Movies

What the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride means for Disneyland

BBG News

What the new Tiana's Bayou Adventure ride means for Disneyland

As a cinema enthusiast with a penchant for Disney classics, I must say that the unveiling of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride at Disneyland Resort is nothing short of enchanting. Growing up, I was captivated by the magic of Disney movies and their timeless stories, which have shaped my childhood memories and continue to resonate with me even today.

While moving along the line for the latest Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride, guests are warmly welcomed by a note penned on a blackboard from none other than the beloved princess herself.

“Don’t forget! Celebration at my house tonight! Everybody’s welcome!”

The same theme consistently appears in signage and music during the new ride, which has taken over from Splash Mountain at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. This ride is influenced by the 2009 movie “The Princess and the Frog”, where Disney’s initial Black princess is portrayed.

The journey symbolizes a fresh phase for the Walt Disney Company, as the Burbank-based media and amusement empire aims to boost investments in its profitable theme park division, defend against emerging competitors in this field, and convey a more welcoming and diverse image to visitors.

Josef Lemoine, senior story editor at Walt Disney Imagineering, shared that they aimed to instill a sense of unity for everyone exiting the ride. He explained, ‘The tale is essentially about bringing people together and discovering the often-overlooked individuals.’

The ride set to debut this Friday has taken a total of five years to create. Back in 2020, Disney announced their intention to eliminate any references to the racially insensitive 1946 film “Song of the South” from Splash Mountain, as part of the nationwide response sparked by the tragic death of George Floyd.

Company officials said work on the Tiana concept actually began in 2019.

Carmen Smith, Disney Imagineering’s senior vice president of inclusion strategies, stated that the world transformed following the events of George Floyd’s death and the COVID-19 pandemic. She explained that life often signals when it’s time for new ideas to emerge, and swiftly, the leadership team agreed and encouraged her to continue with her concept, saying ‘You’ve been developing this, it’s a solid idea. Let’s proceed with it.’

The tale moves forward from “The Princess and the Frog,” centering around a celebration that Tiana hosts for her loved ones, which takes place in the setting of New Orleans.

As a movie enthusiast who just experienced the thrill of “Disney’s Princess and the Frog”-themed attraction, let me share my journey. I embarked on an exciting expedition through the mystical bayou in quest of the ultimate band for an unforgettable performance, culminating in a heart-pounding 50-foot descent.

The revamped ride follows other changes to offensive tropes in Disney attractions.

2017 saw me applaud Disney for reworking their Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, transforming a female character who was being auctioned into a commanding pirate leader instead. More recently, in 2021, I’ve been impressed by their decision to eradicate stereotypical portrayals of native peoples from the Jungle Cruise ride, eliminating offensive scenes involving people waving spears.

In the upcoming summer season, Disney announced plans to revise Peter Pan’s Flight, an iconic amusement park attraction, by excluding a specific scene that depicted stereotypical Native American figures.

Kim Irvine, executive creative director at Disney Imagineering, mentioned that modifying the questionable aspects of the rides can be difficult, but they are tackling it carefully while ensuring the content remains current and engaging.

Incorporating well-known intellectual properties like “The Princess and the Frog” into a ride aligns with Disney’s strategic loop where their film and TV characters boost park attendance, merchandise sales, and so forth, according to Gavin Doyle, founder of MickeyVisit.com, a specialized trip-planning platform focusing on Disney and Universal theme parks.

Doyle, who’s also a small Disney shareholder, noted that having a well-known princess on the ride makes it more appealing compared to using lesser-known characters,” is one way to paraphrase the original sentence.

When initially released, the animated movie garnered generally favorable critic responses and managed to be a moderate hit at the box office, earning approximately $267 million globally.

Adjustments in the theme parks are integral to Disney’s business tactics, ensuring their primary source of earnings remains robust. This division, often referred to as ‘experiences,’ encompasses their theme parks, cruise line, exclusive travel packages, and merchandise. In this financial year alone, it accounted for almost 60% of the company’s operational profits.

Disney has pledged to allocate a total of $60 billion over the next decade towards their experiences division, emphasizing its significance for future success. At Disneyland Resort, this translates to at least $1.9 billion being injected into an enlarged area, which will include new attractions, shopping destinations, dining options, and entertainment choices.

It’s crucial for the company to pay close attention as Universal prepares to debut its Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, come May. Financial analysts are keeping a keen eye on Disney’s theme parks, eagerly waiting for Universal’s arrival.

Next year, Disney anticipates a growth of between 6% and 8% in their operating income for the experiences sector, despite the introduction of fresh competitors.

During a conference call on Thursday about the company’s financial results for its last quarter of the fiscal year, the Chief Financial Officer, Hugh Johnston, reported that advance bookings for the upcoming summer are showing “encouraging” signs and added that the opening of other theme parks and attractions in Florida have, in general, been “favorable” to their business.

As a passionate film aficionado, I can’t help but appreciate the strategic addition of attractions like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is also available in Orlando. This move undeniably strengthens Disney’s competitive edge, as it keeps them on par with industry trends, according to Andi Stein, a communications professor at Cal State Fullerton and author of a book delving into the intricacies of the Disney brand.

She noted that competition plays a significant role in the prosperity of theme parks, emphasizing the importance of always having the newest and most impressive rides before your rivals. Moreover, Disney aims to maintain its leading position within the theme park industry, not just in California, but also in Florida.

Read More

2024-11-15 14:31

Previous post There are multiple killers in FBI season 7, episode 5 (Preview)
Next post Harry Potter Wizards of Baking has arrived on Food Network and they are going hard early