Did Disney just open its most expensive ride update ever? Experts believe that may be the case!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The Disney Parks are fresh off the grand opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disney World and we’re still eagerly anticipating the California counterpart at Disneyland Park at some point this year. We’ve learned a TON about the new attraction since it was announced back in 2020, and recently it was discovered that the new attraction might be the most expensive ride update in the history of Disney!
According to The Orange County Register and Forbes, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure cost an estimated $142 million over the past four years at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. The total sum would make Tiana’s Bayou Adventure the most expensive ride upgrade in the company’s history.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure replaced Splash Mountain at both parks and the Florida version officially opened in June while Disneyland’s still awaits an official opening date amid ongoing construction.
According to Forbes, the numbers for the attraction’s reimagining at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom were derived based on Walt Disney Imaginnering’s cost estimates for the creation of Avengers Campus and the updating of Star Tours at Disneyland Paris. The projects cost $404 million and $71 million, respectively.
©Disney
While Disney is hoping for big things with the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction, Forbes reporter Caroline Reid, who covers the movie and theme park industries, isn’t as optimistic.
Citing the ride breakdowns and frustrated social media reaction, Reid said, “The reputational damage of this debacle is incalculable and that alone could make it one of the most costly theme park rides in Disney’s history.”
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The ride, which takes passengers through the Bayou on the same layout — with the same big drop — as Splash Mountain, tells the story of Tiana after the events of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog as she prepares for a special Mardi Gras celebration.
Disney is hoping that reception softens, as it has sunk a ton of time and money into the brand-new theming, music, and world-class animatronics.
Tiana on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
While we acknowledge that the ride has flaws in its early stages, we really enjoyed it and see a ton of potential! You can read our honest opinions and detailed description of the Magic Kingdom attraction by clicking the link below!
WE FINALLY RODE TIANA’S BAYOU ADVENTURE And We Have SO MUCH TO TELL YOU!
For more Disney Parks news, tips, reviews, and more, stay tuned right here at DFB for all the latest!
When Will the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride Open in Disneyland?
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Are you surprised that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is Disney’s most expensive ride upgrade? Does it make a ton of sense? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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We just went on the ride last week and loved it. Splash Mountain was my favorite ride before. While maybe not my favorite yet, the animatronics were stunning. Definitely not a debacle. Too many people fixed in their ways.
Another unnecessary waste of money at Disney!!! No wonder their reputation is down the toilet!!!
This attraction is now a Bob Iger Signature attraction — overpriced, overbudget, and harmful to the brand. Yes, all the hallmarks of Bob Iger.
What’s the point of spending all this money, for all the “latest and greatest” technology, if it doesn’t work? Disney has NEVER been good at IT, so you expect that to be a disaster. But rides are the most basic thing at WDW and need to impress.
We feel the story needs to be more consistent. It’s all over the place. You start looking for food then somehow you’re in the salt mine then somehow you’re at a party. At least with splash Mountain when you got to the end, everybody knew the song they created a whole new song for this ride and nobody knows it. You can’t sing along.
I’m sure this only matters to major shareholders, but not at all to the visiting guests.
Should have left well enough alone.
Worry not. Disney will pay for it.
Just kidding. Every guest coming through the turnstiles will pay. No skin off Bob’s or Josh’s backs – they’ll just keep raising prices. Couldn’t we have at least gotten something besides a continuation of an existing story line? Nope. Original attraction ideas, with very few exceptions like the Guardians’ plot extension, seem so 30-years-ago, don’t they? Not Imagineering’s fault; it’s the corporate path of least resistance.
Not that kids will notice; they’ll be heads-down in their phones and pads for most of their very costly days in the parks.
If I understand correctly Tiana was supposed to bring in the crowds. And the crowd levels are saying thumbs down. The share price hovering at $96 despite the box office success of IO2 indicates that investors don’t appreciate the remake either.
I for one can’t wait to see what will the Stories Matter folks seek to improve next