Typically it’s a particular spice that may make the magic in a recipe. Different instances, two completely different cooks can take the identical elements and produce dramatically completely different dishes. The latter is the story of Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Walt Disney World versus Disneyland.
Walt Disney World followers in all probability get sick of how Disneyland has the superior model of assorted rides, from Pirates of the Caribbean to Area Mountain. Most not too long ago, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway noticed a pleasant plussing when added to Toontown, to the purpose that it’s additionally the superior model of the new-ish attraction.
Though Tiana’s Bayou Journey is basically a coast-to-coast clone in most significant senses of the phrase, the incarnation in Bayou Nation now joins this seemingly ever-growing record of rides the place Disneyland is dwelling to the definitive model. This attraction takes principally the identical core elements, however produces a a lot better consequence. Just like the distinction between Chef Remy from Ratatouille cooking with the identical elements as Chef Mickey or some random rat.
Earlier than we get going, I wish to begin by acknowledging our Tiana’s Bayou Journey Trip Evaluation: Failure, Flawed or Unbelievable? My aim is for this put up about Tiana’s Bayou Journey to be lower than half that size, so I’m not going to fixate on something that’s unchanged. For higher or worse, that features the next:
- Music – All songs are the identical
- Audio Animatronics – There are the identical high quality and amount of AAs in each; staging is completely different in some instances
- Story – The plot is identical, as are the storytelling conceits
- Vibe – Nonetheless a suspense-free, joyous celebration
- Weirdness – The Mushroom Cavern makes a reprise, as do Lari and Mondo (fortunately)
In case your reward or complaints about Tiana’s Bayou Journey hinged round any of the foregoing, this assessment isn’t for you. These fundamentals are kind of unchanged, so the diploma to which you like or hate the clone of Tiana’s Bayou Journey is barely going to shift a bit on the margins.
However these of you who–and I’m not pointing any fingers–may’ve spent just a few thousand phrases nitpicking different issues about Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Magic Kingdom are in luck. There are a bunch of different little ‘recipe substitutions’ that truly make an enormous distinction. (It’s kind of like when Sarah switches out the butter and sugar in a dessert she’s making and tells me it’ll style “virtually the identical.” Certain factor, virtually.)
Let’s begin with one of many greatest variations, which is the single-file seating at Disneyland. This has not modified throughout the reimagining from Splash Mountain to Tiana’s Bayou Journey. As was the case in Florida, the monitor structure and trip profile stay the identical. If you happen to have been accustomed to the flume trip earlier than, it’s nonetheless the identical thought–simply new music to listen to and completely different cute animals (and now folks) to see alongside the best way.
It’s however essential to underscore this, as a result of the basic nature of this attraction is a bit completely different between Walt Disney World and Disneyland. I’d argue that the Magic Kingdom model is generally a standard darkish trip with just a few drops in between and an enormous drop on the finish. The present scenes are the cake, the drops are the icing.
As a veritable tidal wave crashed into our log and completely drenched the visitor within the entrance row on Tiana’s Bayou Journey, I used to be reminded of why I did Splash Mountain a lot much less at Disneyland. Right here, the drops and characters are each cake–or on extra equal footing. This was and could be very a lot an old-fashioned water trip–a kind of, “you will get moist, you could get soaked” kinda offers. Even behind the boats, each Sarah and I went dwelling with soaked sneakers and moist butts.
I’m undecided whether or not this framing is essential to you. Even for me, the excellence issues solely somewhat bit. This attraction is just not like Kali River Rapids or Grizzly River Run–the present scenes nonetheless have been and are the primary emphasis. Anybody suggesting that themed design doesn’t matter and solely trip profile does (normally as a facile technique of “defending” this reimagining) ought to contemplate changing into followers of Six Flags as an alternative of Disney. However I digress.
Backtracking a bit, there are variations all through the respective queues.
Once more, that is an occasion of nothing structurally altering within the conversion from Splash Mountain to Tiana’s Bayou Journey. That means that the bodily queue is nearly totally the identical when it comes to structure, there’s just a few stuff that has been added.
There’s so much for visitors to find within the queue, which primarily revolves round Tiana’s Meals, an employee-owned cooperative that (kind of) explains the outside parts of the attraction. Combining her abilities with these of the area people, Tiana has remodeled an growing older salt mine and constructed a beloved model.
Most of the main props and visuals within the respective queues are the identical. There are newspaper clippings, accolades, historic images of Tiana, and that sort of factor. There most essential factor is Tiana’s kitchen, which does a little bit of storytelling that units the stage of the attraction. There’s truly a whole lot of element and worldbuilding within the queue, a few of which is even integral if you wish to perceive the convoluted story.
Not like the final huge cloned attraction between the 2 coasts, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, there aren’t any enhancements for the queue at Disneyland. On the contrary, the queue within the Walt Disney World model is the higher of the 2. I don’t assume it’s even debatable. There may be rather more outside queue at Walt Disney World, and it’s lovely. I additionally assume the indoor queue is healthier at Walt Disney World, with just a few sections which are longer.
