Reviewing Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a idiot’s errand. Maximum Walt Disney International enthusiasts have already got their minds made up by hook or by crook and are entrenched of their evaluations. Some appear to get somewhat mad with someone who dares disagree, particularly with reactions that don’t seem to be unequivocally destructive or sure. It’s a no-win proposition.
So naturally since I’m a idiot, I’m going to don’t one, yet two evaluations of the brand new Magic Kingdom enchantment. No longer most effective that, yet, spoiler alert, neither shall be wholly destructive nor sure. We’re going to hide the nice, unhealthy and unpleasant of Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Glutton for punishment, chances are you’ll say.
The primary evaluate goes to start with a concept experiment, a lot in the similar approach our fresh evaluate of CommuniCore Corridor theorized what we’d bring to mind that constructing if it didn’t take 4+ years to open). The crux of the query is: what if Tiana’s Bayou Journey opened a decade in the past, again in 2014, as a brand-new trip past Large Thunder?
This sort of state of affairs sidesteps the debate swirling across the reimagined trip, because it invitations no comparisons to Splash Mountain and in addition (most commonly) predates probably the most heated of the tradition wars. It lets in us to guage the enchantment within the vacuum of its personal deserves. For many who suppose this can be a cowardly cop out unreflective of fact, concern no longer, as our subsequent evaluate is “Tiana’s Bayou Journey vs. Splash Mountain.” However that’s the final time you’ll see the former enchantment’s identify in this evaluate.
You could suppose that this lowers the bar and units the desk for a extra charitable evaluate of Tiana’s Bayou Journey (TBA). If you happen to learn on, you’ll see that’s no longer the case. Regardless, we’re doing this as it’s a suitable ‘actual global’ approach of assessing the enchantment.
Absent a time gadget, it’s using Tiana’s Bayou Journey or not anything in the event you’re visiting Magic Kingdom now. What’s carried out is finished–you can not trip any selection sights on this house. And for the numerous visitors who’re first-timers, that’s exactly the state of affairs anyway—they method TBA with a blank slate and no priors to bias their evaluations.
In this type of concept experiment, the trip would’ve been a natural addition no longer changing anything else and in accordance with an underrated fan-favorite movie that used to be the top of an technology for Walt Disney Animation. It will’ve been long at a time when rides have been getting shorter, and featured a mix of trendy era and ambitious Audio Animatronics. No longer most effective would it not have have shyed away from the “e-book document” grievance that plagued the Little Mermaid darkish trip, yet it will’ve presented new characters and persisted the tale past the liked film.
On paper, Tiana’s Bayou Journey appears like a beautiful highest trip that exams the entire proper containers and provides enthusiasts what they’ve sought after for some time. (Sure, together with again in 2014.) Even these days, a large number of this sounds beautiful interesting! However after all, execution is the entirety and the way issues sound “on paper” doesn’t inform the entire tale.
Within the passion of complete disclosure ahead of we get going, we attended the media preview of Tiana’s Bayou Journey ahead of it opened to most people. For the reason that, chances are you’ll need to discard our evaluations or take this evaluate with a grain of salt. I’d love to suppose the evaluate is truthful, balanced, and wouldn’t fluctuate had we simply waited to wait the AP/DVC previews or professional opening, yet you’ll be the pass judgement on of that.
So in opposition to that backdrop, let’s dig a bit of deeper and evaluate Tiana’s Bayou Journey by itself deserves to decide whether or not it’s an out of this world, improper, or failure of an enchantment.…
Let’s get started with what form of enchantment, precisely, Tiana’s Bayou Journey is. At its core, it’s a long log flume trip with a couple of reveal scenes, Audio Animatronics, and different results. However that wasn’t truly what I supposed—what style of trip is Tiana’s Bayou Journey?
It is a tough query. As famous above, Tiana’s Bayou Journey isn’t a “e-book document” trip. It’s additionally no longer a “one thing has long past extraordinarily incorrect” enchantment. Neatly, except the one thing going incorrect is an aspect going lacking (it’s no longer).
