Splash Mountain has been closed at Magic Kingdom for practically two months, and in that point development has began on reworking the attraction into Tiana’s Bayou Journey. This photograph replace encompasses a have a look at the progress up to now, affords an official replace from Walt Disney World, and our commentary concerning the timeline.
For starters, what’s occurring proper now might be higher categorized as demolition or destruction relatively than development. Any such modification is a essential prerequisite to ahead progress and precise development commencing, particularly in mild of how the facade of Tiana’s Bayou Journey received’t have the identical ‘mountainous’ profile as its predecessor.
Nonetheless, as with all issues concerning the Splash Mountain journey reimagining, it is a charged subject. Utilizing phrases like “demolition” or “destruction” in a headline feels a bit too ominous, clickbaity and inflammatory…even when correct. Suffice to say, that is the awkward portion of the transformation from Splash Mountain to Tiana’s Bayou Journey, setting the stage for the brand new attraction to take form.
Talking of which, Walt Disney World has indicated that we should always begin to see seen ahead progress beginning in Summer time 2023. That’s when the tiara-topped water tower emblazoned with the Tiana’s Meals brand will make its option to Magic Kingdom and be put in in entrance of the prevailing mountain.
In accordance with the corporate, the Tiana’s Bayou Journey undertaking group of Imagineers lately traveled to New Orleans to seize the essence of the Mardi Gras celebration–power, colours, rhythms of the music, and extra–to infuse into Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Right here’s a video:
My response to that video, to borrow the sensible phrases of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, “…what do you imply?! That’s so obscure!”
Then once more, that might describe so lots of the movies about Tiana’s Bayou Journey that Disney has launched up to now. To every their very own, however I’d love to listen to concerning the precise attraction reimagining. On a constructive observe, this video is the primary time that high quality footage of the day/evening idea loop from the D23 Expo has been shared on-line.
Above is a have a look at the mannequin of the tiara-topped Tiana’s Meals water tower that’ll be put in within the coming months, which was additionally shared again on the D23 Expo.
In case you missed it, right here’s the Tiana’s Bayou Journey Backstory About Tiana’s Meals. This has some followers involved, however I’m personally not certainly one of them. It seems like this might be principally relegated to the queue, setting the stage for the journey to come back. As with different queue backstories, it’s one thing most visitors will most likely miss.
What number of common visitors “get” that Cosmic Rewind takes place within the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion? That’s additionally ought to stage-setting to transition from EPCOT to the principle journey of that attraction, however paying cautious consideration to the galleries is completely pointless to understanding or having fun with the core of Cosmic Rewind.
That’s simply certainly one of many examples the place the queue rewards astute observers, however is pointless to the principle attraction expertise. I’m completely anticipating one thing comparable with Tiana’s Bayou Journey. However I digress.
Earlier than we get to the Tiana’s Bayou Journey development (or Splash Mountain destruction dun dun dun) pictures, I needed to share a fast replace on what I’ve been listening to about this undertaking. Within the final replace to our major Tiana’s Bayou Journey: The whole lot You Have to Know publish, I discussed {that a} single group of Imagineers is engaged on each the Walt Disney World and Disneyland variations of the attraction, and has prioritized the Florida incarnation.
To the perfect of my information, that’s the principle driver of delay in closing Splash Mountain at Disneyland. Park ops there would possibly’ve additionally needed the capability whereas Indiana Jones Journey and Toontown had been down, and people have since returned. Possibly that model of Splash Mountain will shut after spring break in mild of that. I actually don’t know.
Along with that, one other factor I’ve talked about (repeatedly) is that the “Late 2024” opening goal for Tiana’s Bayou Journey is extremely aggressive, and that I wouldn’t be in the least shocked if the precise opening date slips into 2025.
I’ve since acquired pushback, for lack of a greater time period, on this. Supposedly, the timeline is sensible and matches the aggressive tempo of the undertaking and assets being allotted to it. As long as set up and modifications go easily, the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Journey ought to simply make its goal 2024 date.
Or so I’m advised.
To be truthful, Imagineering has achieved spectacular turnaround instances on previous initiatives of considerably comparable nature. As we’ve talked about earlier than, Frozen Ever After and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout are the large current ones. With that stated, the transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Journey has a degree of ambitiousness and complexity above these. It’s additionally an outdated attraction with loads that must be accomplished, and assuming that’ll go easily is kind of daring and presumptuous, in my view.
