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Credit: DisneyTake a trip as we uncover the secrets hiding inside Disneyland’s newest ride.
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Secrets and Easter eggs are nothing new for the Disney theme parks, with all kinds of hidden goodies sprinkled throughout numerous Disneyland rides, attractions, and lands. However, Walt Disney Imagineering made sure to pack as many details and secrets inside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland as possible.
Following the attraction’s official opening day in November, Walt Disney Imagineering has revealed eight hidden Easter eggs and details hiding within Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Imagineers took a trip aboard Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to highlight these hidden details of the new attraction, sharing their findings in a new official YouTube video.
The first secret is not really an Easter egg but more of a marvel of modern engineering. Walt Disney Imagineer Pam Gill explains that all of the swamp plants located at the front of the ride are made out of metal. Gill says the process is a special system developed specifically for Disneyland.
Next up on the list is Princess Tiana herself, more specifically, her outfit. The first time guests encounter Tiana, she is wearing a new adventure outfit, complete with a jacket and a scarf. According to Disney Imagineer Heather Greene, the outfit features custom embroidery and prints.
As riders make their way up the first lift hill, they will hear Louis talk to Tiana. While the alligator is not actually present in the scene, Louis can be heard shaking a few okra plants to give the illusion the gator is actually right in front of the guests.
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One of the coolest hidden secrets inside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure comes just after guests hear Louis; if riders look to their right, they will see a door, which is themed to fit the bayou. However, the door also features the names of all the Imagineers who worked on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, serving as a tribute to the project.
Imagineering principal production designer Dan Fazio says this is one of his favorite spots on the ride. “This door we put up. It has all the cast members who worked on the project. Their names are on it.”
As guest make their way along the outdoor section of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, they will be able to see Tiana’s Palace, a quick-service eatery that opened in 2023. This is kind of a full circle moment, not only for riders but the story of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure itself,
“It brings all this together. Like our New Orleans/Bayou Country story. I really like that,” said Imagineering senior project manager Darcy Accardi.
Louis makes another appearance on the list, with Imagineering show programming senior manager Avi Tuchman explaining the animatronic gator in the log is “a lot of fun.” If guests pay attention to the scene, they will notice Louis uses his tail in really expressive ways, highlighting the skill of Disney Imagineering.
The next secret is a bit of a tear-jerker for fans of the animated film that started it all, The Princess and the Frog (2009). Throughout the film, Ray the Firefly talks about his love for Evangeline, the name he gives the Evening Star.
After Ray passes away, a second star appears in the night sky next to Evangeline. It’s a heartwarming and heartwrenching moment and one that can also be seen inside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
When guests make their way inside the attraction, they will see twin stars glowing near Louis’ moment in the log.
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Imagineering digital executive producer Kirk Bodyfelt shared one final tidbit of information about a scene in which guests find themselves shrunken down to the size of a frog. Riders pass a scene where Mayra, the frog, plays a trumpet made out of a flower blossom.
Behind her, fireflies can be seen dancing behind oversized leaves. This effect is really convincing, though Bodyfelt explains that these fireflies are actually projected on the tops of the leaves.
“All of these dancing fireflies on the leaves, it’s actually a cool trick,” Imagineering digital executive producer Kirk Bodyfelt said on the video. “We project light on the top but we work really hard to make sure it looks like it’s coming from behind. That’s one of our good tricks.”
After taking the final plunge, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure wraps up with the final party scene, which is perhaps the attraction’s most jaw-dropping scene of the entire ride. Tons of animatronics can be seen here, all of which are dancing and playing music. Princess Tiana greets guests herself, along with Prince Naveen.
Have you ridden Tiana’s Bayou Adventure yet?