Unplugging Gideon's Bakehouse Union Stir and Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Unlock the secrets behind the whispers of unionization at Gideon's Bakehouse as Dustin and Ashley brew up a storm of conversation in our latest Orlando Unplugged episode. We're stirring the pot with a look at the Ghosts of Gideon's, a group of bakery employees and their demands for better working conditions shaking up Disney Springs. But it's not all controversy; we also shine a light on the cultural shifts within Disney, as we reminisce over Splash Mountain's history and eagerly await the magical transformation to Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

This week's episode is a carousel of deep dives into pressing issues and exciting changes. We tackle the tough questions about workplace conditions while also reveling in the joy of Disney's commitment to inclusiveness and storytelling. From the whispers of discontent at a beloved bakery to Disney's vibrant reimagining of a classic ride amid lighting controversy, we cover it all. Plus, we spill the tea on what D23, Disney Vacation Club members, and Annual Passholders need to know for Tiana's Bayou Adventure preview events, offering pro tips to navigate the virtual queues.

As the curtains close on Splash Mountain, we ready our hearts for the jamboree that is Tiana's Bayou Adventure, reflecting on the journey from concept to near-completion. We share exclusive insights on the transformative process and the zest of anticipation that surrounds the grand opening. We're casting a spell of excitement as we guide you through Disney's latest chapter. And remember, while the world of Disney enchantment beckons, let's not forget the real-life cast members who bring the magic to life. Join us for a session of storytelling, empathy, and forward-thinking as we celebrate the spirit of Orlando and the unstoppable evolution of its attractions.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

you're listening to orlando unplugged, celebrating life in living color with dustin and ashley. Grab a cocktail or a mocktail and let's get unplugged, orlando. I don't know what has caused this weird feedback in our headphones the last couple days, but it's driving me insane I don't get anything good morning, what's up, besties. Welcome back to orlando. Unplugged episode number 19 19 that's a lot of episodes we've done this, jesus christ 19 times every week. Have we done this for 19 weeks straight?

Speaker 2: 0:40

we missed one week because I was sick well, no, we posted super no, we did.

Speaker 1: 0:44

We miss the whole week, or did?

Speaker 2: 0:45

we just post it online. Yeah, we missed the whole week.

Speaker 1: 0:47

Okay, wow. You had to go and get sick on us. I know, bless it's dying. Well, hey guys, welcome back. I'm Dustin and I'm Ashley, and this is Orlando Unplugged episode 19,. As we just determined, um, we've got a fun episode planned for you guys. Today might be a kind of a quick episode. We'll see how this goes um, but we have more information about tiana's bayou adventure yes at walt disney world yes and uh, a little pre-show topic a little bit uh, a little bit uh I like it.

Speaker 1: 1:20

I like controversy and I really love it say that word again controversy controversial controversial topics controversy I don't know.

Speaker 2: 1:30

You want to talk about it hey, what are you drinking this morning?

Speaker 1: 1:33

coffee with that I'm drinking coffee we're doing this um something unusual for us. We're doing this at 10 45 in the morning I hate that for us I love that for us. Um so a couple updates coming up for you guys. So after this week our uh podcasts will air on tuesdays wednesdays. Wednesdays wednesdays so we do typically our schedules. Usually we try to like line them up over the weekend and we usually end up recording at 10 pm on a Sunday.

Speaker 1: 2:04

And then I have to edit it and try to get everything out by midnight, and I don't want to do that anymore.

Speaker 2: 2:10

We don't want to do that anymore. We feel like our quality is just not going to give you the best, you guys, the best that we could give out, because you're only turning around a two hour span there. It's not enough. So, yeah, so you're getting a Wednesday instead, guys.

Speaker 1: 2:24

So enjoy today's episode, and then we will see you again in a week and a half.

Speaker 2: 2:29

I'm getting email notifications already.

Speaker 1: 2:31

Yeah, week and a half.

Speaker 2: 2:32

Yeah, we'll see you next Wednesday.

Speaker 1: 2:33

Yeah. So Ashley and I have and Rob have something super fun to go do later today with Universal, which will be next week's episode. We can't talk about it because it's a private thing.

Speaker 2: 2:47

Yes, we can.

Speaker 1: 2:49

Nope, cannot. We'll discuss later, but it's going to be fun. We can talk about it after next month. We can't talk about it until then.

Speaker 2: 3:00

Okay, never mind, alright, but we do get to talk about today's episode, let's go. So. Something pretty crazy happened this week and if you have not been watching the news, especially here locally- you're missing out, I mean. I'm sorry. Okay, if you've been reading Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, any form of social media, you've been pretty familiar with what's been going on. So have you been to Gideon's?

