Surprise Twist: Tiana's Bayou Adventure Final 52-Foot Drop Hidden Behind Mist

May 09, 2024 in "Tiana's Bayou Adventure"

Tiana's Bayou Adventure nighttime lighting test April 21 2024
Posted: Thursday May 9, 2024 9:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineering has started testing another effect at Tiana's Bayou Adventure, and this time, it's a significant change for the final 52ft plunge.

As we can see from this video shot last night by @caballero_ducky, the entrance to the ride's main drop is now concealed with a curtain of mist.

While we still don't know exactly what awaits riders at the peak of the lift hill, it will be a different experience from Splash Mountain, where riders had a clear view out into the park before the drop.

We still do not have an opening date for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, but as work wraps on the construction site, we expect an announcement very soon. The first previews are expected in June, with an official opening this summer.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

View all comments →

HauntedPirate4 hours ago

I'd opine that they chose to leave the significant gaps, but that's just me.

networkpro4 hours ago

The scenery and props were designed for the Disneyland space so they had to leave significant gaps for Disneyworlds longer flume.

Incomudro8 hours ago

Yes, there is little implied motion in any of these figures, or steps of figure. It's bad storyboarding.

EagleScout61019 hours ago

The other issue I have with the animatronics on Bayou is that everyone is just standing/sitting firmly on the ground. There's no dynamic or interesting poses that allow for interesting animation. Splash had Br'er Rabbit jumping along the fence, Br'er Bear in the tree and thrashing around on his back, Br’er Fox springing up from the background, the Possum babies above the river hanging by their tails, turtles being lifted by geysers, the entire riverboat rocking back and forth... Everything on Bayou just looks so static in comparison. Edit - Forgot about Rufus the Turtle who bobs back and forth slightly. But it's still a very simple animation loop.

networkpro19 hours ago

Curious enough I met Troy Landry at the Poly in 2020 while it was open just for DVC and diners. Nice fellow.

Animaniac93-9820 hours ago

They also don't interact much with each other and are very self contained vignettes that don't build to anything. Think of the geese who's fishing line has nabbed another's hat, or the fish that jumps through the empty net. Think of the vultures looking at each other and finishing the other's sentence. Think of the rabbits commenting on the Brers chasing each other while a projection effect plays in the background. All of that is gone...and the heavier reliance of screens makes the new scenes look physically flat. The ride's soundtrack is doing the heavy lifting of giving life to the scenes, not their staging or animation.

JoeCamel21 hours ago

Shelby would run them over with his boat so we escape over the falls!

Brer Panther22 hours ago

Yes, this. Both of this. I dunno if they really qualified as "evil", but yes, the film dig have frog hunters. It still would've been a major downgrade from Brer Fox, though... I don't think you could make those frog hunters threatening at all. I suppose they could've made up a brand new villain, but they probably couldn't be bothered (or they knew people would still be complaining that we got this new character instead of Facilier).

networkpro1 day ago

Louis wasn't made of wood. Bruce is one to be wary of.

JoeCamel1 day ago

They could of had this guy going after Louis...

PizzaPlanet1 day ago

Didn’t the movie have evil frog hunters or something like that? They could’ve introduced conflict with those guys going after the critters if they didn’t want to go the voodoo route. Could’ve been similar to Brer Fox or the witch from Snow White.

Bocabear1 day ago

no, I guess I didn't...there was nothing memorable about them to me... I was really focused on trying to figure out what sort of entrepreneurial enterprise Tiana would get into after she got her prince and her dream of opening the restaurant...you know, the focus of the entire movie...lol

Brer Oswald1 day ago

They would have saved a ton of goodwill with fans of the original ride.

EagleScout6101 day ago

In the weird way, Naveen became the blink and you'll miss him character