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

[MerlinTheGoat]

Well, it's more that most of the animals in Splash Mountain don't look very much visually like the ones in The Princess and the Frog. I could see the Imagineers thinking that the anthropomorphic geese would clash with the non-anthropomorphic spoonbills.

I said the same thing when this retheme was first announced (got multiple old posts in the other thread about this very topic about the animal designs not matching). However, it has become evident from some of the art that they're going to be incorporating animals with more human-like proportions. You can see it in the backgrounds of the two pieces of art above, there are animals that have proportions similar to the characters in Splash.

I guess they've gone with the idea that there are other animals like Louis out there who have trained themselves to stand upright and behave/move like humans.

To be fair, even a few of the animals in Splash varied in how they were proportioned. Some of the frogs were proportioned like humans (like Brer Frog in the first lift hill sitting in his chair), while others were more "normal" looking frogs squatted on their platforms on all fours. Same goes for some of the alligators and turtles.

 

[BrerFoxesBayouAdventure]

When they first announced the retheme, it was being done on the extreme cheap. It had a sub $40 million budget, pretty much all of the AA's gone (apart from maybe a dozen or so new ones, probably face projection ala Frozen ever after). Empty rooms with video projections on the walls. That was an entirely different concept, the "Lost Trumpet" version I believe Jim Hill discussed.

Things changed drastically after the announcement did not receive the praise they thought it would have. It reportedly scared them enough that they went back to the drawing board and created a whole new more elaborate ride experience. While I wasn't given a figure, i'm told the current budget is quite significant. The infrastructure installation alone was listed as $40 million on a recent permit (the figure originally floated for the earlier variant in its entirety), that's not including any of the actual setpieces, figures, music etc. Just the foundational stuff before any show scenes are installed.

I'm honestly surprised the backlash didn't completely scare them off.

Would the original rendition of the retheme plans have included Mama Odie's tree on top like it was in concept art or did that get cut immediately after the artwork came out? I remember structural issues with the top of the mountain being cited as the reason why it was axed (Chickapin Hill is merely a stump, whereas Odie's house is a massive tree).

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

I'm honestly surprised the backlash didn't completely scare them off.

Would the original rendition of the retheme plans have included Mama Odie's tree on top like it was in concept art or did that get cut immediately after the artwork came out? I remember structural issues with the top of the mountain being cited as the reason why it was axed (Chickapin Hill is merely a stump, whereas Odie's house is a massive tree).

It detracted from the salt mine backstory

 

[BrerFoxesBayouAdventure]

It detracted from the salt mine backstory

I genuinely don't understand the salt mine. Was it an attempt to justify a mountain being in Louisiana?

 

[Kirby86]

I genuinely don't understand the salt mine. Was it an attempt to justify a mountain being in Louisiana?

That's the general assumption. During one of the field trip videos they mentioned that the salt mine they were visiting was one of the only places in Louisiana that had elevation.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Would the original rendition of the retheme plans have included Mama Odie's tree on top like it was in concept art or did that get cut immediately after the artwork came out? I remember structural issues with the top of the mountain being cited as the reason why it was axed (Chickapin Hill is merely a stump, whereas Odie's house is a massive tree).

I don't know if the tree was ever part of an actual budgeted plan. I'm sure creatives would have liked to have done it (as would I), but I can also tell even without being an engineer that it would have required more structural steel added on top (and perhaps underneath) to do it. An actual engineer would have to weigh in on the matter though, because i'm not one.

The $40 million "Lost Trumpet" variant was the plan being kicked around when they first released that art with the tree on top. That seems quite a low amount for the sort of work they'd need to do to build that structure. Even though the ride itself would have been extremely skimpy inside. Like I said, JUST the new infrastructure alone for the current higher budget variant is estimated to be around $40 million according to the recent permit. Not including any sets, figures etc. Just readying the facility.

I genuinely don't understand the salt mine. Was it an attempt to justify a mountain being in Louisiana?

It's partially that. And the Avery Island salt dome being the main source of salt for Tabasco sauce.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

I don't know if the tree was ever part of an actual budgeted plan.

This ^. I think the tree was just “artistic liberty”

 

[Disney Analyst]

It's partially that. And the Avery Island salt dome being the main source of salt for Tabasco sauce.

Now that’s a corporate sponsorship I could get behind! Would be a clear improvement over ziploc. Give out Tabasco samples and everyone will cheer on this attraction!

 

[mysto]

I genuinely don't understand the salt mine. Was it an attempt to justify a mountain being in Louisiana?

