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

[Animaniac93-98]

Interesting how they said it will have the same drop and ride people already love, but won't say the name "Splash Mountain".

I don't know why it's so hard for them to just say "we're bringing new magic and music to Splash Mountain." To the general public, that would be easier to understand than trying to explain the backstory, or how they're bringing New Orleans to the parks (something they already have).

 

[DCBaker]

A few photos from a rainy Christmas Day.

From today. No pics but the mural that they painted outside the entrance to the queue has already started to get faded and smudged up top.

Here's a photo of that area (it doesn't look that much different to me).

 

[Fox&Hound]

Merry Christmas!!!!

 

[Epcot81Fan]

Here's a photo of that area (it doesn't look that much different to me).

I hope at least they have the kindergarten class who did this mural at the grand opening.

That will be sweet and the kids will be super excited.

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

I hope at least they have the kindergarten class who did this mural at the grand opening.

That will be sweet and the kids will be super excited.

Oh come on it looks good. If it were in a non-Disney context would you say that? Why are all of you complaining about a piece of art?? Sure, it maybe doesn't fit Frontierland the best. But it's still pretty...

 

[Gringrinngghost]

It’s amazing every one of these “sneak peeks” show nothing about the ride. Just the same talking points over and over again. This was done again at the Christmas Parade.

 

[Fox&Hound]

Why won’t they just tell us something new?!?! Same old info. Come onnnn!

 

[BrianLo]

The amount of angst over this rides perceived lack of info is completely baffling to me. I know more about this ride than any project I’ve ever followed. We’ve seen the model, concept art. Can see exposed track, the near finished external product. Have all experienced the ride profile. Seen half built animatronics, concept art of animatronics, multiple scene concept art. A baffling complex imagineering story that will be dropped before it even opens. Even internal construction set pics.

Leave something to the imagination people, learn some patience…

 

[Disney Analyst]

Interesting how they said it will have the same drop and ride people already love, but won't say the name "Splash Mountain".

I don't know why it's so hard for them to just say "we're bringing new magic and music to Splash Mountain." To the general public, that would be easier to understand than trying to explain the backstory, or how they're bringing New Orleans to the parks (something they already have).

Why would they use the name of a dead and gone attraction, to describe a ride that has a different name and theme?

How would that make any sense? There’s no logic to that.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The amount of angst over this rides perceived lack of info is completely baffling to me. I know more about this ride than any project I’ve ever followed. We’ve seen the model, concept art. Can see exposed track, the near finished external product. Have all experienced the ride profile. Seen half built animatronics, concept art of animatronics, multiple scene concept art. A baffling complex imagineering story that will be dropped before it even opens. Even internal construction set pics.

Leave something to the imagination people, learn some patience…

Also the vast majority of people aren't tracking the progress like people here or similar places

I am sure for quite a few people watching the parade this was some of the first things they have seen about the attraction and was new for them

 

[Surferboy567]

Also the vast majority of people aren't tracking the progress like people here or similar places

I am sure for quite a few people watching the parade this was some of the first things they have seen about the attraction and was new for them

Upon further reflection I can see where your coming from.

For myself though, this project was announced in (checks notes) 2020. A full soon to be four years ago. Maybe I’d be more forgiving if it didn’t take so long. Maybe I am asking for too much information. It just seems in four years we have gotten basically nothing concrete other than fairly abstract concept art, research trips and a questionable backstory with some vague talking points. To me though, Splash Mountain is a large ride with a lot to show so I expect to see more. Maybe that’s an unreasonable expectation.

I do understand where people are coming from though.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Why would they use the name of a dead and gone attraction, to describe a ride that has a different name and theme?

How would that make any sense? There’s no logic to that.

Because they had someone on camera talking about what was staying the same and what was changing, while showing visuals of the attraction, including the exterior with the drop.

They were talking about Splash Mountain, but didn't call it by name. That's what was odd. Disney may want to advertise TBA as a brand new ride, but it's technically not, and that's what will lead to confusion IMO because anyone who sees the final result in the same spot, with the same drops, is going to make that connection whether Disney wants them to or not.

Saying "we're transforming Splash Mountain into a magical new experience" would make it clearer to the general public, who do not follow these projects so closely, what he was talking about.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Upon further reflection I can see where your coming from.

