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

[Carnotaurus Understudy]

I'm really confused about the soundtrack.... Disney released a whole video and multiple press releases gassing themselves up about all the new music, how it was so well thought-out for the "storytelling" and "immersion," etc.

All of this great new music must be in the queue or something, because the integration of songs in the ride itself feels thoughtless. If they really wanted to use "Gonna Take You There," they could've recorded a new version instead of having it sung by a dead character. Maybe they could've even added some new plot-relevant lyrics, like Splash did for "How Do You Do."

"Special Spice" sounds like it was written before the reported shift from the secret ingredient plot to the critter band stuff, it really has no connection to the ride as-is. And why is it proceeded by an instrumental version of "Almost There"? Speaking of "Almost There," why is the sung-through movie version played in a scene where Tiana isn't even present? Is the music supposed to be diegetic or not??? AHHHHHHH

 

[Tha Realest]

What do we think the motivation was for debuting a ride through today before the attraction officially opened?

With Rise, Disney kept things locked down. As far as I know, Disney has never released a ride through film to the masses before the attraction opened, but I could be wrong.

Over the last few years Disney’s pushed more than a few subpar projects direct to streaming.

 

[Jedi14]

I like it more after seeing an unedited POV.

 

[Virtual Toad]

most of you guys were always going to hate this ride, this is a very miserable thread lol

I think that yes, some folks were always going to dislike the change. That's what you're up against when you decide to change one of the most incredible and popular theme park attractions ever created. For Disney, the stakes could not have been higher-- and I think not fully appreciating this was their first mistake.

But look back on these boards and elsewhere, and a lot of folks, even many who expressed dislike over the initial decision, transitioned into the "let's wait and see" camp. Let's be fair and give Disney the benefit of the doubt.

Disney then acknowledged the stakes were high and began to tout how incredible the new ride would be, releasing teasers of animatronics and storylines and even admitting Bob Iger wanted improvements and that improvements were being made. Their message: "We understand. Don't worry. We hear you. We've got this."

Perhaps they set expectations too high; perhaps (as many folks have been arguing) they are simply completely out of touch.

The issue is larger than the ride itself at this point. Disney has been responsible for a growing number of recent and massive missteps. Starcruiser, Harmonious, EPCOT's transformation, a lifeless and sterile Star Wars land, disrespecting sight lines, instituting a firm caste system in the form of Genie+, longer lines, higher prices, endless upcharges, confusing apps, needless complications, questionable ride reliability, countless examples of poor show and shoddy maintenance, only one waterpark open at a time, destroying highly themed resort environments by supplanting or replacing incredibly themed architecture with bland and generic construction, a botched tile job in Morocco, a DJ in the train station at the MK... the list goes on.

So with TBA, the stakes could not have been higher and the consensus is mixed at best. To respond by simply calling a thread "miserable" tracks with the growing effort on these boards to dismiss negativity as whining, or hyperbole, or expressing a lack of imagination.

Read the criticisms in this thread. Yep, some are driven by an agenda, but the *vast* majority are basing their opinions on solid criticism and have expressed those criticisms in specific and constructive terms.

A miserable thread is what you get when the stakes are unbelievably high and you manage to overpromise and underdeliver.

It's not just TBA. A lot of folks, lifetime fans and paying customers who invested financially and emotionally in a brand that charges a lot but promises even more... have reached the end of their patience. And it shows.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Yeah, most of what's on that board is wildly anachronistic.

Not a lot of red Sharpie pens in 1923?

 

[thepotat5216]

I like it more after seeing an unedited POV.

I saw an animatronic in the Laughin Place that we hadn't seen before. Now we're up to 45!!

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

The graphics of the stuff "posted" on the board are not in keeping with the time period they are trying (failing) to invoke.

But they are in keeping with the stylings of the film. That seems like a reasonable choice:

 

[aladdin2007]

I'm really confused about the soundtrack.... Disney released a whole video and multiple press releases gassing themselves up about all the new music, how it was so well thought-out for the "storytelling" and "immersion," etc.