It’s additionally no longer a chain of vignettes or cocktail birthday celebration enchantment, as Walt Disney famously known as Pirates of the Caribbean, the place you’ll simply select up on bits and items of the motion as you waft on down the bayou.
I’ve observed some proponents of Tiana’s Bayou Journey seek advice from it as this or a “just right vibes” trip. That’s incorrect for a few causes. First, it sells TBA quick. It will make the nearest comparability Na’vi River Adventure.
Disney enthusiasts most effective name that Avatar enchantment a “just right vibes” trip as a result of they don’t need to discuss negatively concerning the expanse of lifeless house in its first three-quarters. Na’vi River Adventure is arguably a monotonous trip; its saving graces are the track, quasi-impressionistic visuals, and the Shaman Audio Animatronics. Fortunately, Tiana’s Bayou Journey is significantly better than Na’vi River Adventure.
The opposite reason why TBA no longer only a just right vibes enchantment is as it is narrative-driven. There’s a tale. Actually, there are a number of of them! It/they are able to simply be complicated or tough to discern, so it’s virtually more uncomplicated to forget about the precise tale beats, sit down again, and let your self be enveloped through the motion. This offers a herbal segue into the unhealthy of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, so we may as neatly get started the substance of the evaluate there…
Sarcastically, Tiana’s Bayou Journey directly has an excessive amount of tale and no longer sufficient tale. Sarcastically, it appears like there have been too many chefs within the kitchen all with competing visions for TBA, and as a substitute of deciding on one, they threw the entire components into the pot.
This begins ahead of you even board a log, the place Imagineering has created an all-new backstory for the queue of Tiana’s Bayou Journey. The set-up to the trip explains the “subsequent bankruptcy” of the tale for Tiana, set after The Princess and the Frog.
There’s so much for visitors to find within the queue, which basically revolves round Tiana’s Meals, which is an employee-owned cooperative that (roughly) explains the outside parts of the enchantment. Combining her abilities with the ones of the area people, Tiana has reworked an getting older salt mine and constructed a liked model.
Many enthusiasts expressed fear or sadness about this Tiana’s Meals backstory. My pre-opening viewpoint used to be that it didn’t topic. Numerous sights have superfluous tale of their queues that’s forgotten the instant the ride-through portion of the enchantment begins. It is helping cross time in lengthy traces or units the degree for the motion to come back. Queue backstories are one thing maximum visitors omit–and that’s ok.
Once more, that used to be my pre-opening viewpoint. It used to be almost certainly incorrect. There’s a large number of this backstory introduced within the queue by the use of a fantastic quantity of element, a few of which is compelling and–because of this–shall be absorbed through visitors. The queue being excellent shouldn’t be an issue proper?
Neatly, I believe that it’s because of the pointy distinction between the backstory constructing to the trip, and the trip itself. The backstory accommodates a voluminous quantity of worldbuilding, letting you realize what Tiana and pals had been as much as, why there’s a mountain within the bayou, and (moderately) environment the degree for the trip.
After which the trip most commonly ignores this and has an easy tale. However, once more, it does have a tale. This juxtaposition is jarring, and no longer what you’d be expecting. There are a large number of instances the place this may exist for Disney diehards who’ve learn the entire lore, yet I believe that is the uncommon one the place it’ll be true for most people who merely walks during the queue chilly.
I’d in reality move a step additional and say that the tale for the ride-through portion of Tiana’s Bayou Journey is simply too easy. The fundamental define of the plot is that there’s a Mardi Gras birthday celebration at Tiana’s area, and she or he must discover a band for the birthday celebration.
My problems with this are two-fold. First, the solution to the tale feels too swift. It’s no longer fast, but it surely’s beautiful fast. It does assist that there are a couple of scenes of Tiana and Louis “discovering” musicians, however the enchantment–which is lengthy and has various time to let issues marinate a little bit longer–doesn’t truly construct to it. Apart from for one little scene of Louis digging in a lawn, it simply occurs.
