Tony Baxter always said he made his attractions for the 20th plus ride, not just the first. Unfortunately, TBA gives off a "one and done."I agree, the animatronics look nice but the story falls flat to me. Were it the scope and length of grand fiesta tour, it would be great.
That’s unfair.Tony Baxter always said he made his attractions for the 20th plus ride, not just the first. Unfortunately, TBA gives off a "one and done."
Which, again, is a shame.
The finale is set at Fleur de Bayou, which they say is Tiana and Naveen’s house. That’s what it meant on the chalkboard in the queue and on the radio when it says the party is at her place. Tiana’s Palace is the restaurant.Something I just thought of for TBA - The choice to not make the finale set at Tiana's Palace makes no sense to me. They talk about it in the queue and everything's "Party at Tiana's place!" Instead we're not at Tianas like said 8 million times, but Tianas restaurant is shoved into the background where Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear were with Br’er Gator.
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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.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.
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.
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).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.
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Runaway is an exception because it was Kevin Rafferty’s last project. Kevin gets it.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 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).
On the contrary, the highly articulated A1000 figures will be even more of a waste.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.
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.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 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.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).
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...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
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.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.
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