Speaker 1: 3:35

Never even heard of it before you told me about it.

Speaker 2: 3:37

Okay. So for those that do not know, Gideon's is the steampunk bakehouse that's over at Disney Springs. They specialize in these massively giant cookies. It's almost like crumble cookie, but bigger, and it's like very dark and mysterious. It's very themed to like Edgar Allan Poe vibes. It's very dark.

Speaker 1: 4:00

So you said this is at Disney Springs.

Speaker 2: 4:02

Is this a?

Speaker 1: 4:02

Walt Disney World company. No, it's a third-party company that Disney does not own.

Speaker 2: 4:11

So Gideon's also has another location in Tampa, so this is their second location. They were so popular and so big that Disney was like, hey, we have to have you, we want to work with you, put up a shop in our place. This is right across the street from the um, uh, irish, uh, fish place. Uh, dublin's, what is it called?

Speaker 2: 4:31

I don't know the irish pub in disney springs that great I'm, it's gonna bug me, um, but those, uh, those workers, they they kind of decided to to stir up some some stuff this week. So the workers at the Steampunk-style Gideon's Big House at Disney Springs have announced plans to unionize. They have come with claims, sharing online, of ghastly low pay, unsanitary work conditions and alleged retaliation for speaking up about it. Now the organizers have gone on to become what they've called the Ghosts of Gideon's, which they are the workers of Gideon's at Disney Springs location. Now we're not sure how many there is here. It's unclear exactly how many of the employees have decided to all speak and all come forward about these things, but they've shared their concerns with Orlando Weekly in a press release over the weekend when they went public with their demands for change at the popular bakehouse. Now, they didn't do this on just like hey, let's go talk to a couple people. No, they went to social media first they went straight to reddit and instagram to create this.

Speaker 1: 5:36

Hi, we're very upset about what happened which, in, I'm just gonna say, unpopular opinion, is not always the best route to go, especially when you're dealing with companies, because if you don't at least go through the appropriate channels first, correct um you may get a lot of social media hate, no, no, a lot of social media backup yeah but those are keyboard warriors. Oh yeah, um, but yeah, so did you say. Are they trying to? Are they trying to unionize?

Speaker 2: 6:03

They're trying to unionize.

Speaker 1: 6:04

I have opinions on unionization in food locations.

Speaker 2: 6:08

This one's messy. So now the bakery ownership and leadership have built a toxic empire of lies. According to the ghost of Gideon's Instagram account, they feel that they are unsafe, underpaid and are being severely taken advantage of purely so they can reap a fortune. Now, as somebody who has grown up in the food and beverage world, this hit pretty home for me, because this is really sad. Now, according to the Ghosts of Gideon's, the bakery rakes in upwards of $40,000 each day, which does not surprise me whatsoever. Disney Springs is a very busy spot and a cookie that costs anywhere between five to eight dollars six dollars is their mega cookies and five to eight dollars for their cold brews they should be making a ton of money. That's a lot of cookies.

Speaker 1: 6:54

Are they open?

Speaker 2: 6:56

every single day every day every single day their hours are every single day and they match up with the disney springs hours we're gonna they close roughly around 10 to 11 o'clock every single night.

Speaker 1: 7:06

We're going to assume we're going to average that they make $40,000 a day. Yep, According to the Ghost of Gideon's.

Speaker 2: 7:14

This is what they're saying that they make is on the upwards of $40,000 each day, A figure they can see on their cashier's till. One employee told Orlando Weekly. Meanwhile, the front of house staff at the shop earns just eight dollars an hour. Isn't that insane?

Speaker 1: 7:31

it is so back to what I was saying oh, by all means go ahead so if they make forty thousand dollars a day for 365 days, that's I might be saying this wrong $146 million a year.

Speaker 2: 7:44

Doesn't surprise me.

Speaker 1: 7:45

One, two, three comma. Oh my God, one, two, three comma.

Speaker 2: 7:49

Remember when we said this was going to be a short episode. This is the episode where Dustin learns how to do math.

Speaker 1: 7:54

There's no commas in this calculator number sign Any whoozles.

