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

[CampbellzSoup]

I’m also not sure why people have such generalities when talking about the average guest. If the average guest was worried about it being a simple flume ride there are plenty of other parks for them to spend their money on.

This is Disney World. They come here for a reason.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

General Public aren't going to cancel their trip to the world's most famous four theme parks (with 51 other iconic rides to do, and countless world-class entertainment offerings) because one ride is a little underwhelming to a few thousand superfans.

A couple of points:

1. I never said they would cancel their trips, because I never said that they were already booked and going. The point I was making is that if they were thinking of going this might have them thinking twice, especially with Epic Universe next year. - "...planning on potentially going..."

2. If we were to utilize your logic, that people will not skip going to Disney simply because the new ride is mediocre. That would mean that people would also not go to Disney if the ride was good. This then begs a question, why would Disney ever create anything new?

Millions, possibly by now tens of millions, of families went to Disney with the main goal / purpose of riding Frozen Ever After...

 

[Brer Panther]

so much Louis, the blandest part of the film. In a charming, original movie, the one bit that felt like he was a stock character designed by committee to move merch... so it makes sense he has a starring role here.

I actually like Louis. Too bad he's given absolutely nothing to do in this ride.

This ride feels like they wanted to prove people wrong by saying "we'll use a ton of the greatest AAs and we'll show them!!!'

Considering that most of the animatronics aside from Tiana, Louis, and Mama Odie have about as much movement as that one turtle in the Little Mermaid ride, I wouldn't be surprised if they used up most of the animatronics budget pretty quickly.

Ah, I see. So the goalpost now shifts to "we can't trust Tony."

But we totally can trust the Disney executives claiming that the retheme was totally in the works for a year before people started demanding it, right?

I think visually (inside & out) the attraction is an upgrade to Splash.

The ugly CGI animation on the screens alone make this a visual downgrade from Splash Mountain.

Do you think they had a great idea and somehow threw it out for this?

Well, originally the plot was going to be about Louis trying to find his trumpet. So...

Iger has only been back for a year and a half.

Let's see... he left at the beginning of 2020, then came back until December 2021... then he came back at some point in 2022 after Chapek demonstrated what a lousy CEO he was. Most things we blame Chapek for are actually on him.

One would think that the flock of fishing “How Do You Do” storks would have meshed well into “Going Down the Bayou”, or have the Swamp Boys jamming on their log….anything to prevent the long stretches of foliage-gazing between the major set pieces.

There's no reason they couldn't have at least kept the Swamp Boys. They're GATORS. They'd work fine in a bayou. But nope, Disney is too cheap and/or lazy to maintain its animatronics, so just throw 'em in the scrap heap with the Universe of Energy dinosaurs.

Dr Facilier was pitched as the antagonist originally

Where did you get this information from?

 

[davis_unoxx]

I asked a social media AI bot on the reception of TBA, and they gave me a sponsored response from Disney lol

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Splash is one of the greatest rides ever built by WDI…top 5 at a minimum.

This seems to be the main sticking point for a lot of people: not everyone agrees with this, and we’re happy to see it transform into something we’re more interested in. That’s why I think the fighting is so pointless. Everyone has preferences, and there’s little sense in debating those preferences since no one is going to move. No one is going to be convinced to like something they just don’t. So perhaps we ought to just be discussing the ride rather than debate on the “moral decay” of the company as if this one ride that the general public is going to like just fine even if Disney fans hate it is going to be what breaks the Mouse’s back.

 

[Unbanshee]

I asked a social media AI bot on the reception of TBA, and they gave me a sponsored response from Disney lol

Welcome to the internet, it's a for-profit venture

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

The AA team, as usual, did exceptional work. WDI still excels here. But, the best figures are so expensive that we can’t actually get rides with dozens of actual AAs any more.

On a raw technical and design level, i'd pretty much agree. Though the programmed motion does have that "flail arms around randomly" thing going on that people have griped about (the Kylo Ren AA has this quirk as well).

They need to be able to create a spectrum of electrical AA's of different movement range so that they can fill out scenery again like they used to. Not just a dozen A1000s, but everything else look like they belong in Peter Pan's Flight and Snow White's Scary Adventures...

 

[doctornick]

This seems to be the main sticking point for a lot of people: not everyone agrees with this, and we’re happy to see it transform into something we’re more interested in. That’s why I think the fighting is so pointless. Everyone has preferences, and there’s little sense in debating those preferences since no one is going to move. No one is going to be convinced to like something they just don’t. So perhaps we ought to just be discussing the ride rather than debate on the “moral decay” of the company as if this one ride that the general public is going to like just fine even if Disney fans hate it is going to be what breaks the Mouse’s back.

To each there own, but I realize that Splash is gone and I totally accept that (but I do hope Tokyo keeps theirs forever even if I never visit that park). My main concern is that the company takes the feedback - good and bad really - and understands that and uses it in the future in terms of developing rides. And, quite frankly, I hope they realize that making changes for knee jerk reasons and being more concerned about optics over quality storytelling is not the best way to run a theme park or entertainment company in general.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

To each there own, but I realize that Splash is gone and I totally accept that (but I do hope Tokyo keeps theirs forever even if I never visit that park). My main concern is that the company takes the feedback - good and bad really - and understands that and uses it in the future in terms of developing rides. And, quite frankly, I hope they realize that making changes for knee jerk reasons and being more concerned about optics over quality storytelling is not the best way to run a theme park or entertainment company in general.

I don’t disagree on that front. I love the new attraction, but I certainly think there are lessons to be learned from it. If nothing else a more coherent approach to marketing and presenting what the attraction is to the public and not speaking in rich details until those details are completely decided upon.

 

[Ayla]

One thing I wish they would have gotten rid of and they didn't ~ that tailbone-crushing smack of the logs right as they go down the first drop!