2d, the trip isn’t over when you in finding the critter bands, so there’s further motion that unfolds lengthy ahead of the finale…and I’m nonetheless no longer utterly positive why. By way of this, I don’t imply that it’s unhealthy or feels misplaced to the enchantment. I imply I actually didn’t perceive why the issues that have been taking place, have been taking place.
We’ll circle again to the second one quibble in a little bit, yet let’s first additional talk about the primary. This additionally will get to the pacing of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, and a not unusual criticism I’ve observed from ride-through movies: there’s an excessive amount of lifeless house in Tiana’s Bayou Journey.
I trust this to an extent. I in finding the set design to be missing in puts, as you’re floating against Audio Animatronics, looking ahead to them to reach, with out a lot at the aspects of the log alongside the way in which. There are a number of expansives of untouched bayou, after which large reveal scenes full of motion. It’s sorta like Walt Disney International as a complete–acres of nothingness, dotted with highly-dense theme parks.
I’m in reality stunned that this could be an issue with an enchantment on which Disney Legend Tony Baxter consulted. This doesn’t appear to be a mistake he would’ve made. The darkish rides he labored on are nice at staging; they information your eye during the scenes and don’t waste any house. Tiana’s Bayou Journey wastes a large number of house.
It does assist a bit of that the trouble has long past into developing those ’empty’ bayou spaces–which means they aren’t truly empty. It’s no longer merely darkish to cover a loss of element (having a look at you, DINOSAUR). I will be able to’t bring to mind anyplace that I may see naked show-building, partitions or ceilings. It’s in reality a little bit puzzling how a lot effort went into staging those scenes…of not anything.
Regardless, that is exactly why Tiana’s Bayou Journey isn’t a dinner party enchantment…except it’s one hosted through Michael Scott the place everybody congregates in a nook. There’s no longer sufficient to drop-in on, there are virtually no visible gags, there’s little or no ‘throwaway’ discussion or visuals to omit and select up on next rides. There’s merely no longer sufficient (and in addition, once more, there’s a tale).
However what’s maximum irritating about this, for me for my part, is that the scenes of the critter bands that practice the lifeless areas are completely jam-packed with cute animals. The nature design on all of those little fellas is nice! They’re emotive and expressive! Some are younger and carefree, simply jammin’ with the band, and others are haggard and feature observed some issues. You’ll inform simply with fleeting glances at their faces.
So what, precisely, is the issue? You’re left short of extra. No longer essentially a nasty drawback to have, yet on this case, there’s an obtrusive ‘two birds with one stone’ technique to that and the problems with lifeless house and pacing. Create little animal adobes, critter caves, or different little main points resulting in the invention of the bands.
That is rarely an authentic thought. I’m in truth stunned Imagineering didn’t see this when deciding the best way to move concerning the reimagining and degree the scenes for Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Those empty areas may well be brimming with main points, doing worldbuilding for the critters so as to add to their allure, serving to out with pacing, and higher constructing as much as the invention of the bands.
It’s so obtrusive that I’m hoping Imagineering is going again and does precisely this through the years–or that it’s no longer too past due for the Disneyland model of TBA. There’s precedent with the Little Mermaid darkish trip being tweaked like this post-opening. It wouldn’t also be pricey–the important thing factor that will toughen Tiana’s Bayou Journey isn’t extra AAs or different flashy tech, it’s static surroundings to bite on.
Any other tweak that are meant to be made is elevating the lights ranges just about around the board. I am getting that that is the bayou at night time, but it surely’s nonetheless too darkish. There are main points which can be tough to discern because of how darkish the trip is, and my digital camera picked those up higher than my bare eye all over sunlight hours rides. (I haven’t had the danger to trip at night time but–I’m curious how a lot better it’ll glance then as soon as eyes have adjusted.) I additionally suppose the reveal lights is needlessly asymmetric in lots of puts, yet this may well be a photographer’s nitpick.