Speaker 2: 7:59

This means that their front of house staff, though, earns just $8.98. The bare minimum that employees in Florida can legally pay their workers, who customarily receive direct wages in tips. Now, this low rate that enforces workers living in Orlando, in Florida's most expensive metropolitan area, which, for us, it is very expensive to live here. It is not not cheap. The organizers of the group what the lackluster pay is a major point of grievance. In the eight page demand letter, yes, they went on Reddit and Instagram and demanded eight pages worth of concerns, worth of things that they need to be changed. In the letter they say that they were told on May 6th, the meeting, they could no longer ask for tips anymore. So these people who are basing their rate they're basing their livelihood and their wages off of tip pay are not allowed to ask the customers for tips anymore, so they're just getting $8.68. Isn't that insane?

Speaker 2: 9:08

Cuckoo for cocoa puffs I don't like you right now any who's now. You know what was crazy to me, what I saw? That if you go on gideon's bakehouse right now at disney springs, there's a job listing to work for them Currently, right now. That's up. Do you know what their base rate is? That they're showing people that you would get if you work for Gideon's.

Speaker 1: 9:34

What $8.88.

Speaker 2: 9:36

That is $0.10 below Florida's legal minimum wage. How crazy is that I don't yep, are you fact checking me right now?

Speaker 1: 9:55

no, I'm fact checking. So there's two different minimum wage rates in florida one for non-tipped employees and one for tipped employees. Non-tipped- employees must be paid at least $12 per hour. Tipped employees must be paid at least $8.98.

Speaker 2: 10:15

And right now the listing on Gideon's is $8.88, which is 10 cents lower than the minimum required wage Interesting. That's horrible. Now, now orlando weekly, they did reach out to gideon's ownership and you know what they said about this what steve lee. That's the man that owns gideon's big shop at disney springs, um, he claims that the publication of the subliminal pay rate was a mistake and they're actively trying to get it updated I mean I could see that, that being a typo 88 versus 98 it's 10 cents off and that's like one letter off on a keyboard, but even still like come on now we live in a world where no one pays that.

Speaker 1: 10:56

However, I'm gonna play devil's advocate for a moment and say that all these people are being pissy and hateful and demanding more money. You looked at that job offer. You applied for that job, uh-uh no no, you applied for that job while they, when they advertised 898 or 888 tips.

Speaker 2: 11:14

They are now being told they cannot ask these people, these customers, for tips what is asking? They can't tell them according to the ghost of gideons, they are not allowed to say hi, I can receive tipsideons.

Speaker 1: 11:26

They are not allowed to say hi I can receive tips. Okay, we are not allowed to put a tip jar out. We weren't allowed to do that at Starbucks either.

Speaker 2: 11:30

Their job is based on their tips. They are told when they are hired they make $8.98 plus tips. You are verbally and contractingly said that. Contractingly, no, no, I disagree with you. I'm sorry, but I, yes, I, I understand where you're coming from, that people, that that you know these workers and employees and people doing an extra money and they, they want all these things, but they can't always combat what they're they're giving and I get that, trust me, been there, understand it, have the documentation to prove it. What I don't understand here is that you actively told these employees that they were going to make a certain rate plus tips and now you're telling them that they're not allowed to talk to the guests or the customers about this according to ghost of gideon according to ghost of gideon's correct.

Speaker 2: 12:20

Now here's the part that's even crazier to me. Now, beyond the pay, the ghost of gideon's also has alleged unsafe and unfair working conditions. Their demand letter voices a crazy allegations from insufficient cleaning procedures for baking sheets and insignificant and ineffective inefficient thank you. I'm just like so upset I lost my whole spot. Efficient and performative cold brew, thank you. Thank you, I lost my whole spot inefficient and performative cold brew thank you.

Speaker 2: 12:48

Thank you, I lost my whole spot. Um, cold brew procedures. They want to a lack of safety and training procedures for emergency situations such as a fire bomb threat, a lack of a fire exit from the kitchen, a lack of an ada compliance in staff areas such as an employee using a wheelchair, other mobilities that would not be able to maneuver behind the service counter or through the kitchen. What, what? Here's my crazy logic that my brain goes to here. If this is true, if what they're saying is true, right, if there's unsafe cleanliness practices that are happening, unsafe conditions that are happening, do you know what the state of Florida makes? All restaurants go through A health code, right, like a health code walkthrough.

Speaker 1: 13:41

Any restaurant requires that.

Speaker 2: 13:43

Why hasn't anybody checked in Gideon's?

Speaker 1: 13:46

So this is where I'm going to again play devil's advocate and say this is coming from Ghost of Gideon's. Yes, the health department hasn't come out and said that they've been fined. I want to know, I want to know what their health code rating is, because there is a possibility that it's not ADA compliant in the back because of direct store management and store employees improperly storing materials and products they could be I mean, it could be the case of because my Starbucks store was not ADA compliant from the back of house.

