Tag: #2024DisneyConstructionProjects

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Will Open This Summer 2024!

Great news today from the Walt Disney World Company! Disney has announced that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open THIS SUMMER 2024! Previously, Disney had promised that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure would open “Late 2024”–with most experts predicting an October/November opening day. However, there have been lots of signs that construction has been moving fairly quickly.  One of the most exciting recent visual clues that the reimagined attraction might open sooner than expected came last week, when visitors noticed water flowing through visible areas of the attraction.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Construction

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Construction has been in progress for just over one year so far.  Splash Mountain closed on January 23, 2023 to be reimagined as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.  You can read more about that closure here.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open summer 2024 construction 2024
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Construction/                                                           Photo: Destinations to Explore

From what we’ve learned so far, the basic ride system itself will remain basically the same. This will still be a log ride on water. Guests will ride in a log through the attraction, culminating in a drop near the end of the attraction where guests will most likely get wet.  What WILL change is the entire visual look and feel of the attraction. The attraction is being completely re-themed to The Princess and the Frog, featuring Princess Tiana and her friends.

External changes to the attractions that have been visible to guests include the repainted attraction/queue buildings, shown in the photo above. The primary attraction/queue building is now a bright cheerful yellow and features a mural showcasing Tiana’s jazz loving alligator friend, Louis.  Other visible external changes include the additional of the Tiana’s Foods Water Tower, topped with Tiana’s crown! There’s also been a lot of changes to the greenery and vegetation on the exterior of the “mountain”.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open summer 2024
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure/                                                                                                         Photo: Disney Parks

Astonishing Animatronics

Disney has told us that not only will Tiana’s Bayou Adventure open this summer 2024, it will include dozens of new animatronic characters! The behind the scenes glimpses we’ve seen so far of these new animatronics shows us that as technology continues to improve, so do these amazing attraction treasures.  Take a look at this video featuring Tiana herself.

Her movements look so natural, don’t they? It’s really fun to see her come alive from the concept art to this. I can’t wait to see her embedded in the attraction!

Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open summer 2024
Tiana Animatronic /                                                                                                                    Photo: Disney Parks

Here’s another really short sneak peek look at an animatronic for this attraction that Disney gave us, but it doesn’t give us anywhere NEAR as good a look. But I think I might be even MORE excited to see this one in action!

Can you guess who this one will be?

Concept Art for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Will Open Summer 2024 – What’s the Story?

Many Disney attractions based on a beloved Disney feature film retell the story of the film (in just a few minutes). Think ‘The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure’ for a great example of this. I’m excited that Imagineers are going a different direction with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. For this attraction, the story is picking up AFTER the movie ends!

Concept Art for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

While we don’t know exactly what the story is, we DO know that this adventure is taking place in the next chapter of Tiana’s adventures. She’s successfully opened her restaurant, Tiana’s Palace.  Now, she’s expanding her business with Tiana’s Foods. Tiana and her friends are throwing a big celebration during the Mardi Gras season. The attraction will be filled with fun music, characters, critters and adventure.  I’m so excited that we won’t have to wait too much longer to check it out for ourselves!

Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open summer 2024
Tiana’s Foods                                                                                                                     Concept Art: Disney Parks

Are YOU Excited to Ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure When it Opens This Summer 2024?

SO….Are you excited? Is this an attraction you’ve been waiting to hear about? Do you love that Disney chose to announce on Fat Tuesday  an opening season for an attraction with a Mardi Gras tie-in ?  Please comment below if this is an attraction you’re excited to ride!

Our big family trip is this October, so I’m VERY excited for this announcement. I’d previously been worried that the attraction would reopen AFTER our trip, and our family wouldn’t get to experience it. I know that everyone will enjoy this one, and I’m looking forward to the new theming. I loved The Princess and the Frog, and I’m really happy to see Tiana get some love in the parks.

It sounds like the Disneyland version of the attraction is going to open later than the Disney World version, most likely in the fall. I’ll be sure and keep you all posted.

Mom and I will be in the parks later this month for the Disney Princess Half Marathon (also Tiana themed–hmmm, I’m sensing a pattern here!), so I’ll be sure and come back with some construction photo updates for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. I’m excited to see what we can see from the outside!

 

 

 

 

 

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Closing for Long Refurbishment

Walt Disney World has announced that the popular attraction, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, will close for refurbishment on January 8, 2024.

Over time, every attraction must temporarily close for refurbishment. Depending on the attraction, the closure may last days, weeks or even months.  If the attraction is being redesigned or overhauled, the closure could last YEARS.  When this occurs, the end result is usually a completely different attraction.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Closing for Refurbishment January 2024
Photo: Disney Parks

This Will RUIN My Vacation!

Whenever Disney announces that a ride or show or even a restaurant is closing for any length of time, we inevitably hear a chorus of “why does this have to happen during MY vacation?” and “this is going to RUIN our vacation!”.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster closure screaming woman
#image_title

Please keep in mind that EVERY ride, attraction, show, gift shop and restaurant must occasionally close for refurbishment. In the case of rides, it’s important for safety reasons. Every ride needs to be maintained on a regular basis to keep it functioning properly.  Also, regular maintenance is important to keep the ride from breaking down during regular park operations. Shows, shops, and restaurants all close periodically for redesign, décor or structural changes.

