Following our nighttime look at the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure glowing lighting package, it’s time to return for a daytime look at some of the recent changes. We have quite a few to go over from a couple of our recent visits to Magic Kingdom. Let’s dive right in!
UNCOVERED: Lari the Armadillo
We first spotted Lari the Armadillo earlier this month, but he had a black bag over his head at the time. Recently, the bag has been removed, and we have our first full look at Lari! Lari can be found after the splashdown u-turn, as guests head back toward the finale scene. Of course, we might see Lari at other points throughout the attraction. Here’s how Disney describes Lari, followed by our look at Lari from the Frontierland bridge.
This mischievous fella, while quiet in demeanor, seems to always show up where you least expect him to. I hear he has a habit of “borrowing” things that aren’t his (although those things eventually make it into the right “paws”).
Lightning Lane Merge Changes
Perhaps the most notable change was something that we spotted during today’s visit. Thanks to an open door, we were able to see into the interior portion of the queue a bit, and we think that there are some interesting changes to Lightning Lane operations versus when the attraction was operating as Splash Mountain.
Included in this portion of the update includes our first look at the finished staircase that was built specifically for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. We’re still not 100% sure what purpose this staircase will serve, but it does connect to the queue at the top. You might remember that this area was open when the attraction was Splash Mountain and you could see the Walt Disney World Railroad pass by. As you can see below, it has been enclosed and doors have been installed.
As exciting as new staircases can be, it’s time to get out the zoom lens and get a closer look at what’s going on inside. There are two things to note here. First, we can see a wood panel wall with a natural brown finish to it. This is important and we’ll circle around to it in a few, but let’s get a closer look at what’s under wraps.
Beyond the Tiana’s Foods logo (which you’ll see a TON of in the queue), we can see what looks like a merge panel. Essentially, we have a themed standing desk of sorts, with a computer feeding information to a Cast Member who would be standing at the panel. This suggests that Lightning Lane and standby queues will merge much earlier in the queue than they did with Splash Mountain.
As you may remember, this specific portion of the queue is where the barn transitions from the barn to the tunnel as guests get closer to the load area. The photo below shows the area from when the attraction operated as Splash Mountain (from our Splash Mountain farewell article). If the merge has changed as we think it has, this area would no longer be a two-lane hallway, but rather a single already-merged line.
We haven’t forgotten about the wall color we mentioned earlier, and we hope you haven’t either. As we changed our viewing angle, the wall color changed. More correctly, a wall appeared. This wall is yellow and green, and we speculate that it separates the standby queue and the Lightning Lane queue. The merge panel sits right in the middle of the wall, suggesting a perfect spot for a Cast Member to merge Lightning Lane riders with standby riders and then send them down the hallway pictured above as a single line.
As you may remember, the Splash Mountain merge took place just steps before loading into the ride. There’s always a balance in trying to provide a skip-the-line experience and allowing guests to see important or well-themed portions of the standby queue. Rides like Avatar Flight of Passage and Peter Pan’s Flight have Lightning Lane queues that skip some really cool portions of the standby queue. One thing that Splash Mountain did well, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will presumably do as well, is allow guests with more money to experience much of the same elements that guests with more time will experience.
Standby & Lightning Lane Digital Signs
Speaking of Lightning Lane, when we visited earlier this month, what appears to be the standby and Lightning Lane digital signage area was uncovered, giving us a sneak peek at what to expect when the attraction opens. As you can see in our photos below, two rectangular sections can be seen in the metal frame that sits where we think the attraction entrance will be. Here’s a closer look!
Queue Theming
Work is continuing on the outdoor portion of the queue, with many of the finishing touches going into place such as old-timey radio speakers, lights, and more theming. Here’s a look around at the latest changes.
When we visited, workers were installing the old-timey radio speakers throughout the queue. When it opens, the speakers in the queue will play an old-timey radio show featuring reimagined music from New Orleans. Disney has said that Leah Chase Jr., will cover the Louis Armstrong song, “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?” as part of the radio show loop. Lights have also been installed throughout the queue.
More props have also arrived, such as Tiana’s Foods crates and additional garden theming.
Mossed: Critter Co-Op
Instead of adding theming and foliage to the red clay left over from the days of Splash Mountain, Disney World has opted for a rather light retheming of the Critter Co-Op exterior. A little bit of moss has been added here and there. Of course, the real fun is the theming in the window displays.
Miscellaneous
Some other odds and ends include the installation of the banner that welcomes guests to the Mardi Gras celebration on the lift hill next to the big drop. This banner was installed and then removed recently. Now, it looks to be permanently installed as finishing touches to the exterior of the facade continue.
There is still quite a bit of work taking place on the exterior of the facade, including some more faux greenery going in. That said, more and more scaffolding continues to be removed around the ride as Disney prepares for Cast Member previews in about a month (or a little longer).
For a full look at everything we know about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, check out our article below!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Thanks for sharing all the photos, really have been enjoying your coverage of ride construction.
I think it’s clever that the figure of Lari has their eyes sculpted concave so they will always be watching us. I suspect the frogs on a log will also have eyes like this, as well as some of the interior ones like in the photo Disney provided.