Speaker 1: 14:17

There was no way to get a wheelchair out of our back door, and the issue with that was because our store manager always overpurchased everything and we didn't have storage space for it. So then our back got cluttered up with stuff and then we had no nowhere to go no, the other part that kills me here is the, the comment and the commentary.

Speaker 2: 14:36

When it comes to the fire, there's a lack of fire exit from the kitchen and there's no emergency training for fires or bomb threats. How, how?

Speaker 1: 14:49

You don't know, because most jobs that training is. You exit the building and this is where we meet up.

Speaker 2: 14:54

Not just for most jobs, all jobs, especially those working for a very well-known company such as Disney World, they have those procedures already in place. That is already something that you are well aware of. This is crazy. And then the Ghosts of Gideon's have also come out and said that there is a lack of cooling measures for the staff working outside. According to the workers, Gideon's dress code requires them to wear long pants and all black clothes, they say. Unlike other employees on the Disney Springs property, Gideon's staff working outdoors do not have access to fans or any other form of relief from the heat exposure. When Florida's temperatures rise and boy does Florida get hot.

Speaker 1: 15:31

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 15:32

That's crazy to me If Chick-fil-A can put up fans and they I mean you and I were just at Chick-fil-A a week ago and they put an ice pack on her back and it wasn't even that hot yet yet I'm curious to see what is in their job description.

Speaker 1: 15:50

When you get hired, though, because I worked at when I worked at Dollywood, when we accepted the job, we had to sign um like a job responsibility page yep we can lift this much.

Speaker 1: 15:58

We can do that and it said that we had to be comfortable working extended period of extended period of time in extreme temperatures, extreme temperatures being negative 5 degrees to 114 degrees four long periods of time. So I'm interested to see now I'm not saying that they don't deserve fans, they definitely do but I'm interested to see like, did these employees acknowledge that they would be working in these positions and then they got in there and now they're working them and they're tired of it and they're complaining about it?

Speaker 2: 16:27

or did Gideon's not say this?

Speaker 2: 16:29

is something they were going to have to do um yeah, I'm also curious to know if maybe there is a procedure that is supposed to be in place that the maybe a store manager is not following, because the ghost of Gideon's have also come out and said that their management team they are looking to replace they would like, as part of their demands of this eight page, is that they are trying to get their manager to be retrained in order to then be brought back into the store. They're asking for him to be removed, retrained at an actual location where they can give him all the proper training that they need of this person, and then brought right back. So my question is is there a policy and a procedure already in place for their outdoor employees, for those tip positions, for that fire and bomb threat that management is not aware of and or not following through?

Speaker 1: 17:18

I don't know, it'll be interesting. It'll be interesting to continue to follow this to see where this goes because, they've put out their list of demands, but we've not heard any kind of response from Gideon's yet correct.

Speaker 2: 17:27

Actually, unfortunately, that is false. As of this morning, Gideon's Bakehouse owner has released a statement about all of these things. I'm not going to go through that entire statement because boy oh boy, is it longer than the eight-page documentation of demands. But Steve Lewis, who is that owner of Gideon's Bake Shop? He has shared an official statement responding to the allegations of the dirty, dangerous and toxic workplace and in summarize of that, he goes on to say that he complies with all health and safety regulations, he values inclusive and representation and aims to cultivate a welcoming, safe environment for everyone who visits and works for Gideon's. And that's basically all he said. He has yet to address any of the concerns about any of the tips, any of the pay, any of those hazardous work conditions. He just says you know what, I'm aware of it, Thank you, and that's it.

Speaker 2: 18:16

Interesting Very much sounds like an owner of a restaurant to me.

Speaker 1: 18:20

Very political answer.

Speaker 2: 18:21

Very, very political answer. So I'm wondering what the ghost of Gide gideons will say to all of this, and I will keep you guys updated as much as I can um, I will. You can actually put uh, if you go through any social media platform and look up ghost of gideons, you can read that a page um demand letter. I'm not sure if that's something that we'll be sharing on our social media platform, but it is definitely something that you guys can look up and read through instagram and through reddit.

Speaker 1: 18:50

Maybe we can maybe we can reach out to ghost of gideon's in the future, have them on our podcast. But yeah, um, gideon staff, if you're out there, we understand. I apologize, I play devil's advocate. I look at everything both ways. But we support you guys. We want fair and equal workplace for you. We hope everything works out well for you all and if, if not, just remember there's five billion jobs in Orlando and if Gideon's doesn't take care of you, go find someone that will.