However, I promise you–one attraction being closed during your vacation will NOT ruin your vacation unless you let it! There are still lots of terrific attractions that will be open and fully operational to keep you and your family entertained. Even if the closed attraction is a family favorite, there are still many things to do and see, you will still have a wonderful vacation. Just try not to focus on what you can’t do, and focus on all the fun things you CAN do!

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster closing for refurbishment
Photo: Disney Parks

How Long Will Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster be Closed?

Generally, when Disney announces a planned closure for refurbishment, they also include the length of the refurbishment, or the projected reopening date for the attraction.  In the case of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, however, we do not have a firm length of time for the refurbishment, nor do we have a firm reopening date for the attraction. What we have currently is a vague “reopens Summer 2024”.

What could this mean? Well, this is interesting because this same attraction was also down early 2023 for a multi-month refurbishment. Generally, the same attraction will not be down for long periods of time for more than one year, unless it’s a long term closure and the closure spans long periods longer than one year.  But it is unusual for the same attraction to be closed for 3-4 months one year, and then closed for another 3-4 months (or longer) the next year.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster closing for refurbishment
Photo: Disney Parks

Could This Be The End of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?

So, two lengthy refurbs two years in a row is unusual. So what? This may mean nothing at all. This may mean that the refurbishments needed last year were unable to be completed during the planned closure last year, so they needed to plan more time for this year. It could mean that last year’s refurbishment was for scheduled cleaning and maintenance and that all was completed as planned. BUT maybe something new came to light over the last few months and required a lengthy refurbishment this year to address.

Situations like this are also usually when we start hearing lots of speculation and theories. We’ve been hearing for a while now lots of theories that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster might be rethemed to a different rock band. Another theory that has been floating around is that the ride might get an entirely new storyline altogether.  We’ve also heard that the ride might close permanently, and the ride building be used for a completely new attraction completely. Almost ANYTHING is possible.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster closing for refurbishment
Photo: Disney Parks

What is This Ride All About?

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith opened to the public on July 29, 1999. This indoor roller coaster features limousine themed trains that accelerate to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds. The premise behind the thrill ride is that the coaster trains are limousines heading to an Aerosmith concert “across town” and everyone’s in a hurry so go! go! go!

Each coaster train plays a different Aerosmith song during the ride, and the band appears in the pre-show video. Inside the ride, there is a lot of neon as you race through the darkness to get to the concert venue. The “driver” whips around sharp curves and the “limo” even goes upside down very briefly a couple of times. Post pre show, you head out into the “alley” to get loaded into your limo.  The theming out here is really well done. When you arrive at the venue, it does have sort of a red carpet entrance look to the disembarkation area. Once you exit the vehicle, you’ll head down the hall to a gift shop (of course)!

The preshow has undergone some minor updates over the years, but the ride itself has not changed much over the years.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Closing for Refurbishment
Photo: Disney Parks

Does Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Need Updating?

Well, it IS an attraction that is more than 20 years old. Generally, MOST attractions need some kind of updating after 20 years. However, there are many classic Disney attractions that have gone largely unchanged for many more years than that without guest outrage. There are some elements of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster that can make the attraction feel dated.

For example, Aerosmith, the band. Aerosmith was formed in 1970 in Boston. Over the years, Aerosmith has had many hits. One of their biggest surges in popularity came in 1998, when the band released the single, “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing”. This song was featured in the Bruce Willis/Ben Affleck film, Armageddon. The band has continued to release music and tour throughout the 2000’s, announcing Peace: The Farewell Tour in Fall 2023.  The songs featured in the limousine coaster trains are all pre-2000 Aerosmith hits. So while the songs are all popular Aerosmith songs, there is a bit of nostalgia to them.

Disney fans that don’t love Aerosmith have long argued that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster needs to be overhauled. Aerosmith mega fans argue that the ride is should never change.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster closed for refurbishment
Photo: Disney Parks

Has Disney Given Any Hints?

At this time, Disney has said NOTHING. All they have said is that the attraction is going down for a scheduled refurbishment on January 8, 2024. If it lasts the three months that the 2023 refurbishment did, we can anticipate that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will reopen mid-April.  The longer the refurbishment, the later the reopening will be.  IF this refurbishment extends for 8 months or more, I think we can start thinking some of the theories may be coming to fruition. If that happens though, hopefully, Disney will make some kind of announcement as to what is happening. The rumor mill may just go crazy otherwise!

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Photo Opp
Photo: Disney PhotoPass

The Bottom Line

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is closing on January 8, 2024 for at least a few months for refurbishment.

Will this affect your vacation planning? Is this one of your favorite attractions? Are you in the camp that thinks this ride needs to be redesigned or the camp that thinks this ride is perfect as it is? Please comment below and let us know your thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Ready to Plan Your Disney Vacation!

