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

[seabreezept813]

Another thought I had is that with Splash I felt real joy (probably the ending and iconic song). And my kids still won’t ride this (6 and 3 because of the big drop) but I didn’t get the vibe that when they do I’ll feel that joy with them. And we feel it on plenty of MK rides—small world, Peter Pan, etc but Tiana’s didn’t give that vibe to me. We’ll see how lasting the ride feels over time but you don’t get that initial oh this is a slam dunk feeling like we’ve had with other new rides like Flight of Pasaage or Mickey’s Runaway Railroad.

 

[Ghost93]

I still stand by my opinion that this ride would’ve been great if it was the length and scale of Gran Fiesta Tour.

I think the faster pace of the Disneyland version will work better for a story as simplistic as the one in Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

 

[mickEblu]

I think the faster pace of the Disneyland version will work better for a story as simplistic as the one in Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

It’ll work better because we don’t have as much time to take in the empty sets and those annoying rock back n forth figures that should be nowhere near center stage.

 

[mickEblu]

I wonder if they more or less pushed Tony Baxter out the door or if he saw the writing on the wall and bailed? He could have really helped. I’ve heard a lot of his stories and I just have to imagine that he would have helped guide a few things in the right direction that would have made a big difference. He made a lot of big practical decisions on old projects that the newer imagineers seem to be dropping the ball on. A couple things I think he would have done:

1. Fight for more of the old AAs to stick around and/or spread the budget out better for the new AA’s figures. Maybe instead of 10 state of the art AAs and a bunch of figures that rock back n forth, only 4-5 really advanced ones with more of the budget to go towards actual supplementary AAs (not figures) that help fill out the show scenes. In addition, the placement of those lower quality figures or supplementary AAs staging would have been 10x better.

2. From everything I’ve heard Tony say about the development of Splash there is no way he would have “allowed” the attraction to not have any drama on the final lifthill. Even with no Facilier he would have found or suggested a clever way to incorporate that element into the attraction.

There’s so much more I’m sure but there are two big things I think he would I have seen through. I can’t blame Tony if he walked away from this project but I think he really could have helped. With that said we don’t really know if he walked away or was “pushed out.” Maybe a little of both.

 

[Figments Friend]

I wonder if they more or less pushed Tony Baxter out the door or if he saw the writing on the wall and bailed? He could have really helped. I’ve heard a lot of his stories and I just have to imagine that he would have helped guide a few things in the right direction that would have made a big difference. He made a lot of big practical decisions on old projects that the newer imagineers seem to be dropping the ball on. A couple things I think he would have done:

1. Fight for more of the old AAs to stick around and/or spread the budget out better for the new AA’s figures. Maybe instead of 10 state of the art AAs and a bunch of figures that rock back n forth, only 4-5 really advanced ones with more of the budget to go towards actual supplementary AAs (not figures) that help fill out the show scenes. In addition, the placement of those lower quality figures or supplementary AAs staging would have been 10x better.

2. From everything I’ve heard Tony say about the development of Splash there is no way he would have “allowed” the attraction to not have any drama on the final lifthill. Even with no Facilier he would have found or suggested a clever way to incorporate that element into the attraction.

There’s so much more I’m sure but there are two big things I think he would I have seen through. I can’t blame Tony if he walked away from this project but I think he really could have helped. With that said we don’t really know if he walked away or was “pushed out.” Maybe a little of both.

He has been in an advisory role since he ‘retired’ from WDI back in 2013.
Although he is still active and contributes to WDI, being in an advisory role means he can offer suggestions and insights to those working on a project if asked.

Wether or not those working on said projects choose to listen to his advice is another matter.

One can give the most wonderful insights and advice you could imagine, but if people choose not to listen …well….it is their loss.
And ours, as well, in the end.

-

 

[seabreezept813]

He has been in an advisory role since he ‘retired’ from WDI back in 2013.
Although he is still active and contributes to WDI, being in an advisory role means he can offer suggestions and insights to those working on a project if asked.

Wether or not those working on said projects choose to listen to his advice is another matter.

One can give the most wonderful insights and advice you could imagine, but if people choose not to listen …well….it is their loss.
And ours, as well, in the end.

-

I think the biggest thing they didn’t take from Tony is the depth in scenes. Riding Small World (not a Tony ride per say, but a classic) I pointed out to my family how much there was to look at compared to Tiana’s. I think the newest imagineers are good at complex AAs but haven’t produced anything with enough to look at (Mickeys Railway maybe being an exception).

 

[Ghost93]

The lack of tension on the lift hill is the biggest flaw of the ride. It makes what should be the most exciting part the most boring.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I think the newest imagineers are good at complex AAs but haven’t produced anything with enough to look at (Mickeys Railway maybe being an exception).

Runaway is an exception because it was Kevin Rafferty’s last project. Kevin gets it.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I think the biggest thing they didn’t take from Tony is the depth in scenes. Riding Small World (not a Tony ride per say, but a classic) I pointed out to my family how much there was to look at compared to Tiana’s. I think the newest imagineers are good at complex AAs but haven’t produced anything with enough to look at (Mickeys Railway maybe being an exception).

Yup. Modern Imagineering cannot construct scenes. It's a huge, very obvious failing.

I am so sick of preview videos showing off the latest flailing AA that will stand in an empty room and gesture at guests.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I think the faster pace of the Disneyland version will work better for a story as simplistic as the one in Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

On the contrary, the highly articulated A1000 figures will be even more of a waste.