Speaker 2: 19:14

I just, you know what. I wonder what will come out of this, because I'm wondering how many other places are going to start, you know, wanting to become unionized and wanting to feel. You know what, if Gideon's is paving the way for this and they can have a voice and say things, I wonder what other restaurants, um, or places are gonna start popping up and doing the same. The world of social media, it's what we live in.

Speaker 1: 19:32

Starbucks all over again. Well, are you ready to talk about Tiana taking a tumble?

Speaker 2: 19:39

I am really ready for Tiana's tumble. Let's go.

Speaker 1: 20:14

All right. So here we have finally gotten some updated information about Tiana's Bayou Adventure coming to Walt Disney World Florida very, very soon. But in order to talk about tiana's, we have to first talk.

Speaker 1: 20:28

Uh, or take a look back 82 years ago that's crazy on november 12th of 1946, walt disney produced a movie musical that was part live action, part animated. The film song of the south was released by rko radio pictures and featured a series excuse me, featured stories by Joel Chandler Harris. Harris was an American journalist and fiction writer best known for his collection of Uncle Remus stories. Born on December 9th of 1848 in Eatonton, georgia. Born on December 9th of 1848 in Eatonton, georgia, harris became famous for preserving and popularizing African-American folktales, and there's a little history lesson for the day.

Speaker 2: 21:14

Wow, love that for us. Thank you so much. Now the film is set in the post-Civil War American South and it follows the story of a young boy named Johnny who goes to live on his grandmother's plantation. While there, johnny befriends Uncle Ramus, an African-American former slave, who captivates Johnny with the tales of Briar Rabbit, briar Fox and Briar Bear Gosh. That briar word just tongue ties me up every time. Now these animated sequences features the mischievous Briar Rabbit and his adventures, which serve as moral lessons for Johnny as he navigates through his own challenges.

Speaker 1: 21:49

Now, the film was particularly famous for its songs that were composed by several different artists, and some of those notable songs are Zippity-Doo-Dah sung by Uncle Ramos, who was played by James Baskett. Now this song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and has literally become one of Disney's most iconic tunes. However, have we noticed that, since the ride closed, Zippity-Doo-Dah has since disappeared from Disney's park opening lineup music that plays on Main Street?

Speaker 2: 22:20

Yes, it has.

Speaker 1: 22:21

And another song that I'm not familiar with at all is Everybody's Got a Laughing Place, which is another memorable song from the animated sequences and I think played a pretty decent role in the attraction when it was open?

Speaker 2: 22:32

Oh definitely.

Speaker 1: 22:34

So Song of the South was controversial since it was released due to its depiction of African-American characters and its nostalgic portrayal for the plantation life in the Reconstruction era. Critics argue that the film presented and sanitized and romanticized that's a lot of EDs view of the South and downplays the realities of slavery and racial discrimination.

Speaker 2: 23:01

Boy Limited release. It was due to the ongoing controversy. Song of the South was never fully released on home video in the United States. It was re-released in theaters several times up until the mid-1980s but has since been withdrawn from the public by Disney. It was around this time in the 1980s that Disney's Imagineer, tony Baxter, conceived the idea of Splash Mountain attraction. Splash Mountain attraction Baxter wanted to create a log flume ride that would integrate Disney's characters and storytelling to provide a unique experience different from other amusement park log rides.

Speaker 1: 23:33

So in the initial pitch it was originally called the Zippity Doodah no Zippity River Run. So the ride's concept was to be based on the 1946 Disney film Song of the South, which features the characters such as Briar Rabbit, briar Fox and Briar Bear, along with the iconic song Zippity-Doo-Dah. Now, despite the controversy surrounding the film, disney decided to use the animated segments and characters for the ride. The idea was to capture the whimsical adventure of Briar Rabbit and his escapades to provide a light-hearted and fun experience oh yeah now.

Speaker 2: 24:09

The development and construction of the splash mountain at walt disney world began in the late 1980s. Imagineers worked meticulously to blend the ride's storyline with intricate auto animatronics and elaborate set designs. Now splash mountain officially opened its doors at magic kingdom in walt disney world on july 17th 1992. It was one of the most technologically advanced rides at the time because it featured over a hundred auto animatronic figures and a complex series of scenes and drops I love you.

Speaker 1: 24:40

It's audio animatronics not auto animatronics?

Speaker 2: 24:43

I don't um.

Speaker 1: 24:46

So the ride experience was a themed journey that took riders through various scenes depicting briar rabbit's journey to his friend's laughing place, while being pursued by briar fox and briar bear. The ride accumulates in a thrilling five-story drop into the briar patch and key songs uh, from the movie song of the south, including zippity-Dah and Everybody's Got to Laugh were integral parts of the ride's experience, enhancing the narrative and the atmosphere. Now we're fast-forwarding to the present day so over the years.

