As a part of the transformation of Splash Mountain into the brand new Tiana’s Bayou Journey experience, Disney has introduced that two reimagined retail shops impressed by The Princess and the Frog are additionally coming to Disneyland. This covers dates & particulars, shares idea artwork, and provides an replace on building progress for the upcoming attraction.
Let’s begin with the announcement from Disney: The reimagined merchandise places coming to Critter Nation in Disneyland will embrace Ray’s Berets and Louis’ Critter Membership. Their tales will additional immerse you into Princess Tiana’s story, together with the opening of the attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Journey, later this yr.
The primary location, Ray’s Berets (at present The Briar Patch), would be the greatest place for company to buy headwear, attire, equipment, toys and extra with firefly Raymond and his firefly kin within the coziest cabin in Critter Nation. You’re positive to gentle up whenever you see how these bayou bugs have made this residence their very own.
Touring additional into the land, you’ll come throughout Louis’ Critter Membership (at present the left-hand aspect of Pooh Nook) the place the chums of Tiana’s Bayou Journey name this native sizzling spot their residence away from residence. Louis’ Critter Membership is the place to go for attire, equipment, residence decor and extra that includes a few of your favourite critters and Princess Tiana.
The treats aspect of Pooh Nook will stay as a vacation spot for must-have merchandise from Hundred Acre Wooden, together with beloved candy treats like Tigger tails.
To make approach for these thrilling enhancements to the land, Critter Nation will quickly shut starting Might 1, 2024. Disneyland additionally notes that the corporate is continuous to spend money on the advance of general pathways and surrounding areas to assist present an awesome visitor expertise when Tiana’s Bayou Journey opens.
Imagineering and building groups are at present working laborious to deliver Tiana’s Bayou Journey to life on each coasts. Final month throughout Mardi Gras, Disney introduced that the Magic Kingdom model of the attraction will open forward of schedule, in Summer season 2024. No such opening timeline has been supplied in regards to the Disneyland incarnation of the attraction.
In case you’re unfamiliar with it, Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a reimagining of Splash Mountain. The brand new-look attraction will use the very same experience system and stay a log flume with an out of doors part, inside present scenes that includes Audio Animatronics critters, and several other smaller drops culminating in a single massive drop. Similar concept, totally different story and substance.
Tiana’s Bayou Journey will choose up the story of The Princess and the Frog after the ultimate kiss, becoming a member of Tiana and Louis on a musical journey as they put together for his or her first-ever Mardi Gras efficiency. Throughout this celebration, company will hear authentic music impressed by songs from the movie. Tiana is main the best way and company will be capable to encounter outdated pals and make new pals alongside the best way as nicely.
The redone experience may also function authentic music and acquainted tunes from the beloved film, plus a colourful mural adorning the queue, and extra. All of that is along with the already open Tiana’s Palace (greatest counter service restaurant at Disneyland) and Eudora’s Stylish Boutique that includes Tiana’s Gourmand Secrets and techniques in New Orleans Sq..
Turning to commentary, we have been simply at Disneyland yesterday. Not solely that, however our go to was disportionately devoted to Critter Nation. Not that you just care, however Megatron is a part of Pooh’s Posse and has outfits in her Winnie the Pooh wardrobe that quickly, one way or the other, is not going to match anymore. So we spent a few hours getting hours, sitting round, and simply watching Tigger. (She’s additionally an enormous fan of tigers/cats, and it was fairly mindblowing to see such a big one.)
Regardless of spending a lot time in Critter Nation, I didn’t handle to seize a single photograph of the development progress. A yr in the past, that will’ve been unfathomable and I’d should give up my Disney Blogger Card. My plan was to return when the lighting was higher, however you understand what they are saying, the very best laid plans of mice and males dad and mom usually go awry.
Anyway, a long-winded setup to share this cellphone photograph Sarah snapped whereas strolling previous the development:
In case you may’t inform from the photograph, the outside of Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Disneyland will not be almost as far alongside because the Walt Disney World model. Though I solely have one photograph to indicate for it, I spent plenty of time wanting on the building, and would hazard a guess in eyeballing it that the outside is an effective 3-4 months behind the Magic Kingdom model. (The subsequent few images are from 2 weeks in the past.)
This makes full sense. As you would possibly recall, Splash Mountain closed a number of months later at Disneyland than it did at Walt Disney World. I’ve heard subsequent to nothing about progress on this model, however there’s rather a lot happening throughout the mountain. It additionally our understanding that a number of present scene and staging variations are proving to make the reimagining “trickier” at Disneyland.
With that stated, we haven’t heard any credible rumors in regards to the Disneyland model since late final yr. My guess is that they’ll need it open by Thanksgiving, however I actually have no idea. I’d be actually stunned if it opens earlier than October. Southern California does will get chilly within the winter months (even yesterday throughout Spring Break crowds, we noticed Grizzly River Run with a 5 minute posted wait time within the afternoon), so having it executed sooner would undoubtedly be excellent, however there’s additionally in all probability not the identical sense of urgency.
Disney will need one model of the experience open earlier than it will get chilly to keep away from manufactured controversy in regards to the experience reimagining being a bust on account of low wait instances. (When in actuality, it’s regular seasonality of water rides.) That’ll be completed by opening the Magic Kingdom model in June. No matter occurs with the opening at Disneyland received’t be as massive of a deal–it’ll be outdated information.
As for the retailers remodeling, I feel that is sensible. Though I’m additionally guessing that ‘transformation’ is a little bit of a powerful time period for what’s going to occur with each places. I’d anticipate indicators to be swapped out and, within the case of Louis’ Critter Membership, a bit extra when it comes to set-dressing inside and outdoors the store. Neither are prone to be full-scale reimaginings–however that’s not likely vital. These Critter Nation retailers ‘work’ with the brand new IP and bayou setting simply as they did with the outdated.
What that is doubtless actually about is having “excuse” to shut Critter Nation for a number of months. With Haunted Mansion and Tiana’s Bayou Journey already down, there’s not an entire lot of purpose for company to move again this fashion, until they’re planning on consuming at Hungry Bear Restaurant or strolling the lengthy technique to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
My wager is that Disney is aiming to cut back foot visitors even additional, and can take the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh down for “refurbishment” throughout this time. Nonetheless, I’d wager on Hungry Bear and the trail staying open. I feel Disneyland in all probability wants the eating capability they usually don’t wish to make this an entire lifeless finish, even when they do wish to additional cut back visitors. (All simply guesses–no affirmation as to what is going to keep open or shut.)
As soon as Fantasmic returns over Memorial Day weekend, issues are actually going to get attention-grabbing. After a yr of that being gone, there’s going to be pent-up demand for the nighttime spectacular. The present building zone round Haunted Mansion will (possibly, hopefully) have to shrink–with the partitions coming nearer to the queue and liberating up a little bit of house for Fantasmic viewing and queue staging.
From the angle of these crowds, it’s in all probability a plus that Fantasmic received’t be combating with common visitors into Critter Nation and past. Visitor circulation is already going to be a nightmare improbable even with out that exacerbating the state of affairs. Whereas Disneyland hasn’t shared the return dates for something, my wager is that Haunted Mansion Vacation and Critter Nation each reopen after summer time ends–for the beginning of Halloween season in late August, adopted by Tiana’s Bayou Journey a number of months after that. We will see, although–keep tuned!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site lodges in our Anaheim Resort Evaluations & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Evaluations. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and lots of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
What do you consider Disneyland closing Critter Nation to reimagine a few retailers to Princess and the Frog themes? Assume it is a good or dangerous transfer? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