 

[Raineman]

It's been interesting in the last few days, in regards to online reactions to the video. Initially, it was almost all negative, but now the people who wanted the re theme all along either don't like it but will never admit it, or are on a pixie dust high and like it for their little princesses, are starting to post comments, and alot of them always involve the same rude, dismissive, passive-aggressive phrases that they have been spouting for years. " And I do agree that it will be busy for a while, and the majority of the people in the queue will be parents of young kids with the "BBB & princess meet and greet are the #1 priority for my little princess" mentality. I am just a bit nervous that WDI eyes are going to turn to HM soon, and if they start to mess with my favorite attraction other than maybe some sprucing up or very minor changes, I am done giving Disney my theme park $.

 

[ChrisFL]

One thing someone else brought up on social media was the idea that for maintenance/upkeep costs they possibly wanted to keep the animatronics to certain areas for easier access. I would not doubt that at all, however, counterpoint is there is still a lot of decoration and theming throughout Splash that weren't necessarily animatronics but added to the experience.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

All that matters is what most people think. Disney is a for profit corporation and it’s in its best interest to appeal to the majority of customers.

Splash was easily one of the most popular rides
( backed by data ) in the park.

What Disney should have done is politely tell the small group that had a problem with Splash to pound sand.

What is to say that TBA isn’t going to be just as popular? It isn’t open yet. The majority of people who’re going to get on it aren’t watching a YouTube POV just as they haven’r been following construction.

If it proves to be a flop with guests then I’ll be the first to admit it. But, and I’m genuinely asking, what are you all going to say if it does prove to be successful? What’s gonna be your argument then?

 

[lightningtap347]

What is to say that TBA isn’t going to be just as popular? It isn’t open yet. The majority of people who’re going to get on it aren’t watching a YouTube POV just as they haven’r been following construction.

If it proves to be a flop with guests then I’ll be the first to admit it. But, and I’m genuinely asking, what are you all going to say if it does prove to be successful? What’s gonna be your argument then?

I think it'll be popular in that it's something to do and that a water ride in Florida will be popular.

I don't think this will move the needle of selling vacations, DVC, things like that. And I think that's a metric that could determine whether or not this was an immediate success.

I'd be interested to see how popular it will be (if it will be) in the cold season. This will greatly test exactly how popular the ride is, as when the water and cooling off isn't the main selling point you have to actively choose to ride it based on the other merits alone.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

I think it'll be popular in that it's something to do and that a water ride in Florida will be popular.

I don't think this will move the needle of selling vacations, DVC, things like that. And I think that's a metric that could determine whether or not this was an immediate success.

I'd be interested to see how popular it will be (if it will be) in the cold season. This will greatly test exactly how popular the ride is, as when the water and cooling off isn't the main selling point you have to actively choose to ride it based on the other merits alone.

I agree, that’ll be the test. We’re just not seeing it yet, so I guess what I’m really driving at to those who’re already declaring it a failure based on how they feel about it is we just have to wait and see. And if it proves to be a success, then what does the conversation become?

 

[The Mom]

Please remember the thread guidelines. This is NOT a discussion about Splash Mountain, especially the reasons that it was changed because that discussion violates the rule against politics/social issues.

There have also been many posts insulting/attacking/general rudeness to other posters. Again, not tolerated.

Further instances will result in posters being put in time out.

 

[Ayla]

I think it'll be popular in that it's something to do and that a water ride in Florida will be popular.

I don't think this will move the needle of selling vacations, DVC, things like that. And I think that's a metric that could determine whether or not this was an immediate success.

I'd be interested to see how popular it will be (if it will be) in the cold season. This will greatly test exactly how popular the ride is, as when the water and cooling off isn't the main selling point you have to actively choose to ride it based on the other merits alone.

That isn't a great metric, since Splash wasn't popular when it was cold, either. I remember plenty of 5 min waits posted on cooler days (keeping in mind it usually went down for its annual refurb for most of them).

 

[FettFan]

On a raw technical and design level, i'd pretty much agree. Though the programmed motion does have that "flail arms around randomly" thing going on that people have griped about (the Kylo Ren AA has this quirk as well).

*conducting an invisible band*

 

[lightningtap347]

That isn't a great metric, since Splash wasn't popular when it was cold, either. I remember plenty of 5 min waits posted on cooler days (keeping in mind it usually went down for its annual refurb for most of them).

Sure - I think that's why if it exhibits extreme outlier behavior in terms of lines in seasons when it shouldn't have any it would provide good indication that it is overtly popular. If the line behavior acts like Splash entirely though, it's kinda a wash at that point.

I think they'll consider it a success if the line behaves the same just because they are able to move merchandise on an IP they want in the parks. The ride well have to drastically underperform/be outright rejected by everyone to truly be considered a failure, which I just don't see happening.

 

[CaptinEO]

To each there own, but I realize that Splash is gone and I totally accept that (but I do hope Tokyo keeps theirs forever even if I never visit that park). My main concern is that the company takes the feedback - good and bad really - and understands that and uses it in the future in terms of developing rides. And, quite frankly, I hope they realize that making changes for knee jerk reasons and being more concerned about optics over quality storytelling is not the best way to run a theme park or entertainment company in general.

Unfortunately Disney doesn't really acknowledge failure. Lots of egos at play. Likely the creative team on this ride is doing a victory lap about how they made such great work.

They will likely attack and blame the fans rather than accept criticism.

It's been 5 years now and they haven't attempted to address Galaxy's Edge criticism.

Star Cruiser criticism during development and opening was also never acknowledged and they just were happy to operate it until it failed than address criticism.

It will take new leadership cycling through to make changes, as the egos of the creatives involved in these projects are fragile and they are all current employees.