Speaker 1: 25:20

Growing awareness and sensitivity towards racial representation led to an increase of scrutiny of song of the south and its association with splash mountain. Reimagining uh the attraction. In june of 2020, amid social justice movements and the broader re-evaluation of cultural symbols, disney announced that splash mountain would be reimagined. So for those of you that don't know, reimagining at disney means they're going to take an attraction. It's going to close down completely.

Speaker 1: 25:46

It's going to be completely well, not completely scrapped correct um, the theming, essentially, is going to be completely scrapped and it's going to reopen as a new attraction I'm trying to think of ones that have been reimagined um. So one thing that was reimagined was the people mover in disneyland, california closed.

Speaker 2: 26:03

It reopened as the terror at in disneyland, at disney, california, adventure, which is now guardians of the galaxy, correct?

Speaker 1: 26:10

same concept, same ride, escape or something something like that um same ride, same attraction.

Speaker 1: 26:15

However, it is just a re-theme to a different um uh theme theme yeah, so the new theme would be based on the hit 2009 film the princess and the frog, featuring disney's first african-american princess, tiana love her and you know, I recently ran into a guest at one of my jobs, um, and I could tell she was disney bound as diana, diana, hi diana, my bestie tiana, and um, I had made the comment to her and I was like, oh my god, are you Tiana? And she was like, yeah, she has been my favorite since I was a kid, because she was the first Disney princess that wasn't white, and this was a person of color that I was speaking to.

Speaker 1: 26:58

So she said you know, she finally felt like she belonged in the Disney franchise because she finally related to a Disney princess, princess I love it, I love it um. Now the new narrative of the ride, the reimagined ride, will follow princess tiana and her friends on an adventure set after the events in the film. So the goal was to create an exclusive and inspirational experience for guests of all backgrounds I really love that now.

Speaker 2: 27:22

The guests have speculated on an opening date for the ride for the last few months, as we've seen finishing touches that have been added to the exterior and the lighting that has been turned on at night. Recent videos have surfaced of Disney Imagineers riding the attraction and signage being displayed saying on-ride testing was happening. Finally, on Mother's Day, disney announced that the ride will officially be opening on June 28th.

Speaker 1: 27:44

I want to talk about the lights for a moment. Absolutely, because I love how people take the simplest things and then they run with it, because that's what we do in modern day America.

Speaker 2: 27:53

No, that's what Disney adults do. Let's be real. No, no, no.

Speaker 1: 27:57

I'm talking about a certain demographic of people and you're going to understand in a moment when I say this. I don't know if you know about this maybe. Um, so you can catch glimpses of Tiana's right now.

Speaker 2: 28:11

Yes, at Disney, they've got the lights on the ride's been running and it is beautiful the amount of greenery and the lights.

Speaker 1: 28:14

It's so pretty on the exterior of the attraction they're using a lot of blues, purples and pinks. Yes, and I, I and I think it's beautiful. I think it's probably going to help create that story that they're trying to live. However, the keyboard warriors are already going off on Disney because they are saying that they are yet again pushing the gay agenda because this particular sequence of lights represents bisexuality.

Speaker 1: 28:43

Jeez, oh, please, Now that being said, we noticed when we watched the TV show Heartstopper that there's the use of purple and blue lighting, and they specifically came out and said, yeah, we use this specific lighting because this is about a bisexual person, correct. But Disney, you're reaching guys, come on. Come on, it is lights. It's Tiana's Bayou Adventure. There's not a gay or bisexual person in that movie. Calm down, it looks gorgeous. It is one of the most beautifully aesthetic.

Speaker 2: 29:12

It's very pretty and it just it's driving me insane. But we have to jump Now. Tiana's Bayou Adventure is the reimagined version of the classic Splash Mountain ride at Disney's theme parks. The reimagined version of the classic Splash Mountain ride at Disney's theme parks based on the 2009 animated film the Princess and the Frog. While the ride maintains a core physical structure and mechanisms of Splash Mountain, it features new theming, new story elements and updates to reflect the new narrative. Here are some things to kind of expect.

Speaker 1: 29:40

So ride specifications. We didn't go over this for Splash Mountain because for the majority it's all the same. So the height of the drop that signature drop remains the exact same, approximately 50 feet set at a 45-degree angle. Whee Poof Splash. The length of the ride remains the same length at about 2,600 feet.

