Credit: Inside The MagicHundreds of Walt Disney World Resort fans have been turned away from Magic Kingdom as a brand-new attraction sold out virtual queuing in seconds, breaking historical records at the Orlando theme park.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Sells Out in Seconds at Disney World; Hundreds Turned Away
The virtual queue for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure filled up quickly this morning as Magic Kingdom’s newest attraction officially opened.
The queue opened at 7 a.m. and reached capacity in under three seconds, a common occurrence for popular virtual queue attractions like TRON Lightcycle Run and Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. While the park is at capacity for Annual Passholders, date-based ticket holders can still access the Magic Kingdom. A second chance to join the virtual queue will be available at 1 p.m.
During the Annual Passholder previews, boarding groups were processed at about five minutes each. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a log flume attraction at Magic Kingdom that opened today within the theme park. Based on Disney’s 2009 film The Princess and the Frog, the ride starts with an outdoor float-through and leads to indoor dark ride segments. It is a reimagining of the classic Splash Mountain ride.
The ride opened for previews earlier in June and May but has been experiencing many malfunctions. Multitudes of guests have evacuated from the ride since the previews began, leading to dozens of frustrated people. On June 18 and yesterday, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was drained of water at Magic Kingdom Park, with all boarding groups delayed.
Typically, attractions with virtual queues like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind offers guests two opportunities to secure a boarding group—one in the morning and another in the afternoon. However, Disney sometimes will not provide today’s usual 1 p.m. virtual queue enrollment slot.
This could mean that if Tiana’s continues to experience delays and setbacks on opening day today, the ride could do away with the 1 p.m. time slot, leading to further disappointment from the fanbase.
When a highly anticipated new ride like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure experiences frequent breakdowns, it reflects poorly on Disney’s reputation for quality and reliability. Continuous malfunctions suggest inadequate testing or rushed construction, undermining guests’ trust in Disney to deliver seamless and magical experiences.
Repeated breakdowns can lead to significant frustration and disappointment for many visitors, especially those who have traveled long distances or planned their trip around the ride’s opening.
Furthermore, the inability to ride the new attraction until the 1 p.m. virtual queue slot becomes available exacerbates guest dissatisfaction. Opening day is highly anticipated; many guests expect to experience the ride as soon as possible.
Delays in accessing the attraction, particularly when combined with technical issues, can make guests feel like their time and money have been wasted. This can lead to negative reviews and word-of-mouth, potentially impacting future attendance and overall guest satisfaction.
Big Things Happening in Florida at the Theme Parks
Aside from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opening today, guests are preparing for a massive and historic dust storm that will affect the state of Florida and the Walt Disney World Resort parks. A vast plume of Saharan dust, the largest observed in the 2024 hurricane season, is traversing the Atlantic Ocean, heading towards the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. Expected to arrive by week’s end, this substantial dust cloud might significantly decrease storm formation.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also gearing up to shut down the State Government through the July 4 Holiday, leading to potential influxes of crowds and wait times at Walt Disney World Resort.
A news release from Governor Ron DeSantis’s office announced that state offices in Florida will be closed on July 5, in addition to the July 4 holiday. DeSantis hoped state workers would take advantage of the extra day off to “enjoy Florida’s Freedom Summer with their loved ones and celebrate America.”
Finally, a new Florida driving law could impact your upcoming plans as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has vetoed HB 317, prohibiting drivers from using the left lane on the state’s highways.
Despite near-unanimous approval from the House and Senate earlier in 2024, DeSantis rejected the bill due to concerns about potential congestion and unnecessary fines. In his veto letter, he explained that the legislation could “potentially increase congestion in urban areas of Florida, as drivers might avoid the leftmost lane for fear of being fined.”