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

[Disgruntled Walt]

Think of it this way: if my seven-year-old nephew were asking me to tell him a story, which one do you think would appeal to him more? A rabbit being chased by an evil fox who wants to eat him before the rabbit narrowly escapes through a clever trick OR a young entrepreneur traverses the bayou looking for a missing ingredient before finding it with the help of her magic friend. One of these stories is more thrilling than the other.

Sure, it's my opinion that this is less thrilling. But it's an opinion based on the evidence I see.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Well in my youth I used to go on log flume rides with no theming at all, still thrilling. The story for Splash didn't make it thrilling for me at least, it was just the anticipation of the big drop, plus the small ones along the way.

Sure, they're still thrilling! The drop is on display. Honestly, the ones at Six Flags Great America near me are kind of terrifying to look at, with their rusty appearance and leaks.

And the drop on Tiana will be the same. Still thrilling. But less so in its appearance.

 

[JohnD]

I'm not saying they're doing a bait and switch for children. I'm saying that when you remove thorns and make the drop objectively harder to see (not a matter of opinion), you are removing a part of the thrill.

Likewise, when you remove a villainous figure from the plot, you remove some of the thrill. If Dr. Facilier were in this, I wouldn't be so adamant that they were trying to make it less thrilling. Facilier isn't in this ride for a reason, and it's objectively less scary without him.

I'm not saying the experience of the drop will be less thrilling. I'm saying it looks less thrilling. And without Facilier or some kind of high stakes, the ride in general will be less thrilling (and no, an ingredient missing and a party being ruined does not equal high stakes to me).

So let me get this straight. They remove the thorns which are part of the briar patch in the Splash Mountain theme and your response is, "See! They're purposely trying to make the ride less scary!" Got it.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

So let me get this straight. They remove the thorns which are part of the briar patch in the Splash Mountain theme and your response is, "See! They're purposely trying to make the ride less scary!" Got it.

I'm sure it's a conscious choice on their part to switch to a storyline that is less scary than what was there before.

 

[JohnD]

I'm sure it's a conscious choice on their part to switch to a storyline that is less scary than what was there before.

Oh, it's a conspiracy. I see.

 

[Bocabear]

Maybe if they restrict ridership to the age a child can understand what a co-op foods factory is and the best way to implement inventory control... perhaps around 25-30 years old there will be no complaints about the thrill level....

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Oh, it's a conspiracy. I see.

Um, no. One storyline is scarier than the other. That's all. They're choosing to make the ride based on the less scary storyline—even the least scary storyline possible with a PatF theme. That's not a conspiracy...it's an open choice!

 

[JohnD]

Um, no. One storyline is scarier than the other. That's all. They're choosing to make the ride based on the less scary storyline—even the least scary storyline possible with a PatF theme. That's not a conspiracy...it's an open choice!

You realize that isn't the reason it's Tiana and not Splash, right? I don't care to rehash that argument. It's still the same ascent and drop. Of course Briar Patch thorns will be removed and replaced with a bayou theme. Beyond that, your supposition is not "fact". It's your opinion. Let's move on.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

You realize that isn't the reason it's Tiana and not Splash, right? I don't care to rehash that argument. It's still the same ascent and drop. Of course Briar Patch thorns will be removed and replaced with a bayou theme. Beyond that, your supposition is not "fact". It's your opinion. Let's move on.

Yes I'm well aware of why the change is being made. I was merely stating that it's not a conspiracy. The less thrilling storyline is a side effect of the change (though they could have done something scarier and more thrilling with Facilier, as many people here have agreed). But yeah, it's my opinion, see below:

Sure, it's my opinion that this is less thrilling. But it's an opinion based on the evidence I see.

The moderators will note that I have not once referred to TBA's predecessor by name in this current discussion.

 

[retr0gate]

Um, no. One storyline is scarier than the other. That's all. They're choosing to make the ride based on the less scary storyline—even the least scary storyline possible with a PatF theme. That's not a conspiracy...it's an open choice!