All of this great new music must be in the queue or something, because the integration of songs in the ride itself feels thoughtless. If they really wanted to use "Gonna Take You There," they could've recorded a new version instead of having it sung by a dead character. Maybe they could've even added some new plot-relevant lyrics, like Splash did for "How Do You Do."

"Special Spice" sounds like it was written before the reported shift from the secret ingredient plot to the critter band stuff, it really has no connection to the ride as-is. And why is it proceeded by an instrumental version of "Almost There"? Speaking of "Almost There," why is the sung-through movie version played in a scene where Tiana isn't even present? Is the music supposed to be diegetic or not??? AHHHHHHH

I dont understand this either, why is that not a fun zippy instrumental specifically designed for the ride through that area...they just slapped the film soundtrack song through there and called it a day.

 

[Brian]

But they are in keeping with the stylings of the film. That seems like a reasonable choice:

View attachment 788910

That may be, but if I'm not mistaken, they are trying to transport you back to New Orleans in the 20s, not take you into the film. Therefore, the graphics should be reflective of how flyers would look back then.

 

[bwr827]

Doesn’t matter why they posted it.

Consensus on a hyper positive Disney forum is that the ride is disappointment, especially when compared to Splash.

Since you like to pretend to be close to the top can you let Iger know to stop destroying everything?

I’ve rekindled my participation in Disney forums recently after several years.

This is NOT a hyper positive Disney forum. This place is full of Disney downers. At least it’s entertaining though.

I go to a different forum if I want positivity.

 

[LittleBuford]

But they are in keeping with the stylings of the film. That seems like a reasonable choice:

View attachment 788910

Perhaps the central flyer, but the rest? What about the “Free Cooking Classes” ad?

 

[UNCgolf]

Perhaps the central flyer, but the rest? What about the “Free Cooking Classes” ad?

That's exactly the one that I was going to point out as really bad, although the Beignet Wednesdays is very off as well.

 

[monothingie]

The graphics of the stuff "posted" on the board are not in keeping with the time period they are trying (failing) to invoke.

The ride is full of shoehorned in modern terms and phrases that you’d hear in Corporate board room or marketing team or HR meeting. Nothing even remotely authentic.

 

[Trauma]

The negativity is really starting to grow on social and every single YouTube ride thru posted.

Disney is getting taken to the woodshed by its fan base and they deserve it.

I’m hoping this blowback will be a wake up call, but at this point who am I kidding.

They don’t want the hardcore fans to stick around. Some bean counter must have figured out that we don’t spend as much per minute or something.

This ride is a giant middle finger to the Disney Park fans.

 

[LittleBuford]

That's exactly the one that I was going to point out as really bad.

It would look cute if the ride were set in the ’70s!

 

[UNCgolf]

It would look cute if the ride were set in the ’70s!

Or even the present day -- I wouldn't be surprised to see something that looked similar to that on a college campus now.

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

I think that yes, some folks were always going to dislike the change. That's what you're up against when you decide to change one of the most incredible and popular theme park attractions ever created. For Disney, the stakes could not have been higher-- and I think not fully appreciating this was their first mistake.

But look back on these boards and elsewhere, and a lot of folks, even many who expressed dislike over the initial decision, transitioned into the "let's wait and see" camp. Let's be fair and give Disney the benefit of the doubt.

Disney then acknowledged the stakes were high and began to tout how incredible the new ride would be, releasing teasers of animatronics and storylines and even admitting Bob Iger wanted improvements and that improvements were being made. Their message: "We understand. Don't worry. We hear you. We've got this."

Perhaps they set expectations too high; perhaps (as many folks have been arguing) they are simply completely out of touch.

The issue is larger than the ride itself at this point. Disney has been responsible for a growing number of recent and massive missteps. Starcruiser, Harmonious, EPCOT's transformation, a lifeless and sterile Star Wars land, disrespecting sight lines, instituting a firm caste system in the form of Genie+, longer lines, higher prices, endless upcharges, confusing apps, needless complications, questionable ride reliability, countless examples of poor show and shoddy maintenance, only one waterpark open at a time, destroying highly themed resort environments by supplanting or replacing incredibly themed architecture with bland and generic construction, a botched tile job in Morocco, a DJ in the train station at the MK... the list goes on.