For myself though, this project was announced in (checks notes) 2020. A full soon to be four years ago. Maybe I’d be more forgiving if it didn’t take so long. Maybe I am asking for too much information. It just seems in four years we have gotten basically nothing concrete other than fairly abstract concept art, research trips and a questionable backstory with some vague talking points. To me though, Splash Mountain is a large ride with a lot to show so I expect to see more. Maybe that’s an unreasonable expectation.

I do understand where people are coming from though.

I think part of the frustration comes from how little substance has come from how much has been talked about.

Disney has shown quite a bit about this ride, including producing a round table discussion video that is quite rare for any Disney ride to receive.

But most public facts or statements have talked about the periphery and minutia of the experience. The backstory, the inspiration, the influences, very little about what the actual ride will show or do.

We know far more about Tiana's Foods as a business venture than what will likely be featured on the ride itself.

That's why it's so surprising when we finally get on ride concept art or interior construction pics because they're actually about the ride (and I think the reaction to those has been far more positive than all the trivial blogposts combined).

 

[SilentWindODoom]

That's the mural people have been complaining about? Huh. Those complaints turned out to be a real nothingburger. It looks exactly like the kind of mural they're going for.

As for the anxiety over the lack of information, there's been art and a couple animatronics and one blurry, empty background scene behind a guy talking. As soon as this was announced, people were worried they'd cheap out. Splash was pretty jam-packed with things. There's worry that it will end up with the density of Frozen Ever After. It's a special anxiety that befits the special situation that is Splash's redo.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Upon further reflection I can see where your coming from.

For myself though, this project was announced in (checks notes) 2020. A full soon to be four years ago. Maybe I’d be more forgiving if it didn’t take so long. Maybe I am asking for too much information. It just seems in four years we have gotten basically nothing concrete other than fairly abstract concept art, research trips and a questionable backstory with some vague talking points. To me though, Splash Mountain is a large ride with a lot to show so I expect to see more. Maybe that’s an unreasonable expectation.

I do understand where people are coming from though.

I do think Disney has been a bit backwards in what they have shared - as going heavy on the backstory/behind the scenes stuff without revealing much of the story, shows scenes, why the ride will be fun, etc ... So shared more of the stuff that usually comes after the ride is open for people that want to dive deeper into the back story

Like, in comparison, there is a ton of detailed backstory to Big Thunder, but it is first presented as a fun, out of control trail coaster and that is all you really need to know to enjoy the ride ... BUT if you want to go deeper there is a ton of backstory (elements int he queue cover it, etc)

But for this they went heavy into the second level first (which I think is largely as not much else new/coming at WDW so they don't have much else to share so they are over-sharing with this)

 

[MisterPenguin]

If Disney showed an AA that was planned to go into TBA, but then had to abandon it, people here would moan and bitterly complain about the missing AA for years to come.

Disney is wise in not showing anything at this point. At least the moaning and bitter complaints about not being shown stuff will end once the ride opens.

 

[splah]

As others have said, it’s the lack of the ride experience itself that is maddening. Compared to the minutia of teaching kitchen.

Perhaps we are expecting more of the ride information because they’ve gone so deep into community gardens.

If they said Tiana owns and operates a business that allows the workers ti share their talents and we’ve come to visit but Tiana needs our help in the bayou. The rest you’ll have to find out for yourself in 2024.

They’ve told us they’re keeping everything a secret with that message. With the actual messaging I’m surprised we don’t know what mode of transportation the employees use to get to work each day. Those kind of details are for the super fan that wants to discover them not the first thing you tell people about a “fun” new attraction.

Does anyone have the timeline of blog posts for rise of the resistance for example?

 

[EricsBiscuit]

A few photos from a rainy Christmas Day.





Here's a photo of that area (it doesn't look that much different to me).

Look at the top right quadrant (especially the rainbow looking trail thing) and compare that to the rest of the mural. Louis for example looks new and you can’t see the yellow paint below. The top right looks to be in pretty bad shape.

 

[DCBaker]

Look at the top right quadrant (especially the rainbow looking trail thing) and compare that to the rest of the mural. Louis for example looks new and you can’t see the yellow paint below. The top right looks to be in pretty bad shape.

Here's a photo from October 26, shortly after it was finished.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Here's a photo from October 26, shortly after it was finished.

Interesting! I wonder why it’s not consistently weathered. Maybe we will get a 10 page backstory from WDI explaining why.