Even the staging of the action-packed scenes leaves one thing to be desired. This may well be any other nitpick, yet the way in which the animals are organized and retaining their tools made their faces on occasion tough to practice as you waft previous. A few of their platforms also are ever-so-slightly increased, after they’d be higher at boat point. This arguably provides to re-rideability, particularly in relation to the finale, although.
Once more, those darkish scenes don’t seem to be utterly lifeless or empty. Disney enthusiasts conversant in last-minute finances cuts may well be susceptible accountable the ones, yet I’m extremely skeptical that’s the underlying challenge. There’s in reality a forged quantity of set design in those areas to hide the reveal constructing and produce the outside, indoors.
To Imagineering’s credit score, a few of that is attractive. There are firefly results all the way through, completed by the use of each sensible results and multimedia, that really feel like a modern-day opening act to Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland.
As a result of I’m overly analytical, I couldn’t assist yet word all of this on my ride-throughs and take into consideration how a lot all of it needed to have value as opposed to house a lot easy, static animal rental scenes may’ve set them again. I do know the Orlando housing marketplace has gotten insane, but it surely nonetheless would’ve been inexpensive than probably the most monitors and different results.
Proceeding with each monitors and the unhealthy of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, there are a pair instances when their use leaves one thing to be desired. On a few events, Mama Odie and Juju seem above the boat ahead of carry hills or drops to paintings her voodoo magic. She’s a catalyst for the motion in later scenes of the trip–as soon as the band is already discovered–who clumsily propels the tale ahead.
In any other scene (the identify of which I don’t know, so I’m simply going to name it the “Mushroom Cavern”), gigantic variations of Tiana and Louis are featured prominently on monitors as you waft previous. Those are CGI variations of the characters that glance awkward as in comparison to their very on-model Audio Animatronics.
In equity to Disney, all of those sequences are crucial and I don’t understand how they may conceivably be completed yet for monitors. That’s the character of retrofit rides–and nowhere is that extra transparent than those display screen scenes. Imagineering is enjoying the playing cards they have been dealt.
The one answer I will be able to bring to mind is developing any other authentic persona–a small one–for the enchantment, and having that substitute Mama Odie and Juju as AAs within the carry sequences. This sort of persona may act as her antagonist in a voodoo magic fight or one thing of that kind. I’m no longer positive that will paintings, so this can be a somewhat minor criticism.
Turning from minor lawsuits to nonexistent ones, there’s been a large number of speak about Dr. Facilier no longer being in Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Many enthusiasts suppose he’d be highest for the climatic series. I’m no longer essentially averse to Dr. Facilier being within the trip–in any case, he’s an ideal and iconic villain. I additionally don’t suppose he’s vital.
Driving during the enchantment as constructed, I don’t suppose the temper, storytelling, or worldbuilding truly necessitates or–for that topic–helps a villain. To make sure, there’s a unconditionally other Princess and the Frog enchantment the place Dr. Facilier could be a great have compatibility. However that’s no longer Tiana’s Bayou Journey.
However, opinions a couple of loss of pressure have validity to them, particularly for the reason that Tiana’s Bayou Journey culminates in a large drop that simply…occurs. Once more, the plot wraps up well reasonably early-on within the trip. The one query at that time could be whether or not you’re going to make it to Tiana’s area in time for the birthday celebration, yet that’s (oddly) no longer a query the trip even asks.
So I believe merely asking that and making this a ‘race house’ in addition to including the animal properties ahead of you come upon the bands would upload the nominal quantity of anxiety vital for an enchantment like this, which is at its middle a glad birthday celebration. No longer quite a lot of suspense in maximum celebrations!
Prior to turning to the nice, let’s briefly dispense with the unpleasant of Tiana’s Bayou Journey. The trip is these days unreliable. It breaks down so much. Some proponents of the trip may say that this at all times occurs with new sights, and is the entire level of previews. And whilst they’re technically proper, this feels over the top–just like the trip must nonetheless be in take a look at & alter. It’s no longer somewhat able to greet visitors, even in a preview or comfortable opening capability.
