Tiana's Bayou Adventure: Disneyland Watch & Discussion

[mickEblu]

Now this is interesting. Have Keith David come to talk about bringing Dr. Facilier to life at the same event that they’ll be discussing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure that is presumed to not feature him in the attraction? Hmmmm. Will he be making an appearance after all? How long has this been event been scheduled? Maybe they changed course after Iger called it “boring.” Besides, what does it take to project the “shadow man” on a wall and play “friends on the other side?”

 

[TP2000]

It's gonna be real fun when the ride opens and it ends up being pretty good to great and we all just realize that Disney's marketing is just a many-headed hydra that is trying to do 50 things at once and isn't good at any of them.

This is the only ride that is under construction or even announced to happen in all six American parks.

Disney doesn't have a new movie coming out until May, after they sent Snow White in for major rework last year and pushed it back to 2025.

There's no major marketing campaign in either WDW or Disneyland this year, after last year's 100th Anniversary ended.

What are the 49 other things they are doing right now that prevents them from properly marketing the Tiana ride?

 

[EagleScout610]

There's rumblings, so take it with a pinch, or dome, of salt that they shoehorned Facilier in at the 11th hour. The speculation is he's in the former Laughin' Place/Burrow lament section, since that's the section of the ride we know nothing about (Upper section - Critter band focused, lift hill/big plunge - Mama Odie, Finale- Tiana's Place). I doubt it'll be a full animatronic, more likely his shadow appearing and/or his laughter. But, in the words of the Dr. himself:

 

[mickEblu]

There's rumblings, so take it with a pinch, or dome, of salt that they shoehorned Facilier in at the 11th hour. The speculation is he's in the former Laughin' Place/Burrow lament section, since that's the section of the ride we know nothing about (Upper section - Critter band focused, lift hill/big plunge - Mama Odie, Finale- Tiana's Place). I doubt it'll be a full animatronic, more likely his shadow appearing and/or his laughter. But, in the words of the Dr. himself:
View attachment 771664

This should have been the plan all along.

 

[shambolicdefending]

What are the 49 other things they are doing right now that prevents them from properly marketing the Tiana ride?

Anybody who's anybody within the Walt Disney Co. at the moment is primarily focused on fighting off activist investors who want Iger gone... or they're focused on subtly positioning themselves to benefit from Iger's likely inevitable demise.

Nobody who's anybody cares much about marketing what will probably turn out to be a marginally likeable reskin of a decades-old attraction.

 

[mickEblu]

Anybody who's anybody within the Walt Disney Co. at the moment is primarily focused on fighting off activist investors who want Iger gone... or they're focused on subtly positioning themselves to benefit from Iger's likely inevitable demise.

Nobody who's anybody cares much about marketing what will probably turn out to be a marginally likeable reskin of a decades-old attraction.

This is a terrible excuse. Half of us here with no marketing experience could have done better.

 

[Nirya]

This is the only ride that is under construction or even announced to happen in all six American parks.

Disney doesn't have a new movie coming out until May, after they sent Snow White in for major rework last year and pushed it back to 2025.

There's no major marketing campaign in either WDW or Disneyland this year, after last year's 100th Anniversary ended.

What are the 49 other things they are doing right now that prevents them from properly marketing the Tiana ride?

Take your pick of the multitude of things that PR is trying to do here:
- They want to market the ride.
- They want to get fans excited.
- To that end, they know the hardcores will show up regardless, so they want to market more towards casuals.
- They want to show off the new tech being used, especially with AAs.
- They want to highlight ties to New Orleans culture.
- They want to show the expansion of the IP.
- They don't want to reveal too much (underpromise, overdeliver).
- They want to win back fans of OG Splash.
- They want to sell merchandise/potential sneak peaks.
- They want to promote the upcoming D+ show.
- They don't want to reveal every detail of the ride (leave something as a surprise).