The one benefit, and it’s not likely pertinent from a assessment perspective (however is essential to me from a strategic one, and to a big chunk of Disneyland’s key demo) is that Tiana’s Bayou Journey nonetheless has a Single Rider line. Phew.
Let’s transfer alongside to the substance of the attraction itself. The largest complaints we had about Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Magic Kingdom have been pacing and lifeless house. Neither of those points actually exist within the Disneyland model. Not like the Florida authentic, you’re not floating in the direction of Audio Animatronics, ready for them to reach, with out a lot on the perimeters of the log alongside the best way.
The flume for Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Disneyland is “quicker” and winds round extra. You’re coming across the bend, seeing the reveal of an Audio Animatronics determine (or cluster of them) after which your eye is nearly instantly guided to the following scene. Because the logs zoom by, your eye is pulled by from one scene to the following. The pacing is acceptable and works nicely for the attraction!
The bends themselves additionally assist, because the Audio Animatronics in Tiana’s Bayou Journey are staged not in flat spots you float in the direction of after which previous, however at factors the place the logs float round them. Because of this, regardless that the logs are dashing by the opening acts, you’re pivoting round main present scenes that comprise a number of animal AAs for a 180-degree (or thereabouts) view of them.
The one exception to this, appropriately sufficient, is the finale. Disneyland’s logs transfer a lot slower previous (spoiler alert) the Mardi Gras celebration at Tiana’s home, permitting visitors extra time to savor this extremely jam-packed scene. This can be a enormous win–I’ve completed the Magic Kingdom model over a dozen instances, and I’m nonetheless recognizing new issues. Plus, extra time to take pleasure in “Particular Spice” is a win in my guide.
Certainly one of my nitpicks with the Florida model is that, even there’s a lot vacancy, the animals are crammed collectively to the purpose that you just don’t at all times get a clear view of among the ones within the again. That is positively much less of a difficulty at Disneyland given the best way you float across the scenes.
If something, I’d say you’re nonetheless left wanting extra due to the velocity with which the logs float by the scenes, however that’s a greater “drawback” to have, and never a design shortcoming. I do assume among the animals may’ve been angled higher or had devices chosen extra thoughtfully, although.
As soon as once more, the character design on all of those little fellas is improbable. It’s good to maneuver round them and get higher angles (in some instances) on the emotive animals. Given their considerate designs, I additionally (nonetheless) want extra have been completed to develop the critters. Appears apart, they’re kinda one-note.
It’s the very same critter bands which are jam-packed with cute animals, albeit some shuffled round–Tiana and Louis are by bears as an alternative of bobcats in a single spot, for instance. The perfect instance of that is that there’s a scene with Tiana sitting on the identical log that Louis is caught in, which is separated and unfold out at Walt Disney World (in all probability to fill house!). This condensed model at Disneyland is barely higher as a result of it turns into a cute gag.
I’d nonetheless prefer to see extra particulars and world-building, a la Splash Mountain, however I don’t have a difficulty with lifeless house or staging, per se. There’s positively lower than what was right here earlier than, however Splash Mountain was jam-packed with Audio Animatronics and surroundings. It was in rarified firm, even by old fashioned requirements.
Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Disneyland is as densely-staged Disneyland attraction as we’ve seen since then, assembly even fashionable classics like Indiana Jones Journey or Radiator Springs Racers. (This isn’t to say it’s nearly as good as both of these, general; simply that it’s as considerate and detailed.)
Lighting ranges have been improved in some scenes of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, however ought to nonetheless be raised throughout the board. Depart the darkish and ominous vibes that mansion subsequent door. I understand that it’s a bayou at night time, however it may simply as simply be a bayou at nightfall. And actually, the screens with the fireflies do mirror this.
I’m actually stunned by this, as Imagineering’s latest marquee sights at Tokyo Disney Resort are arguably over illuminated. I’ve assumed this was to satisfy fashionable audiences the place they’re, enabling present digicam telephones to simply seize images and video for sharing on social media. For no matter motive, Tiana’s Bayou Journey goes the precise other way and is virtually hostile in the direction of pictures.
Whereas I query the knowledge in dim lighting, I can settle for it as a inventive resolution. I’m much less forgiving of present lighting that’s uneven in lots of locations. Some scenes and AAs have actually unhealthy shade casts for no discernible motive–it’s gotta be a mistake. That is particularly notable within the finale, the place a number of characters have exhausting shadows on their faces. I’d hope that is corrected throughout Forged and Passholder previews, because it’s an apparent situation.
There are additionally firefly results all through Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Disneyland, achieved by way of each sensible results and multimedia, that really feel like a modern-day opening act to Pirates of the Caribbean. A few of these are in numerous areas than at Walt Disney World, and the primary and final are extra ‘consequential’ as they command your consideration as you enter and put together to exit the present scene portion.
