toward inclusivity and representation, giving Princess Tiana, the first Black Disney princess, her own dedicated attraction. The ride officially opened at Walt Disney World in June 2025 before debuting at Disneyland Park weeks later.
Disneyland Accused of Inflating Wait Times for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
But despite Disney’s efforts to celebrate the new ride, fans have been divided. Some welcome the updated storyline and immersive theming, while others argue that the retheme stripped away a nostalgic staple of the parks. “Why did they retheme it to such a dogsh-t movie,” one X user replied. “You cannot convince me this thing was anyone’s passion project,” another said. “I feel like no one behind this re-theme was like ‘yes, this our next magnum opus.'”
Others, however, stood up for Disney, claiming that the wait time system was simply not caught up yet and it was not intentional. “lol it’s the line tracking system that’s delayed,” one user explained. “It probably only updates more frequently when it’s busy.”
Now, allegations that Disney may be exaggerating the attraction’s popularity through manipulated wait times could further fuel the controversy. While it’s not uncommon for posted wait times to fluctuate or even be overestimated to help manage crowd flow, this instance has sparked accusations of dishonesty. Whether the inflated numbers are an intentional PR move or just part of standard crowd-control practices, the optics aren’t helping.