Speaker 2: 30:03

Bye, oh, bye. Now the ride is also still around 10 minutes, which is quite a long flume ride.

Speaker 1: 30:12

I love long rides, though I'm a big fan.

Speaker 2: 30:14

Now, each log holds up to eight passengers and maintains that same theoretical hourly capacity of about 1,800 riders, and the ride system is still going to be a long flume system, so be a long flume log, log words.

Speaker 1: 30:28

It's too early, guys, be prepared to get wet so, as we kind of said earlier, we're repeating ourselves a lot in this episode, but that's fine well, this part we didn't say tiana's bayou adventure takes guests on a journey with princess tiana and her friends as they prepare for a unique Mardi Gras celebration Set after the events of the movie Princess and the Frog, the ride explores the rich culture and vibrant music of New Orleans.

Speaker 2: 30:50

I'm so excited.

Speaker 1: 30:51

Have you seen? So recently, disney has been releasing a lot of teaser videos.

Speaker 2: 30:56

Yes.

Speaker 1: 30:56

We've gotten to see some of the animatronics. Yeah, we got to see Tiana we got to see Tiana, we got to see the old lady, we got to see the alligator, and what is amazing to me is they've brought back all of the original voice actors from the movie to play those, and then those actors got to go in and see their animatronics working.

Speaker 2: 31:14

Did you see what happened when the woman that plays Tiana saw her animatronic? I had not seen that one. She started crying.

Speaker 1: 31:22

I mean, I feel like I would, unless you're chris pratt. I love daddy crap but he's he's really gotten he's. He's kind of irritated me in the last couple years because he's upset about how he's associated with jurassic world and I'm, like you, have been probably forever, if not, you know, for many decades immortalized in some of the big, in two of the biggest theme park franchises in the world, with walt, disney world and universal studios all right well, and also he plays a very big role in the lego community oh yeah, as he was in the, is he in a lego land ride was?

Speaker 2: 31:56

in the lego movie and which made him in lego land, correct.

Speaker 1: 32:00

So he's in three theme parks, three, and he's over here.

Speaker 2: 32:02

Theme parks, three very well-known.

Speaker 1: 32:03

He's over here being pissy about how people only associate him with this one attraction. So it makes me happy to see that the performers with Princess and the Frog. Oh, they were very heart-well.

Speaker 2: 32:14

It was very heart-whelming and it was one of those moments that you're watching that and you kind of got that Disney magic back. Even as an adult like I got goosebumps and I wanted to cry right along with her. It was very, very magical. It was really sweet. It was almost like watching um, the, the Disney documentary about what the Haunted Mansion, and knowing that the girl at the very end is the daughter of Madame Leota.

Speaker 1: 32:37

That was very neat for me. Now the ride features new scenes inspired by the film, including the bayou, which I had to learn how to spell the other day b-a-y-o-u I'm so proud of you um the bustling streets of new orleans, which I'm interested to see how they're going to pull that one off and tiana's place and you know that's her restaurant, right?

Speaker 2: 32:56

yes, I'm so excited to see that. I just I hope that when you walk through it it smells like gumbo, that we get that smell.

Speaker 1: 33:02

I saw on Twitter. I don't know if this is going to be true or not, but I saw something that says that Disney will be installing smellitizers in that area, where they will do beignet smells, stop. So guests can expect to see the beloved characters such as Princess Tiana, prince Naive and Louis the Alligator.

Speaker 2: 33:20

Give me a little bit of Prince Naveen. I thought to me when I watched that movie. I had the biggest crush on him. I thought he was so cute. Now the music for the attraction is going to incorporate music from the film, including the favorites like almost there and down in new orleans oh, my gosh along with new songs to enhance the experience.

Speaker 2: 33:42

Now we're also going to see an intense retheming that is going to transform this ride environment into a lively new orleans bayou, with updated animatronics, digital effects and detailed set pieces that reflect the film's aesthetic so, looking at the animatronics that we've seen on, instagram it looks as though we are getting the animatronics that we have been seeing in the asian continent disney's yes, super lifelike animated the.

Speaker 1: 34:09

We are getting away from the projection faces correct and we are going to lifelike faces and life.

Speaker 2: 34:15

This is almost like um, if you've ridden frozen, you're taking the frozen animatronic and the right the the river of navi animatronics and you're putting them together and you're creating a brand new, lifelike version. It's. It's almost like looking at you and I.

Speaker 1: 34:32

It's very, very impressive yep, now some of the technical details for the attraction. So the ride uh will retain its three lift hills, so you're going to go up three times to speak on the animatronics Again, the ride will feature state-of-the-art audio animatronics with new figures and enhancements to existing ones, ensuring high levels of detail and realism.