The reason for this is unclear, yet it kind of feels like there are problems syncing the logs with the reveal scenes. On all 6 of my ride-throughs all over the media match, there have been noticeable problems with a lag between the discussion and the motion of the Audio Animatronics. On a couple of ride-throughs, Audio Animatronics have been immobile even after their loops must’ve began. There have been different problems with this nature main me to consider there’s an issue syncing the trip automobiles with the motion.
There also are problems with the audio. In some scenes, the track isn’t loud sufficient. In others, it’s too loud to listen to the discussion of the characters. Even after a half-dozen ride-throughs, I’m no longer 100% assured in my overview of lacking tale, as a result of perhaps I simply didn’t pay attention vital traces. (As an example, the PhotoPass border and products signifies the drop is a “shortcut” to the birthday celebration–yet I by no means as soon as heard any clarification as to why the drop is happening.)
The excellent news is that every one of that is fixable. It kind of feels adore it used to be a race in opposition to the clock to get Tiana’s Bayou Journey open at Walt Disney International in time for the (sizzling) summer time. That is sensible. However I am hoping Imagineering is given extra time at the Disneyland model to correctly take a look at & alter to determine the issues. It will get chilly through November in California, anyway; open the trip in flawless shape in 2025.
Higher sound-mixing or syncing may also undercut a large number of my quibbles with the tale. Or just including extra traces of discussion in the event that they actually aren’t there already. Fortunately, the entire unpleasant is definitely addressable. I am hoping it’s a non-issue to the purpose that those paragraphs don’t even make sense to someone using in July.
We’re already over 3,000 phrases into this TBA evaluate and feature most effective targeted at the unhealthy and unpleasant, which may appear to be motive for fear. Prior to we dig deeper into the nice, I’ll get started through pronouncing that I truly like Tiana’s Bayou Journey. (In all probability I must’ve adopted my recommendation for the trip and paced my evaluate higher.)
There are a large number of explicit issues that I flat-out love about it, yet at minimal, Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a “warts and all” enchantment that I very a lot revel in. As I write this, I’m wishing I may trip once more these days. It’ll be a compulsory each talk over with enchantment for us, similar to all 4 different previous and provide rides within the Magic Kingdom Mountain Vary.
I really like that Tiana’s Bayou Journey isn’t a e-book document enchantment. The ones can also be nice (see Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Adventure), yet that’s the route Imagineering has trended with many fresh rides. It’s the more secure method for the reason that tale of the film is already a recognized amount–and a just right one. It’s more difficult to make a screw up and good fortune is more practical since the trip is solely a call-back to the film itself, making it more uncomplicated for emotional connections. But it surely’s additionally a shortcut and will on occasion be unearned.
Authentic sights are riskier, and in addition, they’re what enthusiasts are clamoring for! Bob Iger just lately made feedback about how “virtually all” of the brand new sights all over Disney’s $60 billion decade of parks funding could be in accordance with current IP, which used to be met with fierce fan backlash (even though it must be utterly unsurprising).
Clearly, Tiana’s Bayou Journey is an highbrow belongings enchantment–it’s in accordance with the Princess and the Frog. However that is about as authentic of an IP enchantment as is conceivable. Nearly all of the characters are new, current ones have advanced since their tales spread out, costumes are other, the tale is authentic–the record is going on and on.
Tiana’s Bayou Journey is sort of the antithesis of a e-book document trip–maximum of what it brings to the desk is new and created whole-cloth for the trip! I’m stunned to listen to such a lot of enthusiasts grumble about this, because it’s what they purport to wish.
Then there’s what I truly love about Tiana’s Bayou Journey: it will get bizarre. That is what tickles my Disney fan bone, as a way to discuss, after rising up with such a lot of oddities within the Eighties and Nineties when Disney wasn’t afraid to take ingenious dangers in its theme parks. I in truth by no means concept I’d see any other new Walt Disney International enchantment this is so unabashedly eccentric.