I want to assume the juxtaposition–with small vs. huge–fireflies makes the story a bit simpler to establish, however actually, I’m undecided. I’ve completed this trip a dozen-plus instances at this level, so I’m not precisely coming in chilly off the road.
Talking of story, my take is that it’s barely extra understandable now.
This isn’t a new-for-Disneyland change, however extra a tweak that’s been made since opening at Walt Disney World. The audio ranges have been adjusted and dialogue is extra clear–for all I do know, new traces have even been added, as there are issues I couldn’t hear throughout my preview rides at Walt Disney World that are actually audible in Florida and at Disneyland.
As with the Magic Kingdom model, Tiana’s Bayou Journey directly has an excessive amount of story and never sufficient story. The backstory is overly plentiful and contrived, whereas the plot is threadbare and dialogue is nearly nonsensical. Paradoxically, it appears like there have been too many cooks within the kitchen all with competing visions for TBA, and as an alternative of selecting one, they threw all of the elements into the pot.
At its core, the story is easy: there’s a Mardi Gras celebration at Tiana’s home, and he or she must discover a band for the celebration. The issue is that the decision is nearly speedy, so a part of the grievance about there being no rigidity is definitely that there aren’t any narrative stakes. The story is over within the first act, except for the “getting there” half. However then that’s resolved by way of the drop, with out a lot significant clarification as to why.
Some proponents of Tiana’s Bayou Journey have chosen at hand wave this all away by claiming it’s a cocktail celebration attraction (it isn’t) or is simply concerning the ambiance than the story. Ultimately, I suppose they’re proper–by default–as a result of the story itself is superfluous. Tiana’s Bayou Journey has a whole lot of plot, however it finally ends up being concerning the vibes. Once more, that is extra forgivable with the Disneyland model as a result of the logs zoom by the primary and second acts, anyway.
Or, as Sarah put it in her two phrase assessment once I requested her what she thought: “it’s cute.” (No, she didn’t elaborate.) She’s proper. Tiana’s Bayou Journey is cute and the vibes are good.
Finally, my speedy response after driving Tiana’s Bayou Journey in California was principally: “Nicely, that is smart–they designed the trip reimagining for Disneyland after which shoehorned it into Magic Kingdom.” I’m not saying with certainty that that is true, however I don’t know the way it may probably be unfaithful.
This may sound like intelligent perception on my half, however provided that you haven’t skilled each variations of Tiana’s Bayou Journey. After getting, I don’t understand how you can probably not assume this. It’s evident within the clusters of Audio Animatronics and staging. It’s virtually stunning what colossal variations the condescended present scenes, variations in flume structure, and ‘quicker’ logs make.
The runtime of Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Disneyland isn’t that a lot shorter, however it’s wonderful how completely different this feels. Lifeless house and pacing are two of my greatest criticisms with the Magic Kingdom model, and so they’re complete non-issues right here. Certain, I’d like extra–I’d at all times like extra–given the element of Splash Mountain.
Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Disneyland doesn’t really feel missing by the requirements of contemporary sights. The present scenes are meaty, and it’s going to have a whole lot of re-ridability as a result of there’s a lot visitors will miss on their first float by the bayou.
There’s additionally the truth that Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a greater match within the grander context of Disneyland. The attraction is on the outskirts of New Orleans Sq., nestled into the renamed Bayou Nation (beforehand Critter Nation). It’s nonetheless extra critters than it’s bayou, however I may see why Disney would wish to keep away from referring to a land headlined by Princess Tiana as Critter Nation.
Whatever the land’s identify, the position of Tiana’s Bayou Journey makes rather more sense at Disneyland. In just a few years, and even immediately to a visitor visiting Disneyland for the primary time, it’ll match like a glove–like Tiana’s Bayou Journey bridges the hole between the city New Orleans Sq. and the rugid Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
It’s actually like Tiana’s Bayou Journey began as a reimagining solely for Disneyland, after which somebody determined final minute to make kind of the identical overlay for Walt Disney World. That’s unlucky for the ‘be honest to Florida’ crowd, as a result of it’s now clearer than ever that Magic Kingdom ought to’ve gotten its personal, distinctive attraction. The clone simply doesn’t work practically as nicely there.
My conclusion concerning the Magic Kingdom model was that Tiana’s Bayou Journey is flawed-but-fantastic. The Walt Disney World model is just not a ten/10 trip, however it’s nonetheless superb. With essentially the most obvious flaws fastened within the Disneyland model, it’s virtually there.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the Disneyland model of Tiana’s Bayou Journey? Stunned that the California model is healthier? Ought to Disney ‘be honest to Florida’ and plus the reimagined trip there throughout a future winter refurbishment? Are you excited for Tiana’s Bayou Journey? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