So with TBA, the stakes could not have been higher and the consensus is mixed at best. To respond by simply calling a thread "miserable" tracks with the growing effort on these boards to dismiss negativity as whining, or hyperbole, or expressing a lack of imagination.

Read the criticisms in this thread. Yep, some are driven by an agenda, but the *vast* majority are basing their opinions on solid criticism and have expressed those criticisms in specific and constructive terms.

A miserable thread is what you get when the stakes are unbelievably high and you manage to overpromise and underdeliver.

It's not just TBA. A lot of folks, lifetime fans and paying customers who invested financially and emotionally in a brand that charges a lot but promises even more... have reached the end of their patience. And it shows.

I feel betrayed by what I have seen today. I thought they HAD to knock this out of the park. How could they screw this up so badly?
I was really rooting for this ride. Go back and read some of my past posts on this thread if you don’t believe me. I was so excited for this.
Every step of the way, I ignored criticism. I suppose I owe some of you an apology. Your points were (mostly) correct. I put too much faith in this entire thing.
And I feel personally betrayed by this. They over promised and underdelivered. They led with the best scene. They led with the central animatronics that ended up just kind of being plopped down. They told us backstory and backstory that I thought-silly me!- would have some bearing on the plot, or at the very least, the critter bios would play into the ride somewhat, through sight gags or something. The only one of these guys that ended up really having any personality was that cool frog guy. He’s awesome. I wish more of the ride was like him: full of character. I didn’t want to believe it, but I guess you guys were right. They have lost a lot of my support and trust today. If actually going on this thing doesn’t change my mind, I don’t know if anything short of the return of Dreamfinder himself can win me back. I’m just so disappointed.

 

[LittleBuford]

I feel betrayed by what I have seen today. I thought they HAD to knock this out of the park. How could they screw this up so badly?
I was really rooting for this ride. Go back and read some of my past posts on this thread if you don’t believe me. I was so excited for this.
Every step of the way, I ignored criticism. I suppose I owe some of you an apology. Your points were (mostly) correct. I put too much faith in this entire thing.
And I feel personally betrayed by this. They over promised and underdelivered. They led with the best scene. They led with the central animatronics that ended up just kind of being plopped down. They told us backstory and backstory that I thought-silly me!- would have some bearing on the plot, or at the very least, the critter bios would play into the ride somewhat, through sight gags or something. The only one of these guys that ended up really having any personality was that cool frog guy. He’s awesome. I wish more of the ride was like him: full of character. I didn’t want to believe it, but I guess you guys were right. They have lost a lot of my support and trust today. If actually going on this thing doesn’t change my mind, I don’t know if anything short of the return of Dreamfinder himself can win me back. I’m just so disappointed.

You don’t owe anyone an apology. You waited rather than prejudged, which was the right thing to do.

I’m sorry you feel as disappointed as you do. My hopes weren’t as high as yours so I don’t feel as let down.

 

[MandaLou]

I think my biggest gripe (aside from everything that has been stated thus far) is that the AAs, while incredibly smooth and high tech, literally have no purposeful movement. Like why spend all those resources to create animatronic figures that really didn't need to be so "perfect"? Those resources could have been used to actually make a coherent story or fill in the dead spaces. I was cautiously optimistic about everything in hopes that Disney would really treat this story well, but I am incredibly disappointed. I LOVE Tiana and PatF and that story deserves something much better than this.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

That may be, but if I'm not mistaken, they are trying to transport you back to New Orleans in the 20s, not take you into the film. Therefore, the graphics should be reflective of how flyers would look back then.

Let's be serious, now - they are clearly taking you to The Princess and the Frog's version of that place and time. It makes sense that things borrow cues from the look of the movie.

Perhaps the central flyer, but the rest? What about the “Free Cooking Classes” ad?

It looks like a multicolor linocut print. I don't think it's beautiful, but it doesn't really scan as totally egregious to me.

Certainly doesn't strike me as "Everything wrong with current storytelling in the Parks in one image", like the poster I was replying to suggested.