Tiana's Bayou Adventure: Disneyland Watch & Discussion

[chadwpalm]

Okay it’s been a day, I’ve had some more time to process things. Needless to say feeling a little more bummed with the way things turned out. Went home & re-watched a Splash POV, and wow the laughin’ place is just disgraceful now.

No wonder I felt so boxed in and awkward, it clearly felt like there used to be something more in that space. Closing up the center of the room and getting rid of the jumping fountains is just confusing to me, I genuinely expected them to utilize those two elements based on how they handled MK’s.

Not to mention replacing sets of AAs with blank walls and boxing each character in their own space. Unless they’re A-1000s, figures with less movement than spirit halloween props should be layered in with one another. This is why I’m so much more forgiving to the finale & the other sets of critter bands. Limited motion figures look amazing whenever they’re layered into a scene amongst set dressing, just look at IASW.

If every scene featured an A-1000 or two amongst dozens of animated figures (cough, cough, the finale) that could easily raise this attraction to being just as good as SM imo.

Well said. The ride lacks imagination. You're just moving from one set piece to the next showcasing a few good animatronics and some music. Nothing more, nothing less.

The laughing place feels like you are travelling through an animatronic frog museum with spotlights shining into spread-out exhibit nooks.

 

[Disney Irish]

I finally got around to watching FB's video. I can respect David's views on the ride. He and Liz were open to admit they preferred the Laughing Place over what's there now and he also pointed out the completely dark and empty wall on the right opposite the fireflies in the section before the lift hill. He was pretty pragmatic about the rest which is understandable as a vlogger. He pretty much said that while debates will go on for years over this, there's not much that can be done about it and he's just glad there's a running attraction there again.

That said, I did pick up on some things from his video....particularly in the queue, not the attraction itself.

I had mentioned previously that I was impressed they were able to find room in the queue for the kitchen setup. Now I know why. It's at the second floor of the barn which used to be open-to-below, but now has a floor.

Before:
View attachment 821937

After:
View attachment 821938

Regarding single rider, this wooden door is a faux door:
View attachment 821940

If you turn right there, there is a hallway that leads toward the exit (on the right side of the CM's head):

View attachment 821941

This is the reverse shot of that hall:

View attachment 821942

That used to be a closed CM-only door:

View attachment 821944

From there on out the route is mostly the same. Here are before and after maps to show the changes:

View attachment 821948

The green is the old way in from the exit of the ride. Wheelchairs stopped where you disembark from the logs, but single riders would follow the pink line over a bridge to merge with the normal guests. I've also marked where the old photo screens were which are now located outside.

New route:

View attachment 821950

Single riders and wheelchairs go threw the now opened up hallway. They then will still go partially through the exit where wheelchairs still go down the ramp to the logs, but now they've cut open a doorway to fast track single riders directly to the bridge.

This is that new door and the photo screens used to be on the wall behind the CM on the right.

View attachment 821951

So its one of the scenarios that I sort of alluded to, except they use the actual queue to redirect single rider (and ADA in this case) back to the exit rather than give a ticket or something. We both end up being right on this one.

I like this layout better than what I was envisioning.

I also noticed as you did it looks like they redid the exit "queue" to better accommodate single rider and ADA.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Are there firefly musicians in the finale? Or does the whole 'shrinking' portion of the attraction exist only to justify the dip drop and final drop, with no payoff or relevancy to the rest of the attraction or, you know, they party that this whole thing is supposed to be about?

 

[andre85]

Are there firefly musicians in the finale? Or does the whole 'shrinking' portion of the attraction exist only to justify the dip drop and final drop, with no payoff or relevancy to the rest of the attraction or, you know, they party that this whole thing is supposed to be about?

No, but I *think* the shrinking part is supposed to justify how you find the frogs? Who do appear at the end. But it's just as dumb as they're like three inches high and it's doubtful the humans would hear their tiny instruments at all

 

[Jedi14]

No, but I *think* the shrinking part is supposed to justify how you find the frogs? Who do appear at the end. But it's just as dumb as they're like three inches high and it's doubtful the humans would hear their tiny instruments at all

In some of the videos I’ve seen of the finale, when you pass the bands you can hear the critters’ instruments more clearly. This includes the frogs.

 

[Brer Oswald]

No, but I *think* the shrinking part is supposed to justify how you find the frogs? Who do appear at the end. But it's just as dumb as they're like three inches high and it's doubtful the humans would hear their tiny instruments at all

Which is funny cause you see the same frogs right before the dip drop.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Do they have the dialogue between Louis and Tiana after the dip drop ("We have to find them!") or did they omit that in this version?

 

[Jedi14]

Do they have the dialogue between Louis and Tiana after the dip drop ("We have to find them!") or did they omit that in this version?

They do.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Which is funny cause you see the same frogs right before the dip drop.

Those are just regular frogs, not the musically talented frogs needed for the band.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Those are just regular frogs, not the musically talented frogs needed for the band.

Oh rest assured, they are the same frogs. That Disney Parks Blog Post confirmed it!

 

[mickEblu]

Well said. The ride lacks imagination. You're just moving from one set piece to the next showcasing a few good animatronics and some music. Nothing more, nothing less.

The laughing place feels like you are travelling through an animatronic frog museum with spotlights shining into spread-out exhibit nooks.

Right this is why it just can’t be about budget or constraints. The talent flat out wasn’t there. They put the interns on this project.

 

[mickEblu]

Do they have the dialogue between Louis and Tiana after the dip drop ("We have to find them!") or did they omit that in this version?

