Disney drops more details on Tiana's Bayou Adventure

I still think that if WDI fails to incorporate Dr. Facillier into the rethemed attraction, they should be charged with criminal negligence. His absence from the poster is extremely concerning, but my hope is that they're keeping him under wraps so that his appearance is more powerful.

Every "adventure" has some peril, so unless Imagineers have come up with some other foil for this new story, I have a difficult time envisioning the plot meshing with the ride's layout.

He's not in the ride, Russell. I'm told there are concerns about the voodoo material aging poorly and putting Disney in a spot similar to the one they were in with Splash Mountain. It really does appear there will be no conflict on the ride and the drops will just be glossed over.

@evanweston - So if they're concerned that the voodoo material will age poorly, then why did they choose this IP in the first place? If that's the case, they're going to end up in the same situation they were in with Splash Mountain with an attraction based on a movie that has "uncomfortable" scenes and material that will get relegated to the vault.

Frankly, nothing is bulletproof in these days of overreaction and over-analysis of everything in the public consciousness, but omitting critical characters from the original source material puts Disney in the same spot they were with Song of the South whether they're on the actual ride or not. The use of this IP on the attraction will spur interest in the movie, and encourage guests to watch PatF, just like some were interested in watching Song of the South (the difference being finding a copy of SotS is/was virtually impossible). That's going to expose fans to those voodoo scenes (straight off Disney+ if they choose) even if they're not included on the attraction.

I’m losing so much hope for there being an “Are you ready” chant during the climb :(

Totally with you, Russell. I really want this ride to be great (Splash Mountain was the best ride at MK by far and the gap it has left in the park's lineup is massive, this needs to be a hit) but virtually everything about the build to it has been disappointing. I will approach it with an open mind and hope it surprises me but the lack of stakes and weird "Tiana participates in capitalism" backstory are not doing it any favors.

there doesn't need to be peril in this attraction for it to be enjoyable. we gotta move on from this.

What if the tide turns out to awesome? What should we do?

So lets see, we've got Tiana, Louis, Mama Odie, and a bunch of repurposed Splash Mountain characters not from the movie. No Prince Naveen, Dr. Facilier, or Lottie anywhere in sight. The poster also looks very much like a character-centric experience, which is a bizarre direction to go for what is unquestionably a fairly thrilling ride by Disney standards. It's certainly a very strange mash-up in my mind and not what I'd expect from a Princess and the Frog attraction, so it's going to be interesting to see how it works with the public.

Photos of the attraction seem to show that the tree lanterns present in Mama Odie’s abode are hanging from the top of the drop tunnel. So maybe if there is in fact any hint of a voodoo or mystic aspect it will be celebratory rather than ominous? I too remain curious as to how this story will play out. But I honestly think the return of the actual attraction itself will be a great success and still remain a highly in-demand ride.

I have seen... things, and will have some answers for you on Thursday morning. Stay tuned.

That said, Rara is explicitly voodoo, isn't it? So there's that. I think the issue more is the timing of the attraction following the events of TPATF.

Disney fans will hate it and consume themselves with seething anger in online forums. The general public will adore it and it will be a massive hit for years and maybe decades to come.

Plus ca change......

@David: pretty much spot on. I think that the blessing and the curse, if you will, of being a Disney fan for a lot of people is that they cherish the memories and feelings they have of their “peak” visiting experiences so much that they are very loathe to see any changes that might interfere with or alter their perception of those beloved visits. Such is the success of Disney’s placemaking. It taps into an emotional nerve for many. It’s also why many who visit for the first time as adults don’t have that same connection to it as those who were able to visit frequently or even seldomly as children. And to be clear, I’m not even talking about the whole Genie+ thing or the bastardization of the Fastpass system. I’m referring specifically to the removal, updating, or outright changing of attractions.
I actually complete understand where people are coming from when a lot of these criticisms are loudly asserted. I myself have been a “hey everyone! bring your torches and pitchforks!” kind of guy too when a beloved attraction has closed (pours one out for the WDW Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride). But I also think about the newer, younger guests who are just beginning their own journeys with the parks and how the placemaking for them and emotional connection to the rides or shows will be completely different than mine. It’s for this reason that I think that this new iteration will be a home run with the general public. The IP attached to it might not be as beloved as many of the Animation Renaissance features were / are for example, but the fact that kids can go home, or back to their hotel room, or to their tablet and watch The Princess and the Frog after riding is a huge boon for the IP. Just because some deem it a “lesser” IP doesn’t mean that all will, and it’s certainly not uncommon for “unpopular” or “unsuccessful” movies to gain a new life and popularity of their own once they are rediscovered on streaming services.
As for the story of the rise itself, who’s to say there will be no conflict present in the storyline? A lot of the criticisms levied at the ride’s premise are making very broad assumptions. So yeah, to your point: i agree 100%. A lot of vocal online critics, bloggers and trolls have already announced their verdict on something they haven’t even ridden. Because negativity is a warm burn barrel that is hard to ignore and easy to hover around. But the rest won’t be in the cold wind of doom and gloom and will be happy to hop into a log, see some cute singin’ critters and charming animatronics, have a couple thrills and maybe, just maybe, get a little soaked along the way.

I remember a great post at another blog years back: Many Disney fans want the parks to be like the rose in the Beast's castle, forever kept under glass...forgetting the point is that the rose keeps wilting away all the while."

I miss the classic Epcot rides of the 1980s but I recognize the slow tram rides probably won't appeal to today. It's the nature of the business and time itself, tastes change and Disney has to adapt too.

And again, if the Internet as we know it existed in the 1980s/early '90s, I know scores of early bad reactions to rides we love. It's just amplified in the pre-judging now.

I heard the final scene leaked, and lots of robots ; the exterior looks like a cross between a broccoli ?? clump and bad Xmas decorations with authentic muddy water ! Open June