That is completed in little tactics like Lari the Armadillo, a scene stealer who (frankly) belongs in like a half-dozen extra spots. It comes via by the use of the collection of tales and vignettes within the queue, and at the trip itself. Even the lovable critters forming the bands additional this oddball high quality with persona designs which can be as distinctive and distinct as they’re cute.
However nowhere is it extra obtrusive than the scene I’ll dub the Mushroom Cavern. Right here you’re shrunken to the dimensions of a firefly (itself an overly bizarre tale resolution!) and are surrounded through towering mushrooms and gigantic frogs on each side of the log. One among my favourite ‘moments’ from my preview ride-throughs used to be getting caught in brief (too in brief) through an outsized Mondo the Frog enjoying bongos. It used to be an excellent 3 mins.
If this scene have been designed through Disney Legend Rolly Crump 5 many years in the past after consuming a few of what’s featured within the scene, trendy enthusiasts would nonetheless be consuming up its trippiness. It will be featured on Etsy blouse designs and fanfic and who is aware of what else. And through the years, I believe this may occasionally, too.
The entire Mushroom Cavern scene makes me respect that this can be a retrofit. I believe like so much could be other if this have been a recent construct, with that being an overly obtrusive omission as a “pointless” non-sequitur. That may be unlucky, as the entirety about this–from the menacing mushrooms to the zombie-like fireflies on parade to the large Mondo jamming out–is superb. As Stefon would say, this scene has all of it.
No longer everybody is going to Walt Disney International for some just right ole shaped weirdness, which is a large a part of why this kind of factor is a long way much less not unusual than it was. Oddball sights and leisure are polarizing, which no less than partly explains the strongly destructive and sure responses to Tiana’s Bayou Journey.
However I even have been across the block sufficient to understand how Walt Disney International enthusiasts function, and the quirkiness of Tiana’s Bayou Journey is exactly why it’s going to increase a passionate following through the years. I’m utterly assured in that, and say this with 100% simple task.
This has took place with such a lot of different sights, and frankly is why I’m happy I used to be lucky sufficient to write down this evaluate after my 6th trip somewhat than my first. (I think this shall be a arguable take, so bookmark this segment of the evaluate for five years from now.)
Turning to much less arguable subjects, the Audio Animatronics in Tiana’s Bayou Journey are superb. This makes use of Imagineering’s latest A-1000 Audio Animatronics era. Consequently, the core persona Audio Animatronics in Tiana’s Bayou Journey simply glance so improbable.
“Real looking” isn’t the suitable phrase, yet they’re mainly animated characters leaping out of the display screen and into the dimensional units of the enchantment. They’re shocking, completely melding outdated and new era to create one thing with wow-factor that may almost certainly stand the take a look at of time. Identical to the Audio Animatronics from vintage darkish rides nonetheless glance nice these days.
They’re a notable improve from the projected faces a l. a. Frozen Ever After at EPCOT and Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach. There used to be a time when the ones have been innovative era, yet they only haven’t elderly neatly. Against this, those A-1000s are superb. Their vary of movement and fluidity is next-level, which goes truly neatly in tandem with the track of the trip. It’s like they’re dancing.
For many who are questioning, those Audio Animatronics are each bit as just right as the ones within the world parks. Those AAs could be proper at house in Fable Springs at Tokyo DisneySea. Even if there’s no technical ‘wow-moment’ like in that Frozen trip, they’re no much less spectacular. That’s a part of why the 3 display screen scenes take you out of it–since the AAs are so just right at postponing disbelief and making you’re feeling such as you’re using via an animated movie.
No longer the entire Audio Animatronics are complex, which has change into a supply of grievance. And an overly out of place one, in the event you question me. From our Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Adventure evaluate: “Similarly as spectacular to me is the Audio Animatronics within the enchantment which can be extra fundamental and most effective have restricted vary (some are almost certainly extra as it should be categorized as figures somewhat than AAs).”
