New Video - A Deep Dive into the Making of Tiana's Bayou Adventure with Walt Disney Imagineers

Mar 22, 2024 in "Tiana's Bayou Adventure"

Posted: Friday March 22, 2024 10:39am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The New Orleans Book Festival hosted Walt Disney Imagineering for a panel discussion on "Bringing Tiana's Bayou Adventure to Life," moderated by Leslie Iwerks.

In this 45-minute video, you can hear from WDI's Charita Carter and Carmen Smith and "honorary Imagineer" Stella Chase.

The New Orleans Book Festival brings the world's leading authors to Tulane University for a multi-day celebration of their works. The Festival features both fiction and non-fiction and convenes readings, panel discussions, symposia and keynote speeches. It provides an opportunity for outlets, authors and readers to interact with each other in one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse cities in the world.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open in the summer of 2024, but Disney has yet to announce a precise date.

The earliest and most optimistic estimates place a soft opening around Memorial Day (late May), which may put an official opening sometime in July.

The upcoming D23 Down in New Orleans event on March 23 provides Disney with one of two opportunities to announce an opening date; the other is the Annual Shareholders meeting on April 3.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

View all comments →

MouseEarsMom335 minutes ago

I'm thinking they will make more summer announcements when Universal does next week. My guess is they release info on 4/30 after Universal's announcements. I think they will also start Halfway to Halloween announcements on 4/30, but will start with another park outside of FL and we will get FL details by Thursday.

imagineer978 hours ago

ChatGPT makes me feel just like an Imagineer!

mickEblu8 hours ago

Suddenly, I don’t hate cranes anymore. Bring on the cranes!

Professortango18 hours ago

James Alucobond8 hours ago

IMO, they should add false windows to the empty walls of the barn to make more visual sense of why the mural is where it is. Just tack on a fake lintel and sill to match the front and then "close" the shutters. Also, do something to adorn the areas where the mural suddenly stops, though I'm still hoping that's actually in the plans.

imagineer979 hours ago

I got you: In the heart of the bayou, where the air is thick with the scent of spices and the promise of magic, there exists a bustling hub known as Tiana’s Foods. This vibrant establishment, founded by none other than Princess Tiana herself, is more than just a business—it’s a celebration of community, flavor, and dreams. And at the heart of Tiana’s Foods are the Beignet Lifting Crew, a trio of mechanical cranes that work tirelessly to hoist crates filled with golden, powdered beignets. Each crane has its own distinct personality, quirks, and backstory: Boudreaux the Bold: Boudreaux is the oldest of the three cranes, with rusted joints and a creaky voice that echoes through the bayou. He’s seen it all—the rise of Tiana’s restaurant, the transformation of the salt mine, and the birth of the cooperative. Personality: Gruff but endearing, Boudreaux is like a grizzled old grandpa. He complains about his aching gears but secretly takes pride in being the backbone of Tiana’s operation. When the moon is full, he hums old jazz tunes to himself, reminiscing about the good ol’ days. Magnolia “Maggie” Maven: Maggie is the middle crane, painted in shades of turquoise and mint. She’s the brains behind the operation, always calculating the optimal lifting angles and ensuring the beignets don’t spill. Personality: Maggie is a no-nonsense engineer. She wears oversized glasses and has a penchant for solving complex equations. When she’s not lifting beignets, she’s busy inventing new contraptions—a beignet-flipping spatula, anyone? She dreams of one day attending a mechanical engineering conference in New Orleans. Bayou Belle: Bayou Belle is the youngest crane, adorned with colorful ribbons and a wreath of magnolia blossoms. She’s the heart of the crew, spreading joy and laughter wherever she goes. Personality: Bayou Belle is a free spirit. She sings while lifting beignets, her melodic voice echoing across the water. She believes that every beignet carries a wish, and she secretly hopes that one day, someone will wish for her to become a real girl. She’s convinced that a sprinkle of powdered sugar holds the key to her transformation. Together, the Beignet Lifting Crew dances in harmony, their metal arms swaying like reeds in the breeze. They gossip about the latest bayou happenings, share recipes (yes, even mechanical cranes have favorite gumbo recipes), and occasionally play pranks on the frogs and fireflies. And when Mardi Gras season arrives, they don their festive hats—Boudreaux in a feathered cap, Maggie with a glittering tiara, and Bayou Belle wearing a mask—and join the grand celebration. As the parade floats pass by, they toss beignets to the crowd, spreading sweetness and laughter. So next time you visit Tiana’s Foods, take a moment to appreciate the Beignet Lifting Crew. They’re more than just machines; they’re the soul of the bayou, lifting dreams one powdered pastry at a time.

Brer Oswald9 hours ago

It will be open within a month of media previews. Certainly by July.

Drew the Disney Dude9 hours ago

Best I can do is this photo of a squirrel.

SamusAranX10 hours ago

Yah, that’s cool but where are the cranes? ;)

TheCoasterNerd10 hours ago

In this video, you can see the shutters have been installed

Mike S10 hours ago

Oh how this brings back memories. I remember one time I spotted the ladder on the top of one the indoor drops because there was just a bit more light there than there normally was. So happy he survived 🥹

JoeCamel11 hours ago

That is tremendous and scary

LittleBuford11 hours ago

It really is scary how well such tools can mimic human writing, and I’m really not sure how to assess my students’ work now that so many of them are making use of AI. Unsettling times for those of us who grew up with pen and paper!