The Walt Disney World Resort hosts some of the most incredible attractions in the theme park industry, and some even have their own fan followings and merchandise. So why would fans want to celebrate a closure?
Rarely in the history of Disney parks has an attraction been more controversial than Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Since the new design replaced, the iconic Splash Mountain, Disney fans have been engaged in a fan war with arguably more on the side of the “problematic” original inspired by Song of the South.
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However, recent developments out of the Magic Kingdom showed the attraction listed as “temporarily closed,” which caused Disney park guests on r/WaltDisneyWorld to gloat over the status of the ride. As many claim the attraction hasn’t even gone a full day in working order, visitors are practically mocking the new ride as it continues an uphill battle.
Tiana Drowns at Disney World
I know it's a common joke but I truly think we'll need celebration cupcakes when this ride can operate for two days in a row
byu/alexdionisos inWaltDisneyWorld
Whether it’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure or Splash Mountain, controversy seems to follow this particular spot in Frontierland regardless. While u/alexdionisos‘ desire for celebratory cupcakes might seem a bit extra venomous, they aren’t the only guests openly kicking the ride while it’s down.
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Down in the comments, u/auteur555 writes,
“What’s the point of a ride that doesn’t work? Clearly, this wasn’t thought out. They need to swallow their pride, close the ride, and start over until this thing can run properly. It’s unethical to advertise this ride to get people to come and then they can’t even ride it.”
Underneath, u/BowTie1989 replies with,
“At this point, the thrill isn’t even the ride itself, it’s just waiting to see if you’ll get to actually go on it or not. This is an absolute embarrassment. At least Rise of The Resistance had the excuse of being a groundbreaking experience that was built from scratch.”
u/writedreamlove8 claims to have climbed aboard the attraction and then offers this take on their experience.
“Between the delayed openings and then any storm rolling through taking it out again, I feel like we got extremely lucky to have gotten on it yesterday in the evening. We had booked the lightning lane multi-pass for early in the morning without realizing how often it was down, but the multi-experience pass came in handy getting back on it.”
The thread is full of dozens of comments that follow the same train of thought, and it seems like there is little hope, or desire for this attraction still in its infancy. however, it might also be the consequence of a much bigger problem facing Walt Disney Imagineering.
Friends on the Other Side
When the new overlay was first announced, it was met by a cacophony of hisses and boos from diehard Disney fans. So many Disney park guests had practically grown up with Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear at the Briar Patch, and the characters were practically a piece of Disney culture.
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Many fans would agree that while the change was made in the name of equality and representation, it was truly made under pressure from the vocal minority. The Walt Disney Company has become so hesitant about even appearing to be controversial that it is willing to sacrifice beloved attractions to avoid the faintest whiff of scandal.
The story might’ve been different if more details from The Princess and the Frog (2009) were added to the ride, such as Doctor Facilier or any of the songs by Randy Newman, or if the animatronics had a wider range of motion and fewer screens were used, but this was clearly a reskin of a pre-existing ride. In short, Disney could have done better.
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Controversy might’ve been avoided if a completely new experience had been built instead of just a cover-up. Although fans still would’ve taken issue with the original being replaced, an entirely different attraction would’ve been much more well-received.
The idea of guests celebrating a ride’s closure with the amount of gusto they would a grand opening is bizarre, but it’s also a sign of a much bigger problem facing the Disney company. The audience is losing faith in what Disney creates.
Are you celebrating with a closure cupcake today? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!
