Walt Disney Imagineering Executive creative director of Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Ted Robledo, has shared an inside look at a key story element and the new musical critters that will be part of Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
In the bayou, Princess Tiana is getting ready to throw a big party, but there's been a bit of a mix-up between Prince Naveen and Louis, and the princess suddenly finds herself in need of a band. A true Mardi Gras celebration isn't complete without music. Riders will follow Tiana and Louis into the bayou in a last-minute search for this essential missing ingredient for her party — musical critters!
In the first critter encounter, guests discover a group of critter musicians playing a rendition of "Gonna Take You There" from "The Princess and the Frog."
Ted says, "This raucous Zydeco musical recipe of fiddle, accordion, washboard, and other instrument voices will have you singing along as you float down the river under dancing fireflies."
The familiar melody is being played on charming makeshift instruments constructed from natural materials and some human-made found objects.
Here are some of the adorable musicians that bring the scene to life:
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.
Beau, Apollo and Rufus will also soon be available in the form of huggable plushies for you to take home.
Watch the video below to see behind the scenes at Imagineering as the characters are designed.
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