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

[James Alucobond]

Nothing says "Frontier Land" like gilded and ornate early 1900's style iron work and decorative brick work.

But since they put Tianna's Tree filled "Rainforest Cafe" Mountain between Pecos Bill and Thunder Mountain, it's clear they just don't care.

They're clearly attempting to used Frontierland Station as something of a portal, with things west of it having the flavor of New Orleans and things east of it having a more rustic look. Not ideal, but at least somewhat considered. And agreed that Pecos Bill needs some help so that the flow is New York > Pennsylvania > Missouri > Tennessee > Louisiana without the disruption of the southwest.

 

[monothingie]

They're clearly attempting to used Frontierland Station as something of a portal, with things west of it having the flavor of New Orleans and things east of it having a more rustic look. Not ideal, but at least somewhat considered. And agreed that Pecos Bill needs some help so that the flow is New York > Pennsylvania > Missouri > Tennessee > Louisiana without the disruption of the southwest.

What?

With Splash they were effectively able to blend the theming so that there were no harsh transitions between areas.

Between the observable finished construction and the out or era themed mural, it just looks cobbled together and disjointed.

 

[James Alucobond]

Yes, there will be a portion of it fairly clearly out-of-time behind Frontierland Station. Not ideal, as I said, but at least with some attempt at separation. I wasn't comparing anything to how it used to be since your post didn't mention the original attraction, just some of the issues with the current one. I was responding with the manner in which I hope they mitigate it by reworking Pecos Bill.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Uni “we are building a new theme park”

Disney “we opened half a queue!”

 

[AshaNeOmah]

It's just a walkway, but it's a pretty good looking walkway.

 

[bmr1591]

When you plan to retheme an area, you don't theme the new ride to the old area. You build the ride, then work on everything around it. It'll all fit soon.

Also, I'm looking forward to Tiana's at night. After seeing how World Celebration looks at night, if they've got all the foliage glowing like in the concept art, it's going to be a beautiful area.

 

[ToTBellHop]

With this, I presume Pecos Bill stays. As others have said, we keep Frontierland and transition under the train station.

The upshot is the New Orleans look there could easily and effectively transition into a Shadowland expansion north of Big Thunder.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

It's just a walkway, but it's a pretty good looking walkway.

Was going to say that - obviously just a taste of the project but it looks really good and pretty high quality

 

[TheMaxRebo]

With this, I presume Pecos Bill stays. As others have said, we keep Frontierland and transition under the train station.

The upshot is the New Orleans look there could easily and effectively transition into a Shadowland expansion north of Big Thunder.

That would be kinda cool if they made that area on the other side of the tracks going upwards more New Orleans style and that is where Dr Facilier is, and he has come back from the other side and is transporting you to the shadow realm - a.k.a. Villains Land and that is how they do the transition

 

[monothingie]

With this, I presume Pecos Bill stays. As others have said, we keep Frontierland and transition under the train station.

The upshot is the New Orleans look there could easily and effectively transition into a Shadowland expansion north of Big Thunder.

Disney is/was good at transitions and melding theming when needed. Adventure/Frontier land is a hard transition that was thoughtfully considered and works very well.

Looking at the photos from the day, maybe they're going with the wooden old timey warehouse motif. I mean if the concept of the ride is a Tiana's Food Commune, mix of crates, iron, bricks, etc would work for the ride and visually blending in with the train station.

But you still have the "Frontier Land" front and center which just clashes terribly with something that is ornate and time period appropriate industrial. Never mind that the main "mountain" is very much not representative of the American south west yet, noticeably sandwiched between two deeply south western themed areas. Yes, Splash was also representative of the south, but great care was given to the exterior theming to not cause conflict. Here it seems like there is very little if any thought given based on what we can see right now.

 

[JoeCamel]

Disney is/was good at transitions and melding theming when needed. Adventure/Frontier land is a hard transition that was thoughtfully considered and works very well.

Looking at the photos from the day, maybe they're going with the wooden old timey warehouse motif. I mean if the concept of the ride is a Tiana's Food Commune, mix of crates, iron, bricks, etc would work for the ride and visually blending in with the train station.

But you still have the "Frontier Land" front and center which just clashes terribly with something that is ornate and time period appropriate industrial. Never mind that the main "mountain" is very much not representative of the American south west yet, noticeably sandwiched between two deeply south western themed areas. Yes, Splash was also representative of the south, but great care was given to the exterior theming to not cause conflict. Here it seems like there is very little if any thought given based on what we can see right now.

HM/Liberty Square to Fantasyland comes to mind as an abrupt transition

 

[DCBaker]

Photos from today - in the third photo you can see what appears to be colored ribbons hanging from the opening. Lighting has also been added to the newly built stairway from the train.

 

[monothingie]

HM/Liberty Square to Fantasyland comes to mind as an abrupt transition

Remember that area was originally the skyway station which served as an excellent transition between the HM area and the medieval whimsy of fantasy land.

 

[Bocabear]

but like the Frontierland to Adventureland, the archway is the portal....and it works well...
Until they opened up the second pathway, that is....
There is no visual break for Frontierland to Louisiana Bayou and back to Frontierland...
If the section of Pecos Bill facing the old french fry cart were re-dressed as a New Orleans street facade, it could probably feel a little more cohesive....

 

[James Alucobond]

If the section of Pecos Bill facing the old french fry cart were re-dressed as a New Orleans street facade, it could probably feel a little more cohesive....

I now think making Pecos Bill New Orleans-themed is the wrong idea after seeing the direction they're going. They seem to be intentionally keeping the New Orleans styling away from the main drag, behind Frontierland Station. Pecos Bill should switch to a Country Bear-tied restaurant instead. The facade left of Town Hall wouldn't have to change at all aside from signage, and the area right of the Chinese Laundromat would just need some of its southwestern detailing toned down to be more generically rustic.

 

[_caleb]

Is that a wall or a post supporting the train station exit? My OCD would like this to be centered in the brick circle.

 

[James Alucobond]

Is that a wall or a post supporting the train station exit? My OCD would like this to be centered in the brick circle.

I think that's where the Lightning Lane entrance used to be? Not sure what they're doing with it now that the standby/LL entrances look to be combined.

 

[mickEblu]

It’s still all kind of funny to me. You have this princess fairytale IP and this cutesy green flowery mountain where you go 50 feet down a thrilling drop. I’ll just state the obvious and say a purpose built PatF ride would never end up this way.

 

[Suspirian]

View attachment 759477

Nothing says "Frontier Land" like gilded and ornate early 1900's Dixie style iron work and decorative brick work.

But since they put Tianna's Tree filled "Rainforest Cafe" Mountain between Pecos Bill and Thunder Mountain, it's clear they just don't care.

I feel like this is on par with Adventureland being an amalgamation of several countries that quite frankly never aesthetically blended that well together.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It’s still all kind of funny to me. You have this princess fairytale IP and this cutesy green flowery mountain where you go 50 feet down a thrilling drop. I’ll just state the obvious and say a purpose built PatF ride would never end up this way.

Eh…if we ended up on The Other Side and Dr. Facilier were coming after us, it would work.

They aren’t going that route because reasons.

I would have turned that entrance into the double drop a mausoleum entrance into The Other Side but they didn’t ask me.