When Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens this summer, there will be familiar faces as well as new friends, and now Disney has revealed the first group of musicians who will be greeting guests.
Earlier this year, Disney revealed that the ride based on the 2009 film “The Prince and the Frog” will be a “festive party” during Mardi Gras season. According to the latest update from the Disney Parks Blog, there will be a bit of a mix-up between Prince Naveen and Louis at the party, and the princess suddenly finds herself in need of a band.
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“We’ll follow Tiana and Louis into the bayou in a last-minute search for this essential missing ingredient for her party — musical critters,” the site said.
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The critter encounter
Sounds of the fiddle, accordion, washboard and other instruments will be heard as guests float down the river accompanied by fireflies and a lively group of musicians playing a rendition of “Gonna Take You There”.
Disney also released the names and descriptions of the members who make up the band:
- Byhalia the Beaver – Byhalia doesn’t just build dams; she helps build musical instruments using natural materials from the bayou. As a strong-willed percussionist, it’s safe to say Byhalia is the heartbeat of the band, as well as a natural designer and engineer.
- Gritty the Rabbit – Always willing to dig a little deeper to help others, Gritty plays the washboard (a found automobile license plate) with a high-energy flair. It’s the perfect instrument for someone who’s often overzealous and digs to relieve her nerves.
- Beau the Opossum – Seeing limitless possibilities, no one finds more wonder in the bayou and the sounds of zydeco music than Beau. All she knows is beauty, especially her own. You can find her plucking out the low notes with her upright gourd bass, which of course, involves some musical dexterity with her tail.
- Apollo the Raccoon – Apollo loves transforming abandoned objects into works of musical art – like his squeezebox. He’s full of energy and storytelling, especially about the objects he finds in the bayou. He’s particularly close with Rufus and appreciates Rufus’ calm demeanor.
- Rufus the Turtle – Rufus may be a turtle, but he’s quick to jump into rhythm with his harmonica. He’s also the first to join in on new adventures! He’s genuine and sincere but may come across as a little sarcastic at times with his habitual sighing. Rufus loves going on adventures with Apollo.
- Timoléon the Otter – He’s the eldest of the band, but Timoléon’s fiddle-playing is inspired by all the ‘kids’ he spends his time around while in the bayou. When he’s not sawing out a jig, he’s famous for telling stories of days long ago about his explorations of every corner of the bayou.
The new attraction — which is taking over the area of Splash Mountain in Frontierland — will feature dozens of new audio-animatronics figures. The latest announcement is only the first round of critters we’re hearing about, as more updates are expected in the months leading up to the summer opening.
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