MK Tiana's Bayou Adventure - latest details and construction progress

[EagleScout610]

The version at WDW has an extra motor in the neck (absent on the DL figure) to allow the head to also move, but they're both fairly simple figures. If the arms were actually robotic, then that would definitely up their complexity, but I strongly suspect they aren't. Someone can correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe the arms are actually using some kind of spring mechanism. And that they are reliant on the main body flailing around hard enough to cause them to move.

This has been an issue in recent years at WDW since the base figure itself has had very limited motion (or even static) that isn't producing enough force to get the arms moving. Even after the otherwise mostly excellent 2013 refurb, the figure never moved quite as violently as it did in the 90s. I suspect they may have intentionally kept it toned down to reduce maintenance costs. So the arm movement also isn't as strong as it once was either. In DL's case, it's even worse because the arms have seemingly been stuck in place for a very long time. Even during the points when the figure itself still wobbled with significant force (though again the entire thing has been static a lot in recent years). I don't even know if they've worked at any point in the 2000s...

Someone can correct me if i'm wrong about the arms being spring powered. But looking closely at them, I do think that's how it works.

Looking at early WDW footage it seems his arms had at least some level of animation apart from being shook around by his body.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It would make sense to have this open for the summer. Lines for Splash Mountain were always longest in those months, and they want to brand this ride a huge success.

Let’s hope they aren’t cutting corners.

I don’t think it will feel like they cut corners. As long as we remember it’s still the Splash ride system.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

The version at WDW has an extra motor in the neck (absent on the DL figure) to allow the head to also move, but they're both fairly simple figures. If the arms were actually robotic, then that would definitely up their complexity, but I strongly suspect they aren't. Someone can correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe the arms are actually using some kind of spring mechanism. And that they are reliant on the main body flailing around hard enough to cause them to move.

This has been an issue in recent years at WDW since the base figure itself has had very limited motion (or even static) that isn't producing enough force to get the arms moving. Even after the otherwise mostly excellent 2013 refurb, the figure never moved quite as violently as it did in the 90s. I suspect they may have intentionally kept it toned down to reduce maintenance costs. So the arm movement also isn't as strong as it once was either. In DL's case, it's even worse because the arms have seemingly been stuck in place for a very long time. Even during the points when the figure itself still wobbled with significant force (though again the entire thing has been static a lot in recent years). I don't even know if they've worked at any point in the 2000s...

Someone can correct me if i'm wrong about the arms being spring powered. But looking closely at them, I do think that's how it works.

Based on that video I'd agree, that Brer Bear looks to be an Animated Figure (a mechanically motivated character, but not giving a specifically programmed performance).

The phenomenon at play here is called Sympathetic Motion - his arms are indeed mounted on springs and animated purely by the ambient movement of the figure. You shake the mass of the figure and the arms also shake, but in a different pattern to the motion of his body, creating the impression of a complex figure where actually he's more like a Bobble Head being perpetually bobbled.

Looking at footage, it appears the WDW Figure was also probably an Animated Figure rather than an Animatronic, though he did indeed have extra Head movement capabilities:



The fact that this Brer Bear was always an Animated Figure but passed for an Animatronic should hopefully inspire some confidence that the use of Animated Figures amongst more complex figures in Tiana's Bayou Adventure could potentially be impressive and delightful.

 

[Brer Oswald]

The fact that this Brer Bear was always an Animated Figure but passed for an Animatronic should hopefully inspire some confidence that the use of Animated Figures amongst more complex figures in Tiana's Bayou Adventure could potentially be impressive and delightful.

It could be. Or we could get a case like Little Mermaid where it’s incredibly easy to tell which is which. I just worry they spent too much of the budget on a limited number of Uber complex A1000s and the animated figures were a decision made to cut costs and pad the roster. I think a decent quantity of A100s would’ve been just fine.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It could be. Or we could get a case like Little Mermaid where it’s incredibly easy to tell which is which. I just worry they spent too much of the budget on a limited number of Uber complex A1000s and the animated figures were a decision made to cut costs and pad the roster. I think a decent quantity of A100s would’ve been just fine.

I suppose it is fair to say the juxtaposition between a fantastic Tiana AA and a basic frog figure that spins may be striking. But I hope it works.

Does Hatbox Ghost ruin the raven or the skeleton in the coffin on Mansion for you? I know it does for some. For Splash, the coolest figure wa jumping Brer Rabbit but he didn’t cause much trouble for the other figures because he was almost always broken.

 

[FettFan]

Oh, wait! So Tiana and Naveen weren't turned into frogs... they only looked like frogs!!

So when she said “it’s not slime, it’s mucous!” then launched her tongue at Facilier’s pendant….

She was just dealing with a springtime sinus infection.

 

[FettFan]

Let’s hope they aren’t cutting corners.

 

[ToTBellHop]

So when she said “it’s not slime, it’s mucous!” then launched her tongue at Facilier’s pendant….

She was just dealing with a springtime sinus infection.

