Tiana's Bayou Adventure: Disneyland Watch & Discussion

[D.Silentu]

Say, whatever happened with those orange rocks?

 

[Disney Vault]

Say, whatever happened with those orange rocks?

Looked yesterday and they are still very orange. Haven't been touched unfortunately

 

[SuddenStorm]

Looked yesterday and they are still very orange. Haven't been touched unfortunately

They also never redid the dirt/rock work closer to the Rivers of America - the stuff on the other side of the walkway- to make it match the mossy look they were going for with the actual mountain. It looks just like it did when it was Splash. This was just a half assed re-theme with Imagineers who were incredibly self aggrandizing but who couldn't deliver a water ride that was actually fun. Or that fit inside Disneyland.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Looked yesterday and they are still very orange. Haven't been touched unfortunately

It’s been almost a year, wow.

 

[mickEblu]

Looked yesterday and they are still very orange. Haven't been touched unfortunately

I’m here now. They re still orange.

 

[Figments Friend]

So remember back when Disney was saying my boy Tony Baxter was going to be involved in the ‘Tiana’s’ project?

As we know, he was originally an advisor connected to the project at the beginning, but quickly left when things….well….took another direction.

Turns out, he had made the suggestion that the story of the experience should involve us trying to save Mama Odie from being taken by Dr. Facilier to the ‘Other Side’.
According to Tony, those involved in the project at WDI dismissed the suggestion as ‘nobody cares about the story of the ride, they just care about the big drop’.

Yeah.
Just let that sink in for a moment.

All the recent marketing about ‘telling stories’ means zilch.

Once again, the words of a Master are ignored and we lose.
And those in charge don’t have the class to admit they screwed up and produced a sub par experience.

What could have been….

-

 

[mickEblu]

So remember back when Disney was saying my boy Tony Baxter was going to be involved in the ‘Tiana’s’ project?

As we know, he was originally an advisor connected to the project at the beginning, but quickly left when things….well….took another direction.

Turns out, he had made the suggestion that the story of the experience should involve us trying to save Mama Odie from being taken by Dr. Facilier to the ‘Other Side’.
According to Tony, those involved in the project at WDI dismissed the suggestion as ‘nobody cares about the story of the ride, they just care about the big drop’.

Yeah.
Just let that sink in for a moment.

All the recent marketing about ‘telling stories’ means zilch.

Once again, the words of a Master are ignored and we lose.
And those in charge don’t have the class to admit they screwed up and produced a sub par experience.

What could have been….

-

That’s wild. Would have been a 100x better. With that said I like the idea of Naveen needing our help more as it feels in line with his character. And maybe it would have had a better chance of getting green lit with a She Boss coming to the rescue of a man. Also would have allowed for one of the frogs from the movie to be in the ride. His voice was a big part of the movie. Imagine hearing Naveens pleas for help. Could have added a bit of humor as well.

Side note there is way too much Mama Odie on the attraction. No Ray. No Facilier. No frog Tiana or frog Naveen. One mute human Naveen in the background. And no Tiana in recognizable green Princess dress. Just a bunch of Claire Huxtables going on a safari. Oh ya and Louis doesn’t play an instrument. Brilliant

 

[Figments Friend]

It is absolutely infuriating to me that you have a widely recognized master of themed design …a literal living Disney Legend….hired on to be a advisor on the project and none of his advice is taken seriously.

So what is even the point then?
A publicity stunt…and more salt to rub in the wound of a man who is having one of his greatest creations destroyed…for the second time.


It was clear to me then, but all the more obvious now after hearing this recent story -
They just wanted his name to attach to the project during its initial announcement for publicity purposes only.

So freaking sad really.
Tiana and her friends deserved a better Attraction and it could have happened!

-

 

[mickEblu]

It is absolutely infuriating to me that you have a widely recognized master of themed design …a literal living Disney Legend….hired on to be a advisor on the project and none of his advice is taken seriously.

It was clear to me then, but all the more so obvious now after hearing this recent story -
They just wanted his name to attach to the project during its initial announcement for publicity purposes only.

So freaking sad really.
Tiana and her friends deserved a better Attraction and it could have happened!

-

Very sad but not surprising at all.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Very sad but not surprising at all.

The WDI of today is not the WDI of 30 years ago. But also, the issues with the attraction extend far beyond just the lack of tension.

I think I'm okay that Tony was excluded from the project though. It keeps his legacy intact- he isn't tarnished by being associated with the rushed retheme of one of the greatest themed attractions ever built. He already has Tomorrowland '98 on his resume, he doesn't need TBA also.

 

[mickEblu]

The WDI of today is not the WDI of 30 years ago. But also, the issues with the attraction extend far beyond just the lack of tension.

I think I'm okay that Tony was excluded from the project though. It keeps his legacy intact- he isn't tarnished by being associated with the rushed retheme of one of the greatest themed attractions ever built. He already has Tomorrowland '98 on his resume, he doesn't need TBA also.

Oh ya it’s definitely more than just the lack of tension but it would have helped a lot. The Laughing Place through the final lift hill is absolutely terrible. But yes the dialogue is terrible, story is boring, they replaced dozens of beautifully designed AAs with limited motion figures, awful use of screens, inferior sound design, inferior set design, removal of a classic Disney song, not repurposing things and show elements that could have easily been repurposed like the Zip a Dee lady, not doing the source material any justice. The list goes on.

 

[Figments Friend]

The WDI of today is not the WDI of 30 years ago. But also, the issues with the attraction extend far beyond just the lack of tension.

I think I'm okay that Tony was excluded from the project though. It keeps his legacy intact- he isn't tarnished by being associated with the rushed retheme of one of the greatest themed attractions ever built. He already has Tomorrowland '98 on his resume, he doesn't need TBA also.

Agree.
He did the right thing walking away considering the direction they were going in.

One still can’t help but feel his influence may have helped turn this project into a better executed effort…if his advice was actually listened to and taken seriously.

I would say one of the major reasons there was disagreement between the advisor and the project team was this -
There needed to be a conflict to justify the climax of the story, and then the reward of the ‘happy ending’.
Tony knew this, pushed for it, and those in charge did not want this.
They wanted ‘happy all the time’, no conflict between characters, and ‘nothing scary’.
In an Attraction with a 52 foot drop…mind you.

Not hard to see why he walked.
And like I said earlier, totally understandable why.

It’s gotta hurt, constantly being asked to advise on things and nobody takes that advice.


-

 

[PiratesMansion]

I'm just waiting for a tell-all podcast whenever some time has passed.

 

[Figments Friend]

And the book….
That marvelous book he will be writing at some point…

-

 

[SuddenStorm]

And the book….
That marvelous book he will be writing at some point…

-

He needs to get on that.

 

[Brer Oswald]

The WDI of today is not the WDI of 30 years ago. But also, the issues with the attraction extend far beyond just the lack of tension.

I think I'm okay that Tony was excluded from the project though. It keeps his legacy intact- he isn't tarnished by being associated with the rushed retheme of one of the greatest themed attractions ever built. He already has Tomorrowland '98 on his resume, he doesn't need TBA also.

I’m glad as well (and I’m sure he is as well). There’s no version of this ride that would’ve been better than Splash. Though, with Tony’s involvement, it would’ve been much better than the absolute garbage we got.