No I think you mean “We Haaaave to find them.” God that drawl gets repetitive. It feels forced an unnatural. Mixed it up a bit on the delivery. They couldn’t even have a good producer in Anikas recording sessions. It’s like they just recorded a bunch of lines with no vision of the bigger picture.

And yes I believe it is in the DL version as well.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Oh rest assured, they are the same frogs. That Disney Parks Blog Post confirmed it!

All the frogs look the same to me but I did not want to assume.

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

Now that I've had a few days to process, here's my honest review (based on videos, livestreams, and having ridden the WDW version)

Overall, the ride is great. The effect they are going for is very effective upon first or even second viewing. It's a very fun, energetic, and bayou-esque experience that gets you soaked. It's also, in my opinion, very pretty, especially at night
However, upon closer inspection, things start to fall apart. The visible speakers mentioned above, the PVC pipes, the signs being too large, the animatronics' programming being rather mid with odd timing, the story problems, etc. all show up once you look for them. Now, there's a lot less of these issues than in Florida, but they are there nonetheless.
Then, you start to compare it to Splash, and it's just not even a question. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Tiana's, but comparing it to Splash is like comparing a small town in Wisconsin to New York City, it's just incomparable. Splash was a ride with more animatronics, story, and details, brighter, bigger, more visually recognizable, and far easier to understand without knowing the complex backstory. This version is a lot better than WDW, to be sure, but still not quite as good as I'd hoped.
Now, I do believe it was time for a Splash replacement to happen. It was falling apart, outdated, and controversial. I just think they should have done it better - the facade being what was originally presented, better story, more figures (keep America Sings AAs?), better immersion, and for the love of god it should have been a cocktail party-style ride instead of a stage show-style ride. Also, a hood ornament would be quite nice.
Overall, I give it a 7/10. Bad idea, decent design, but poor execution.

 

[mickEblu]

Well, this saga is officially over folks. It has opened at Disneyland and it’s worse than anyone could have ever imagined when they announced this retheme over four years ago. What a waste of time and life discussing this junk over the last 1600+ days. I have to find a new hobby.

 

[CaptinEO]

I was simply saying, it looks quite good. Better than i expected. It looks dimensional, it keeps the charm of the old sign. It doesn't lean too heavy on the bayou, and it reuses the font of the old sign from the looks of it. So, compared to my expectations, yes, it was phenomenal.

Thank you, yes. I didn't see the post as I'm not watching this thread so thanks for tagging me. It's worded very hurtfully, but thats the way this community is unfortunately. One person disagrees and suddenly its "you're all awful and the worst and how could anyone ever think like that". Not saying I haven't done it too at times, but it's definitely disappointing.

I am so sorry if what I said was hurtful to
you in any way. I removed my post. Again, it was not my intention to hurt or target people but clearly this did happen. I apologize that I went too far.

Best wishes!

 

[mickEblu]

Now that I've had a few days to process, here's my honest review (based on videos, livestreams, and having ridden the WDW version)

Overall, the ride is great. The effect they are going for is very effective upon first or even second viewing. It's a very fun, energetic, and bayou-esque experience that gets you soaked. It's also, in my opinion, very pretty, especially at night
However, upon closer inspection, things start to fall apart. The visible speakers mentioned above, the PVC pipes, the signs being too large, the animatronics' programming being rather mid with odd timing, the story problems, etc. all show up once you look for them. Now, there's a lot less of these issues than in Florida, but they are there nonetheless.
Then, you start to compare it to Splash, and it's just not even a question. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Tiana's, but comparing it to Splash is like comparing a small town in Wisconsin to New York City, it's just incomparable. Splash was a ride with more animatronics, story, and details, brighter, bigger, more visually recognizable, and far easier to understand without knowing the complex backstory.
Now, I do believe it was time for a Splash replacement to happen. It was falling apart, outdated, and controversial. I just think they should have done it better - the facade being what was originally presented, better story, more figures (keep America Sings AAs?), better immersion, and for the love of god it should have been a cocktail party-style ride instead of a stage show-style ride. Also, a hood ornament would be quite nice.
Overall, I give it a 7/10. Bad idea, decent design, but poor execution.

You say it’s great but then proceed to say everything that’s wrong with it or what they should have done or how it doesn’t compare to Splash.

Bad / Decent / Poor = 7/10

Got it. Makes sense.

 

[CaptinEO]

I was simply saying, it looks quite good. Better than i expected. It looks dimensional, it keeps the charm of the old sign. It doesn't lean too heavy on the bayou, and it reuses the font of the old sign from the looks of it. So, compared to my expectations, yes, it was phenomenal.

I think it's a reuse of the old sign with new lettering? Or is it a recreation of it? Either way it's nice to have real craftamanship like this and not flat printed signs like we usually see.

 

[disneyC97]

My thoughts as well. I think WDI is still capable of great things, such as Rise of the Resistance, Runaway Railway, and Fantasy Springs in Tokyo, but it’s important to hold them accountable when they don’t meet the high standard they’ve created over the years.

I'll add, having just been to Hong Kong, that their World of Frozen was stunning, an easy 10/10. I think anything else newer there goes back more than 5 years (Mystic Manor and Grizzly Gulch), but overall the park and overall resort, including the 3 hotels and the Inspiration Lake recreation area, reminded me of old school Disney quality and maintenance.

 

[disneyC97]

Did the second (mute) Naveen figure in the boat with Tiana, seen in the concept art, actually make it into this version? I'm guessing no based on the scans of photos and some vids I've seen, but thought I'd check.

I feel all that went wrong with this has been covered and I basically agree 100% with what others said - I'll add (and maybe this has also been noted), that the relationship/romance between Tiana and Naveen in the film was one of many things about the movie I loved and that appears nonexistent here too. Wasted opportunities all around.