“This isn’t supposed to be backhanded reward. On the contrary, I believe that is sensible. It’s no longer grievance this is making the rounds in fan circles as it’s virtually imperceivable. Since there’s such a lot in each and every scene that grabs your consideration, you don’t notice some figures don’t seem to be complex–your mind blurs them at the side of the complex ones (it’s science, I assume).”
“A just right instance of this in movement–neatly, no longer truly–is Disco Yeti at Animal Kingdom. There are such a lot of visitors that also swear up and down that yeti took a swipe at them, yet he didn’t–it’s an phantasm. And talking of which, the yeti may be a just right instance of this within the first position, as a result of that Audio Animatronics used to be a colossal waste of cash for one thing that may most effective be observed for a fragment of a 2nd. In a park that has various issues and desires extra, the yeti must by no means be mounted. Budgets are finite and that’s a deficient use of each (down)money and time. Sorry no longer sorry.”
It’s the precise similar state of affairs with Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Perhaps it’s more uncomplicated to understand observing on YouTube, yet floating via–you realize, the way in which rides are in reality meant to be skilled–no longer as soon as did I understand AAs being too easy. On the contrary, the suitable form of figures gave the impression of they’re used on each instance. Or even on my 6th ride-through, I used to be nonetheless recognizing new main points within the finale.
Imagineering did a very good task of choosing the proper gear within the package, which extends to the use of a lot of sensible and screen-based results all the way through. We already famous the 3 spots the place monitors stick out, yet they’re applied previous on within the enchantment extremely neatly. The road blurs between the dimensional atmosphere and the display screen surroundings (or screenery, if you’ll).
In truth, there’s a large number of overlap between what Imagineering did with Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Adventure at Tokyo DisneySea and Tiana’s Bayou Journey within the U.S. parks. While the previous has been broadly (and rightly) lauded as a masterpiece, the latter has been in large part derided. In my opinion, no less than a few of that is unfair–particularly when it’s a surface-level comparability of era. I will be able to’t assist yet surprise how perceptions of American park enthusiasts would fluctuate if Tiana’s Bayou Journey have been the ‘forbidden fruit’ of Tokyo Disney Hotel.
In any case, the track. It’s remarkable. Between the enchantment’s soundtrack and the critter crews, I will be able to see why such a lot of enthusiasts of it are calling Tiana’s Bayou Journey a “just right vibes” enchantment. There doesn’t truly wish to be a plot or tale–it would simply be two-dozen Mondo the Frog AAs dotting the bayou paired with this track and it’d be a beautiful just right trip! (Wait a minute…I really like that concept.)
Tiana’s Bayou Journey options authentic preparations of songs from the Princess and the Frog movie and an authentic tune (“Particular Spice”) for the finale of the enchantment, and it’ll depart you feeling glad after using. I’d additionally upload that “Particular Spice” grows on you significantly after listening to it a couple of instances. So in the event you don’t “success out” with a logjam that delays sell off, you’ll however come to revel in it extra on next ride-throughs.
From just about the outset of the enchantment, you’re grooving at the side of the beat, swaying round along with your shoulders and such, or then again one may “dance” whilst sitting in a ship. (I will be able to’t dance whilst status up, so that you’re asking the incorrect particular person.) The trip finally ends up being a “just right vibe” because of the track, from begin to end. Even though different components of the enchantment don’t attach for your first ride-through, the track on my own will pull you again to Tiana’s Bayou Journey.
My total influence (or vibe, if you’ll) of Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a good one. It’s no longer a contemporary masterpiece neither is it flawless, yet I nonetheless adore it so much. It’s an overly a laugh and repeatable trip, with greater than sufficient highlights to outweigh the lowlights (or the literal low lighting fixtures). Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a best 15 enchantment in all of Walt Disney International for me. Most likely best 10.
So why such a lot time dedicated to flaws? As a result of I additionally take theme parks significantly–too significantly, through most sensible accounts. If you happen to don’t, I more or less surprise what’s the purpose of all this–what are we even doing right here? If we’re going to carry Walt Disney International in prime esteem, treating Imagineers as artists and sights as their medium, then it follows that reviewing theme park sights is a type of artwork grievance.