I want to note that I don't think this is all good or a smart strategy, but when take all that and realize they're also trying to serve multiple different masters with multiple different visions for what the ride represents, then yeah you're going to end up with an utterly-bizzarre marketing strategy.

 

[shambolicdefending]

This is a terrible excuse. Half of us here with no marketing experience could have done better.

Of course we could have. An average high schooler taking a social media marketing course could have. That's the whole point. It is painfully obvious that nobody in any decision-making capacity at the company cares. They have other things they'd rather worry about.

 

[mickEblu]

Of course we could have. An average high schooler taking a social media marketing course could have. That's the whole point. It is painfully obvious that nobody in any decision-making capacity at the company cares. They have other things they'd rather worry about.

So they don’t have one person in there as capable as some of us inexperienced folks here on WDWMagic?

 

[shambolicdefending]

So they don’t have one person in there as capable as some of us inexperienced folks here on WDWMagic?

I'm sure they have many dozens, if not hundreds of people more than capable. Again, that's the whole point.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm sure they have many dozens, if not hundreds of people more than capable. Again, that's the whole point.

I guess I don’t understand how this point correlates to your original post I responded to. No matter how many people are distracted on other stuff there are people who are working on the marketing for TBA. You are saying they have capable employees but also saying that not one of them that is working on this marketing project is doing a better job than a high schooler taking a social media course could have?

Anyway, my point was that this is not about people being incapable. It’s about the wrong priorities when it comes to this project.

 

[shambolicdefending]

I guess I don’t understand how this point correlates to your original post I responded to. No matter how many people are distracted on other stuff there are people who are working on the marketing for TBA. You are saying they have capable employees but also saying that not one of them that is working on this marketing project is doing a better job than a high schooler taking a social media course could have?

Anyway, my point was that this is not about people being incapable. It’s about the wrong priorities when it comes to this project.

To me, it is apparent that no one is really working in it. My assumption is that those who make decisions about where resources should be allocated don't care that much about it. They're more concerned with other things.

 

[Disney Analyst]

 

[J4546]

neat that they are doing some somewhat substantial changes in setting for the DL SM by enclosing a portion.

 

[mickEblu]

OMG are those the office windows!? How charming.

 

[LittleBuford]

I don’t understand what I’m looking at.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I don’t understand what I’m looking at.

This was the run off area of slippin’ falls before you entered the show building the first time. They are enclosing some (all??) of it, into what looks like I assume a new “building” facade.

 

[Dapale]

I don’t understand what I’m looking at.

The first drop has been enclosed by some structure.

Not sure what its purpose is, but it’s likely something they felt was necessary to add for the story/placemaking.

 

[LittleBuford]

This was the run off area of slippin’ falls before you entered the show building the first time. They are enclosing some (all??) of it, into what looks like I assume a new “building” facade.

View attachment 772211

The first drop has been enclosed by some structure.

Not sure what its purpose is, but it’s likely something they felt was necessary to add for the story/placemaking.

Thank you both!

 

[Rich T]

This is a terrible excuse. Half of us here with no marketing experience could have done better.

Here’s another take on the PR/advertising situation:

IMO, the last thing Disney needs is more people flooding into the parks right now (at least in Florida… haven’t been to DL in a few years to witness the crowd levels) without greatly increasing capacity. TBA is/was a sideways cultural-updating move that does not increase capacity.

When it opens, the flume will once again be one of the most popular rides in the park. Most of the GP will simply enjoy it. Some might say, “Oh yeah, this used to be the rabbit ride.” Then they’ll disembark, buy a Louis-playing-his-trumpet bubble wand and wander off to the next ride.

I don’t think they need to advertise it much at all. In fact, I think it might be better for park crowd levels and overall guest experience if they don’t… and simply let the throngs of park goers be happy the flume is up and running again.

Or… I’m completely wrong and both coasts will be slammed with TBA commercials, billboards and morning show promo spots in the respective week before each flume opening.