The levee is breached, and we ride the torrent of water down into the 9th ward! No salt pile needed, I'm so much more creative than those guys.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

The levee is breached, and we ride the torrent of water down into the 9th ward! No salt pile needed, I'm so much more creative than those guys.

And salty beignets for EVERYBODY!!!

 

[Mike S]

The levee is breached, and we ride the torrent of water down into the 9th ward! No salt pile needed, I'm so much more creative than those guys.

Add in Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks” and I’m in.

 

[gianguy]

Genuinely do not understand why people are still having the "Tiana shouldn't be a thrill ride!" discussion. Song of the South was a movie of very low stakes. What about that film lends itself to being a thrill ride anymore than Princess and the Frog would? They're both children's films, I'd argue SotS even moreso, but you didn't see anybody complaining about that when Splash was still open. Is PatF more widely known to kids today than SotS was in the late 80s? Sure - but the target demographic for the attraction has never been exclusively children, and I'm not sure how what we're seeing now implies that has changed.

That's not to downplay the effort that went into actually designing the layout of the ride to fit the story of SotS / Splash. I hesitate to call Splash a "thrill ride" because while a lot of emphasis is placed onto the drops, and they are an integral part to the story itself, they play such a small part in the overall dark ride experience. I suppose there is an argument to be made about the thrills surrounding the overall buildup of tension as the ride progresses, but that's a whole other conversation to be had. Regarding the relationship of the ride layout to the story, I fail to see how the pre-existing layout will feel any less purpose built with the new theme - a theme that (at least in terms of scenic design) will remain largely the same. Whether or not those thrill elements will feel shoehorned because of the pre-existing system is yet to be seen.

Also, completely ignoring the controversial aspect, let's just pretend that Song of the South was on the chopping block regardless. If Splash HAD to be replaced with another IP, what would you suggest that would be better than what we're seeing with Princess and the Frog? Half of the movie takes place in the bayou! I challenge anybody to find a better IP to retrofit Splash with minimal changes that isn't Pocahontas (because people seem to LOVE using that excuse as if it somehow would have been the better outcome) - and yes, I am implying that what we're seeing now is still Splash with minimal changes. This isn't like Maelstrom being retrofitted for Frozen Ever After where we saw a complete shift in theme. Almost everything that made Splash Mountain iconic will still be there. I like to believe that Splash Mountain the "place" isn't changing, but rather, its inhabitants.

 

[JoeCamel]

The levee is breached, and we ride the torrent of water down into the 9th ward! No salt pile needed, I'm so much more creative than those guys.

And we are washed out through the swamp into the lake where a new sinkhole forms dropping us down into the mine.......

 

[harrisonm]

New photo from Twitter, looks like they're starting to remove grass from the rocks (you can see it removed on the right)

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Definitely feel like the PR for it is misfocused .... I love all the backstory details but that should supplement/enhance ones experience and understanding of the ride now be the main information shared instead of the actual attraction experience ... The "fun" part

I am trying to give them a bit of a pass and assume they are saving a lot of that until the upcoming D23 (though even if that is the case they could just say less now) - but if that comes and goes without sharing a lot of the actual ride and the show scenes and the story and the animatronics (in detail), then I will start to feel more negative/worried

 

[BrerFoxesBayouAdventure]

Also, completely ignoring the controversial aspect, let's just pretend that Song of the South was on the chopping block regardless. If Splash HAD to be replaced with another IP, what would you suggest that would be better than what we're seeing with Princess and the Frog?

A Goofy Movie. Have it take place in the swampy area Lester's Possum Park took place in and have Bigfoot appear.

 

[MisterPenguin]

And we are washed out through the swamp into the lake where a new sinkhole forms dropping us down into the mine.......

...and it turns into a Mr. Toad Wild Ride attraction!!

 

[Smiley/OCD]

And we are washed out through the swamp into the lake where a new sinkhole forms dropping us down into the mine.......

Where we board the 20k subs that were buried on property…

 

[bmr1591]

A Goofy Movie. Have it take place in the swampy area Lester's Possum Park took place in and have Bigfoot appear.

You heard about the leaked Expedition Everest retheme?

 

[Ghost93]

A Goofy Movie. Have it take place in the swampy area Lester's Possum Park took place in and have Bigfoot appear.

I disagree. A Goofy Movie is one of my favorite Disney films (moreso than PatF), but it feels like such a distinct product of the 90s (especially when it comes to the music). I think The Princess and the Frog feels more timeless.