Big shoes to fill
I have a confession to make, friends.
I think there is a chance that people might be hyping up Tiana’s Bayou Adventure way too much. Sorry, don’t boo me! Okay, just hear me out, will you? I do think this is going to be a very cool ride. It already looks pretty cool from the outside, and Disney is promising some of the most advanced animatronics ever, awesome new songs and several new critters that will follow us in this journey.
My question is… is that enough?
Splash Mountain was a classic in Magic Kingdom, right up there with Space Mountain. It launched way back in 1992 and became an instant classic with families from all over the world. It had charming animatronics, a catchy song and a simple yet effective drop which wasn’t huge by any means, but it still managed to make us laugh. Controversies aside, it was a good reason to visit Magic Kingdom, and you could very well think that this attraction would exist forever, like E.T. in Universal Studios and Spaceship Earth in Epcot.
Are advanced animatronics enough?
Fast forward to 2023 and Splash Mountain is no more. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is taking its place and launching in only a few months, in summer 2024! It promises a fun adventure through New Orleans, advanced animatronics and the very same drop from Splash Mountain.
I don’t know, maybe part of me expected a little bit more. We still have no idea how the indoor part will look in Splash Mountain, but I do hope the songs are very good and that the animatronics really surprise us. Maybe Disney is betting it all on the dark ride portion of the attraction, which could very well work out in the end. It appears that the main drop will be the very same one from the original Splash Mountain, and even the track layout is the same. Of course, this makes it easier (and less expensive) to build a whole new attraction, but I do wish there were more gimmicks that went beyond just a new coat of painting and new animatronics.
For instance, Epic Universe is introducing a brand-new water ride integrated with a shooting gallery inside How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk. I'm not suggesting guests should wield laser guns to shoot critters alongside Tiana, but it would be intriguing to see something that surpasses the typical 'Splash Mountain 2.0' concept. While I understand the ride is designed to be kid-friendly, it doesn't mean we can't introduce new elements that extend beyond simply upgrading animatronics.
The wait and see game
Magic Kingdom will always be popular and packed with things to see. It is, after all, the most visited park in the whole world, and keeps this record going year after year. I always hope, however, for fun and exciting rides. Tron Lightcycle Run is definitely fun, but there is certainly some parts of it which are disappointing. Sure, the vehicle is nice and the launch is great, but it’s also a very short ride that doesn’t offer much in terms of originality.
Will the same happen with Tiana? The first few months will probably see very long queues and guests falling in love with this new ride, so we will only be able to see the impact of this new log flume ride after a whole year. I do wanna experience it as early as possible, and see if the animatronics are really that advanced and make a huge difference.
We will know soon enough. Only a few months until we can finally explore the bayou.