If you happen to most effective care about a laugh, that’s high quality. I am getting that.
I will be able to flip my mind off and feature a hoot with the Rapid and the Livid movies simply up to the following man. Fortunately, Tiana’s Bayou Journey is not anything like a Rapid and the Livid movie. From my viewpoint, it’s nearer to Most sensible Gun: Maverick or Venture: Inconceivable – Fallout if we’re making film comparisons. There are some plot holes which can be obvious upon scrutiny, yet you’re having such a lot a laugh alongside the way in which–merely playing the trip–that they are able to be neglected in the event you so want.
If you happen to’re most effective questioning, “will my youngsters like this?” you’ve almost certainly come to the incorrect evaluate…and also you certainly caught round approach too lengthy in the event you’ve learn thus far. To however resolution that query, youngsters will completely adore Tiana’s Bayou Journey. (As long as they aren’t fearful of the darkish.) It has lovely critters, catchy track, a ravishing out of doors segment with large perspectives of Magic Kingdom, nice trip cadence, drops, a huge frog enjoying the bongos and mushrooms the dimensions of a Stegosaurus. (Youngsters nowadays are nonetheless enthusiasts of big frogs and mushrooms, proper?)
In the end, in answering the titular query, I’d say that Tiana’s Bayou Journey is flawed-but-fantastic. It’s certainly no longer a ten/10 trip, and I haven’t any doubt that some enthusiasts will believe it a failure, particularly those that deliver sentimentality to the desk. And I am getting that. It’s tough no longer to take action in the event you’ve been via this mountain (sorry, salt dome) again and again ahead of. You’re virtually no doubt going to be creating a psychological comparability and noticing what’s modified–on occasion for the easier, on occasion the more severe.
We steadily commentary that ‘nostalgia is a helluva drug’ in relation to Walt Disney International and suppose that applies right here, too, as enthusiasts shall be more likely to fixate on what’s “lacking.” This is truthful, yet needless to say this must lower each tactics, and there’s so much in Tiana’s Bayou Journey that’s an unequivocal improve.
In all probability it’s conceivable that the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia make faults in fan-favorite sights more uncomplicated to forget, whilst it’s more uncomplicated to scrutinize new rides ahead of that attachment bureaucracy. And perhaps evaluations evolve through the years as our thoughts’s eyes glosses over the faults and savors the strengths and sentimentality.
Suffice to mention, I’m reasonably assured in pronouncing that your 6th trip on Tiana’s Bayou Journey shall be higher than your first. That can appear unreasonable–that an enchantment shouldn’t wish to be skilled a couple of instances to be totally loved. That it’s a weak spot since maximum visitors will most effective trip as soon as. However I’m no longer directing this phase at the general public, I’m directing it at enthusiasts who’ve already ridden this trip gadget again and again. You wish to trip a number of instances…most likely over a number of years.
Tiana’s Bayou Journey additionally advantages from being the uncommon blockbuster Disney enchantment that isn’t afraid to get bizarre and take ingenious dangers, all of which provides to the thrill and my non-public (favorable) emotions against the trip. In looking to rack my mind to think about the final enchantment of this caliber that did that, I stay coming again to 1…yet I already promised I wouldn’t point out it once more for the remainder of the evaluate. (It rhymes with mustache ploughman.) The secret’s that Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a ‘warts and all’ enchantment, yet one against which I believe time shall be very charitable.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited for Tiana’s Bayou Journey? If you happen to’ve skilled the reimagined trip (in particular person, no longer by the use of YouTube), what did you bring to mind it? Another Disney or Common rides to which you’d evaluate it? The place does TBA rank for you some of the Magic Kingdom Mountain Vary, and different fresh additions? Do you compromise or disagree with our evaluate? Any questions we will mean you can resolution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas under within the feedback!