Is “The Little Mermaid” Returning to Hollywood Studios?

It’s been a long time since we’ve heard Ariel sing “Part of Your World” At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but it looks like “The Little Mermaid” may be returning at long last !

After Walt Disney World reopened after the closure in 2020 due to the pandemic, shows were among the last things to reappear. In many cases, the show that reopened was a downsized version–for example, the fabulous Festival of the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom reopened in May 2021 as “Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King”. This initial reopening emphasized social distancing, both in the audience and among the performers.  The show was about 10 minutes shorter than the original show, and was missing some key elements–like the tumble monkeys.

Disney Parks News Festival of the Lion King Cast and Crew Laid Off
Festival of the Lion King (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Most shows eventually returned the parks, and for the most, order was restored to the Kingdom.

The Voyage of the Little Mermaid

There was one show that never reopened after the pandemic–The Voyage of The Little Mermaid at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  The Voyage of The Little Mermaid opened in January 1992.  This show was a mixture of puppetry and actors, along with some special effects. It was a 25 minute show and told a shortened version of The Little Mermaid movie. It featured each song from the movie and it was very popular for many years. By the mid-aughts, it was apparent that the show needed to be updated. Nevertheless, the show still drew crowds and was a fun way to spend 25 minutes.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Outside the Voyage of the Little Mermaid theater. Photo: Brooke Hudson

As the years passed post-pandemic and this show didn’t reopen, speculation began to run rampant. Maybe Disney would revamp the show. Maybe they’d replace the show with a totally different show. The theater remained in place, with no signs of life. The Voyage of The Little Mermaid marquis sign stayed in place, giving hope that the show would one day return.

There was a gift shop attached to the theater that also never reopened–and we know Disney never misses an opportunity to fill a gift shop with merchandise guaranteed trigger the “I WANT” button in small children and adults as they exit an attraction that pushed emotional or nostalgia buttons! But year after year, the shop has remained closed.

At last, it appears that The Little Mermaid is returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure

Walt Disney World has announced “The Little Mermaid -A Musical Adventure” is coming to the newly refreshed theater in the Animation Courtyard in Fall 2024. Disney tells us that “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” will be a fully reimagined musical production inspired by the classic Disney movie, “The Little Mermaid”. It seems clear from the description that this is not a revamp of the original Voyage of the Little Mermaid show, but rather a completely new show in the same theater.  Disney promises new set pieces, cutting edge effects and a bold new design.  Disney Live Entertainment tells us they’ve been looking for innovative ways to tell the story of Ariel’s journey to the human world.

The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure
Photo: Disney Animation

The show will feature favorite songs from the classic film, like “Part of Your World” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls”.  Disney has released concept art for the new “Kiss the Girl” scene.

The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure
Concept Art: Disney Parks

This is the only concept art they’ve released so far, and the information we have so far is pretty limited. We don’t yet know how long the show will be, or if this will all be live action actors like “The Beauty and the Beast” show that has been playing for years at the Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard. Alternatively, it could be a mixture of live actors and animatronics or animation.

From the references to “classic”, I’m assuming this version of “The Little Mermaid” will lean heavily on the 1989 animated Disney film, “The Little Mermaid”. But COULD they be drawing anything in from the 2023 live action remake? Or from “The Little Mermaid” on Broadway?  Anything is possible. I will be sure to keep you posted as new information becomes available.

The Little Mermaid
Photo: Disney Studios

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that ANY new show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is good news. That park has long needed some additional entertainment options, and adding “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” is definitely a step in the right direction.  Hollywood Studios has become fairly ride heavy in the last few years, and while we all love the rides, the entertainment was always a big part of what made Hollywood Studios so special. There are still many entertainment experiences that have never returned to the park post pandemic, and I think the losses are felt throughout the day when you visit Hollywood Studios today.

Disney Parks News Citizens of Hollywood Laid Off
Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ amazing Streetmosphere players (Citizens of Hollywood) (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Missing Entertainment

For example, the streetmosphere actors that used to perform little skits involving the crowd are a giant loss. They were clever and very funny, and did a great job at involving crowd members in their little vignettes.

Another loss has been the Jedi Training Academy. Each one of these shows would involve 8-12 kids from the audience that would participate and practice with light sabers and learn the ways of the Jedi. Each show would feature a visit from a villain, like Darth Vader or Darth Maul, and the shows were entertaining and fun for both the participants and the audience members.

I hope that this new show, “The Little Mermaid-A musical Adventure” is just the first addition of shows and entertainment back in to Hollywood Studios.

What do you think? Are you excited to see Ariel’s return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Please comment below and let us know if there are other entertainment ideas you’d like to see come to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

 

 

 

Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Ready to Plan Your Disney Vacation!

P.S. – Are you planning to visit Walt Disney World in 2024? I’d love to help. Contact me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com for a no obligation quote.

P.P.S. – Check out our review of Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ newest table service restaurant, Round-Up Rodeo here.