I don't think it's fair to assume that one storyline is more "scary" than the other with how little we actually know right now. A rabbit being chased by a bear and a fox certainly adds an element of suspense / tension to the ride, but I wouldn't call it "scary." Especially when you consider the actual story element to Splash isn't really revealed until you're actually on the ride, aside from some light teasing in the queue. There's no reason to assume TBA won't take the same approach, especially with how much of the ride experience itself they're keeping under wraps. We can't possibly know that the ride is devoid of all conflict until it opens and we can see for ourselves, or we're explicitly told so. First timers are not basing their decision to ride on the storyline, something they know nothing about if they haven't ridden before. They're basing it off the drop, briar patch or not.

 

[Incomudro]

I'm not saying they're doing a bait and switch for children. I'm saying that when you remove thorns and make the drop objectively harder to see (not a matter of opinion), you are removing a part of the thrill.

Likewise, when you remove a villainous figure from the plot, you remove some of the thrill. If Dr. Facilier were in this, I wouldn't be so adamant that they were trying to make it less thrilling. Facilier isn't in this ride for a reason, and it's objectively less scary without him.

I'm not saying the experience of the drop will be less thrilling. I'm saying it looks less thrilling. And without Facilier or some kind of high stakes, the ride in general will be less thrilling (and no, an ingredient missing and a party being ruined does not equal high stakes to me).

You realize the thorns are removed because they have nothing to do with PatF?
The drop is "harder to see" (if indeed it actually is) because likewise it's in a more lush environment than one which was meant to go along with the more western look of Big Thunder and Frontierland.
I'm quite certain the view of the logs plunging down the drop is still readily viewable from many angles, particularly from the bridge.
The screams of riders will still be heard.
I don't believe Disney made any attempts to deliberately obscure the fact that there's a big drop.
Why would they want to trick little girls - or the parents of little girls, to get them on a ride only to fool them?

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

So, are there any *construction updates* like the thread is meant for, or just arguments? It'll still be scary. People will still see the drop. It is still a thrill ride. Full stop.

 

[JD80]

None of my kids really understood the story of Splash. They thought it was just a bunch of incompetent animals chasing a clever rabbit with happy music going around. It was a cartoon.

The thrill was just big drops and their anticipation.

 

[Incomudro]

None of my kids really understood the story of Splash. They thought it was just a bunch of incompetent animals chasing a clever rabbit with happy music going around. It was a cartoon.

The thrill was just big drops and their anticipation.

That's about how well I understood it.

 

[drizgirl]

You realize the thorns are removed because they have nothing to do with PatF?
The drop is "harder to see" (if indeed it actually is) because likewise it's in a more lush environment than one which was meant to go along with the more western look of Big Thunder and Frontierland.
I'm quite certain the view of the logs plunging down the drop is still readily viewable from many angles, particularly from the bridge.
The screams of riders will still be heard.
I don't believe Disney made any attempts to deliberately obscure the fact that there's a big drop.
Why would they want to trick little girls - or the parents of little girls, to get them on a ride only to fool them?

But maybe everyone will now think they are plunging into a thick pillow of lush swamp grass?

 

[Drew the Disney Dude]

So, are there any *construction updates* like the thread is meant for, or just arguments? It'll still be scary. People will still see the drop. It is still a thrill ride. Full stop.

Yep, I posted 10 photos last night.

 

[bmr1591]

Putting on my tin foil hat, I wonder if it will open in late September.

Long before.

 

[Fox&Hound]

According to concept art you are plunging into water with lilly pads and flowers, right? I feel like the concept of plunging into thorns and then water below made so much more sense. Sigh….

 

[Incomudro]

According to concept art you are plunging into water with lilly pads and flowers, right? I feel like the concept of plunging into thorns and then water below made so much more sense. Sigh….

I never felt we were plunging into thorns and then water below it.
I know I'm not remotely alone in that.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Are we pretending the story to Splash was confusing now? Honestly, it was arguably the most clearly conveyed ride narrative in the Magic Kingdom.

“Please don’t throw me into that briar patch.”
“Briar patch?”