I am certain Facilier had some Mucinex. All she had to do was ask.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I suppose it is fair to say the juxtaposition between a fantastic Tiana AA and a basic frog figure that spins may be striking. But I hope it works.

Does Hatbox Ghost ruin the raven or the skeleton in the coffin on Mansion for you? I know it does for some. For Splash, the coolest figure wa jumping Brer Rabbit but he didn’t cause much trouble for the other figures because he was almost always broken.

For me it’s about the “illusion of life” and how consistent it is amongst the figures. The jumping Brer Rabbit may have had the most dynamic “loop” of motion, but when everything was working, he really wasn’t any more animated than the geese, chickens, Turkey, or foxes in terms of mouth, eye, and arm movement. The “animated figures” (when working) were cleverly used in a way that they tricked the audience into thinking they were no different than the rest. Brer Gator was “sleeping”, why would he be moving? The possums were small and at a distance. Brer Bear was wiggling his arms, head, and body. The turtles moved their mouths and had the kinetics of the fountains. The Bear butts wiggled too.

Compare this to the mermaid figures and it’s quite apparent to see which ones are more living (Ariel, Ursula, Scuttle, etc.) and which look like animated corpses (turtles, fish, starfish). The same “tricks” splash used weren’t applied here, and thus there is a clear lack of consistency.

We won’t know until the “new” ride opens, but I think the fear is warranted given what we have seen from more recent projects.

 

[FettFan]

I agree.100% the missing ingredient will be “you”. Then they will say “thanks for coming, y’all”

Tiana Todd: The Demon Princess of Bourbon Street

 

[James Alucobond]

Compare this to the mermaid figures and it’s quite apparent to see which ones are more living (Ariel, Ursula, Scuttle, etc.) and which look like animated corpses (turtles, fish, starfish). The same “tricks” splash used weren’t applied here, and thus there is a clear lack of consistency.

I actually think this is a reasonable way to split things up. Human figures being generally more fluid and lifelike makes sense since we’re more familiar with human movement and are therefore more likely to perceive unrealistic movement from human characters. Our understanding of how marine life is supposed to move (and animated marine life, at that) is less extensive, so you can get away with animated figures. The problem is more that the animated figures in Under the Sea have really limited movement in general, and what movement they do have is frequently void of joints and so regular as to never be mistaken for being organic in the slightest. In short, it’s a solid idea for split of figure type; the figures in the attraction (even the more advanced ones) just all fall short aside from Ursula and Scuttle.

 

[mickEblu]

For me it’s about the “illusion of life” and how consistent it is amongst the figures. The jumping Brer Rabbit may have had the most dynamic “loop” of motion, but when everything was working, he really wasn’t any more animated than the geese, chickens, Turkey, or foxes in terms of mouth, eye, and arm movement. The “animated figures” (when working) were cleverly used in a way that they tricked the audience into thinking they were no different than the rest. Brer Gator was “sleeping”, why would he be moving? The possums were small and at a distance. Brer Bear was wiggling his arms, head, and body. The turtles moved their mouths and had the kinetics of the fountains. The Bear butts wiggled too.

Compare this to the mermaid figures and it’s quite apparent to see which ones are more living (Ariel, Ursula, Scuttle, etc.) and which look like animated corpses (turtles, fish, starfish). The same “tricks” splash used weren’t applied here, and thus there is a clear lack of consistency.

We won’t know until the “new” ride opens, but I think the fear is warranted given what we have seen from more recent projects.

Exactly, I haven’t really been following this AA convo but I did get corrected last week when I mentioned Disneylands Splash having over 100 AAs. Whatever you want to call them, moving figures bring a lot of life/depth to an attraction. While some of them may not have been AA’s by definition that’s how they were perceived because of quality of those “tricks” like proper staging and because people don’t know the difference. The rides felt full and full of life and that’s the point. Also, those “tricks” are what separate some of the old and new imagineers. Hopefully TBA has at least 60-70 animated figures/ AAs but not holding my breath.

 

[harrisonm]

 

[ddisneyd]

So have they removed any ‘peril’ from the drop, so we think? Is the drop now more celebratory?

 

[Disney Analyst]

So have they removed any ‘peril’ from the drop, so we think? Is the drop now more celebratory?

I think it’ll be more adventurous “off you go now”.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

"Hurry up, or you'll miss the party!" I know a shortcut!"

 

[JoeCamel]

"Hurry up, or you'll miss the party!" I know a shortcut!"

"Your dining rezzie window is about to close, let's get you to your table"

 

[Animaniac93-98]

"Your dining rezzie window is about to close, let's get you to your table"

So at the bottom of the drop everyone gets automatically charged $10 for missing their ADR? Brilliant!

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

What's the logic of the other half of Splash Mountain being mostly untouched?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

What's the logic of the other half of Splash Mountain being mostly untouched?

I'm guessing the north and south sides of the mountain have been untouched because work can be done on those without affecting the flume.

Once the middle portion is done, they can start cycling boats as construction continues elsewhere on the building.