 

[Tha Realest]

The lack of tension on the lift hill is the biggest flaw of the ride. It makes what should be the most exciting part the most boring.

The entire attraction - the approach, the early peeks at the drop as you circle it, the mini drops that foreshadow the big one - is a masterclass in pacing and building anticipation towards that moment.

There are many problems with this new attraction, but one of the largest is its fundamental lack of appreciation for what the whole ride is built around, and towards.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Finally got to see it in person, rode it twice last week

Overall we really enjoyed it. It is fun, and yes a simplistic story and I would have changed it up a bit (even just better explaining a reason why you, the rider was going into the Bayou - maybe the originally scheduled band had to cancel past minute and you need to tell Tiana and Louise they need to find a replacement and fast!)

Other than one Tiana and one Madam Odie figure not not having their mouths move, everything was working. Have to say, when the timing is on it is a great effect to have the characters turn to you and start talking to you, etc.

I do think there are spots that would benefit from having some more figure - even just simple movement ones - just to give something else to look at/for rather then feeling of waiting for the next scene to come.

My 10 yo daughter said she prefers this version, my 12 yo son said he prefers Splash but does recognize these animatrons are much better

Will be interesting to see how it all looks and feels when the update to Frontierland is complete

 

[easyrowrdw]

I think the biggest thing they didn’t take from Tony is the depth in scenes. Riding Small World (not a Tony ride per say, but a classic) I pointed out to my family how much there was to look at compared to Tiana’s. I think the newest imagineers are good at complex AAs but haven’t produced anything with enough to look at (Mickeys Railway maybe being an exception).

I think that’s a really good point. Although I feel like Runaway Railway is a lot to look at but not for much reason. It’s just random scenes of chaos and, for even less reason, dancing.

 

[DisneyGentlemanV2.0]

Yup. Modern Imagineering cannot construct scenes. It's a huge, very obvious failing.

I am so sick of preview videos showing off the "latest flailing AA" that will stand in an empty room and gesture at guest

Perfect description. They flail to show-off the technology, by not to advance the story. One could only imagine them in some of the classic rides...

Beware of hitch-flailing ghosts!

 

[Touchdown]

I think that’s a really good point. Although I feel like Runaway Railway is a lot to look at but not for much reason. It’s just random scenes of chaos and, for even less reason, dancing.

Aka a Golden Age Cartoon, which is exactly what they were going for. People can be too hard on that ride, I think it’s great.

 

[seabreezept813]

I think that’s a really good point. Although I feel like Runaway Railway is a lot to look at but not for much reason. It’s just random scenes of chaos and, for even less reason, dancing.

True but it shows that tech and screens can be used to create more to a scene. Navi River gives a lot to look at too. The repeated screens of fireflies in Tiana’s just aren’t it. And in the film those scenes are excellent.

 

[FettFan]

The lack of tension on the lift hill is the biggest flaw of the ride. It makes what should be the most exciting part the most boring.

I would also say the depopulation of the ride is also a major flaw. In Splash, between the scenes of the Br’er Rabbit storyline, there was a population of characters from the fishing geese/storks, the occasional splashing fish jumping from the water, singing frogs, turtles riding on geysers, beehives, a possum family hanging from the branches above you, etc.

It was all very kinetic; even the static props had some form of motion associated with them, such as the static fishing gator that featured an animatronic Brer Frog sitting on his back.

All TBA has is scenery plus fireflies…which aren’t even the cool PotC fireflies, but cartoon projections.

 

[FettFan]

Navi River gives a lot to look at too.

I heartily disagree. That ride is a slog and a half with no payoff. In fact I would rate TBA higher, since TBA actually has a thrill element thanks to the drops.

All the wonderful alien animals dreamed up for the Avatar movie…and we just see some weasel projections.

Surely they could have put in an animatronic Blue Horse or Hammerhead Rhinoceros in there, yes?

 

[mickEblu]

I would also say the depopulation of the ride is also a major flaw. In Splash, between the scenes of the Br’er Rabbit storyline, there was a population of characters from the fishing geese/storks, the occasional splashing fish jumping from the water, singing frogs, turtles riding on geysers, beehives, a possum family hanging from the branches above you, etc.

It was all very kinetic; even the static props had some form of motion associated with them, such as the static fishing gator that featured an animatronic Brer Frog sitting on his back.

All TBA has is scenery plus fireflies…which aren’t even the cool PotC fireflies, but cartoon projections.

Considering what they replaced it’s baffling they thought they could get away with 1/3 the amount of figures (mostly low quality) and firefly projections. But yeah, let’s trust them replacing the ROA. Lol

 

[Brer Panther]

I would also say the depopulation of the ride is also a major flaw. In Splash, between the scenes of the Br’er Rabbit storyline, there was a population of characters from the fishing geese/storks, the occasional splashing fish jumping from the water, singing frogs, turtles riding on geysers, beehives, a possum family hanging from the branches above you, etc.

It was all very kinetic; even the static props had some form of motion associated with them, such as the static fishing gator that featured an animatronic Brer Frog sitting on his back.

All TBA has is scenery plus fireflies…which aren’t even the cool PotC fireflies, but cartoon projections.

Exactly! The movie had background animals in it. They couldn't be bothered to put in at least ONE spoonbill?