Louisiana's master blacksmith creates custom handcrafted weathervane for Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World

Jan 05, 2024 in "Tiana's Bayou Adventure"

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Tiana's Bayou Adventure weathervane

Posted: Friday January 5, 2024 11:15am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineers have installed a custom handcrafted weathervane by Louisiana's master blacksmith, Darryl Reeves, at Tiana's Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure weathervane

Darryl, a 3rd generation master blacksmith, and Vietnam Veteran has his work displayed across the city and worldwide.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure weathervane

"I take metal and do anything I want with it," the master blacksmith proudly says. "To have a free hand to design and fabricate the weathervane for Tiana's Bayou Adventure… that's an honor."

Tiana's Bayou Adventure replaces Splash Mountain with a planned opening in 2024 at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure logo

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Brer Oswald2 minutes ago

I know you have. I’m just explaining why people preferred the Splash critters. The Splash critters had a less active role in the plot, but a much more active role in the environment. Hence why they were more engaging and memorable to most people. Everyone remembers the geese, the vultures, the Gator band, the porcupine, the frogs, the chickens, etc.

LittleBuford5 minutes ago

I find both sets of critters cute. I’ve already made my preference for Splash clear.

Brer Oswald9 minutes ago

The “background” critters in Splash were both more memorable and much cuter. Maybe it’s because there were multiples of the geese, the gators, the vultures, etc. Or maybe it’s because they had singing roles, compared to the TBA critters that just stand there and rock back and forth.

Bocabear2 hours ago

the entire plotline of the ride is terrible... There is precedence with what they did with the Sinbad ride at Tokyo Disney Seas to completely re-write the book and come up with a better attraction...without scrapping the whole thing... Bring back Facilier who drags you to the "Other Side" and then you get rescued by Mama Odie... I thought it was going to be a Bayou tour in one of the posts very early on... Go back to that... Bring in the Villain and a happy ending. let the storyline have some tension and depth...Good conquers evil and a happy ending. Not a bunch of characters I don't know or care about doing a "Where's Waldo" plot with a party at the end filled with off-model characters we can barely recognize.

Brer Panther4 hours ago

Y'know, when they started showing off those animals and talking about their personalities and backstories and stuff, I actually began to think maybe, just maybe, this attraction could be good. Instead, they don't even say anything. Huzzah.

splah12 hours ago

that's a good comparison to looney tunes. The character designs didn't seem "disney" to me and i couldn't really figure out why. I think you especially see it with the fox (looks like sylvester). it has sharp points to the outline. they aren't as approachable as classic disney. if i stretch it further the design reminds me of the terrifying new monkeys in the jungle. there's such a focus on real/authentic that it misses out on the levity and make-believe. (i really don't like the monkeys)

WorldExplorer12 hours ago

They seem to really not like the idea of Tiana being in the log. All the merchandise I've seen opts for the animals (rarely including Louis) instead. It's also probably worth noting that all merchandise is nothing but smiling, happy faces for this thrill ride with a 50 foot drop. So Splash had funny and memorable merchandise and artwork featuring the main characters reacting to the giant drop. Tiana's has generic animals smiling while Tiana stands nearby grinning at nothing.

Speedy7113 hours ago

erasure fan121 hours ago

It's funny because I very much think the ride is a downgrade but I would definitely buy one if it was the characters of the film. Because I just love the film.

Bocabear22 hours ago

Exactly...If it were characters we knew, it would make a better souvenir... They look like Loony Tunes/Warner Brothers/ Six Flags characters... The funny thing is, if it were still Splash I would have bought a souvenir with the possums...the characters were cuter and made more sense... Maybe in time people will know who these character are...

LittleBuford22 hours ago

Whereas I would prefer this one purely because I think the animals are cute. Ironically, it’s their association with the ride (which I have no real fondness for in its rethemed state) that would prevent me from buying it.

erasure fan122 hours ago

True, but personally I wouldn't get one though. If it had Tiana, Louis and Naveen I'd be onboard. It does seem like a odd choice. Disney is all about that merch cash. And this seems like a missed opportunity. And if was Tiana and Naveen as frogs in front, then Ray then Louis, I'd probably buy 3.

BagOfGroceries23 hours ago

The point is that the rabbit head topper is gone. Not who the characters are.

Homemade Imagineering23 hours ago

Lifeformations (LF Studios) made the critter figures for this. For context, they’re the same company who built those animatronic bands for Ripley’s Believe it or Not back in the day