Suffice to say, I stay skeptical that Tiana’s Bayou Journey goes to open in 2024. Nonetheless, I needed to make clear that that is my opinion and hypothesis, relatively than a reputable rumor. Maybe I’m a bit overly cynical on account of current initiatives and their torpid paces, however a lot of that was deliberate.
In any case, the precise rumor is that Tiana’s Bayou Journey will open in 2024. Which, I suppose, isn’t actually a rumor in any respect since that’s what Disney is publicizing, too. As long as the corporate places 2024 in every replace on the attraction’s progress, there’s (persevering with) inside confidence that they’ll meet it. If or when the date is quietly dropped, that will be a crimson flag that the undertaking is delayed. Even with all of that stated, I’m nonetheless skeptical.
On that observe, let’s flip to some new development/destruction pictures of Tiana’s Bayou Journey/Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom…
To the purpose about this undertaking having an aggressive timeline however assets to match, above is lively work I noticed throughout the newest Prolonged Night Hours at Magic Kingdom. These nighttime pictures had been all taken after midnight.
There have been at the very least a dozen employees within the flume, and people had been simply those seen to me–many of the attraction is hid by partitions or the mountain itself. However, the positioning was very a lot lively.
Shortly operating by way of different updates, I additionally noticed that the Splash Mountain attraction marquee has now been eliminated.
That was the final signal (actually and figuratively) of Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom. The whole lot else was already gone.
Adjoining to the flume, there are a few spots the place the rockwork has been lower into, revealing the metal infrastructure of the mountain behind it.
It’s unclear why that is occurring. One risk is that the development group must entry what’s behind the rockwork. One other is that the plan is to reshape parts of the mountain to provide it a unique look.
My cash can be on the latter rationalization, particularly on the prime of the mountain. Primarily based on the idea artwork, we already know that is being rounded as much as decrease the mountainous look of Chick-a-Pin Hill.
As we’ve seen whereas watching Moana’s Journey of Water take form from the monorail, rockwork is now prefabricated in sections and will be put in fairly rapidly as soon as on website. So it’s solely potential that extra of the mountain might be torn aside and fairly rapidly changed with new sections to provide the facade a unique look.
Through the course of consecutive days and nights in Magic Kingdom, I noticed an elevated quantity of scaffolding put in within the flume and across the facade of the mountain. I’d count on extra of the rockwork to be eliminated within the coming weeks, revealing the metal body beneath. That’s an particularly secure wager on the prime of Chick-a-Pin Hill.
In the event you’re in Magic Kingdom, I’d advocate taking a couple of minutes to observe the work from the bridges in Frontierland; there’s numerous exercise occurring. Might be a very good signal for Tiana’s Bayou Journey opening in 2024!
Earlier than we provide some concluding ideas, listed below are a ton extra new development pictures of Tiana’s Bayou Journey:
Finally, it’s heartening to see a lot exercise outdoors the outside of the previous Splash Mountain and future Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Whereas so many assets dedicated to the skin is nice, what’s occurring inside is what actually issues. Clearly, we can not see that, however my hope is that the inside crew is exponentially bigger, with an enormous group working to remodel the attraction in a radical and significant approach.
As I’ve stated earlier than, I hope Disney is dumping a ton of assets and a wholesome finances into Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Even in case you had been vehemently against this reimagining, what’s accomplished is completed. The most effective everybody can–and will–hope for now’s that the tip result’s an attraction that can exceed expectations and reside as much as the legacy of its predecessor. Each Splash Mountain and Princess and the Frog deserve as a lot, and Tiana’s Bayou Journey being a superb attraction with elaborate themed design, particulars, present scenes, and spectacular results is the perfect end result for all.
Personally, I actually hope Disney shares one thing quickly to strengthen precisely that–and instill followers with a way of optimism and pleasure about this transformation. Regardless of Disney providing numerous updates on the course of of the attraction’s improvement, they’ve stated little or no of substance. I’m prepared to listen to concerning the tech, see idea artwork of present scenes, footage of Audio Animatronics. One thing, something providing reassurance that Tiana’s Bayou Journey goes to be high-quality and enjoyable.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the Tiana’s Bayou Journey development or Splash Mountain destruction? What modifications to the outside are you anticipating to see take form within the coming months? Expectations concerning the Splash Mountain reimagining timeline? Agree or disagree with our assessments about this undertaking or its development? Preserve the feedback civil, as this isn’t the place for politically-charged arguing, tradition wars, antagonism, private assaults, or low cost pictures.