Speaker 2: 34:52

I'm not super excited about this part. Now the ride is going to maintain its various water features, which includes that final big, massive splash and smaller drops. Now this is going to contribute to the ride's excitement and immersive experience. But boy, I'm telling you, you're gonna get wet.

Speaker 1: 35:07

This is not a dry ride so, for the exterior area and the queue area, this is what we know, or what's been best determined by the pictures that people have been posting. Yes, so the queue is redesigned to reflect the themes of princess and the frog, immersing guests in the story of the movement from the moment they enter. The area will likely feature elements from New Orleans architecture and bayou landscapes. I love that.

Speaker 2: 35:33

Now the exterior of the ride is previously known as the Chickapin Hill. It is rethemed to represent a bayou and surrounding areas with lush greenery, vibrant colors and thematic elements that tie into the film's setting.

Speaker 1: 35:48

And let me tell you from what we can see it's beautiful, and I know this may be a controversial statement. I think that the exterior of this attraction looks so much better than it ever did as Splash Mountain oh, 100%, 100%.

Speaker 2: 36:02

I think it ever did. A splash mountain oh, 100%, 100%. I think it's going to be great. Now the queue in the ride may include interactive elements to engage guests and enhance the storytelling experience.

Speaker 1: 36:10

We don't know if that is a fact.

Speaker 2: 36:12

However, my fingers are crossed that that is not the case.

Speaker 1: 36:14

We've seen.

Speaker 2: 36:17

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has something similar. Winnie the Pooh ride has something similar to this.

Speaker 1: 36:28

I don't like this concept. I do and I don't. I like it because it keeps people busy, and when you keep people's hands busy, they're less likely to break things. When I worked at Lightning Rod at Dollywood, we had this issue where people would literally drill holes in the stucco walls and destroy the building and, ironically, funny enough, this was the same year Dollywood started selling fidget spinners, when they were really popular, oh wow. And we immediately saw a decrease in vandalism in the queue lines across the entire property because people had something to keep their hands busy.

Speaker 2: 36:54

I just hate it because it doesn't move the guests. You get kids that will throw fits because they are not able to touch those things and not able to do it and not able to just walk around them yeah, but you can't because I'm gonna get super mad at you. But we're also going to see enhanced lighting, sound and projection technologies and will be utilized to create a more immense and um dynamic environment so tiana's bayou adventure aims to bring a fresh, fresh, cultural rich experience to disney parks.

Speaker 1: 37:22

while preserving the thrill and excitement of the original Splash Mountain ride, the reimagined attraction celebrates diversity and the spirit of New Orleans, offering a new chapter in the legacy of one of Disney's most beloved attractions. Now the ride is opening soon.

Speaker 2: 37:39

On June 28th.

Speaker 1: 37:40

However, prior to June 28th, there are going to be a slew of different types of previews and ways that you can potentially experience this attraction, so we have broken down all of the different previews that will be happening in the coming month months. So the first one that we're going to go over Ashley's favorite thing that she wants to be a part of, so I'm going to let you take the lead first I am a part of, so I'm gonna let you take the lead first, I am a part of.

Speaker 2: 38:04

Thank you very much, okay, and that is a d23 preview. Let's start with the d23 preview details. During this separately ticketed event, d23 gold members will have the opportunity to be among the first people to enjoy Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom. D23 gold members will be able to ride the attraction again and again and then take some time to enjoy the chanting evening ambience of the bayou, with live jazz performances, tasty treats that will be available during the celebration of tiana's bayou adventure actually I got it wrong.

Speaker 1: 38:33

It was the next one that I thought you wanted to be a part of what you do. However, um, some information that I didn't put down that I probably should have. Not all D23 members will be guaranteed rides.

Speaker 2: 38:44

No, it is only gold members as well.

Speaker 1: 38:46

Those outside of the gold will have the opportunity to virtual queue it Correct. That being said, for all of these previews, disney has made it very clear that there is no guarantee that you will be able to ride, even if you get a ticket or pass or virtual queue that says you can correct um. So the next one is the disney vacation club preview. This is what I want to be a part of, so there's also going to be the vacation club preview with uh dvc, offering eligible members and their guests a sneak peek of tiana's bayou adventure at magic kingdom before it opens to the general public. The event registration opens on thursday, may 16th, at 10 am eastern time. For access to the registration link, keep an eye on your inbox and the news and alerts section of the disneyvacationclubcom.

Speaker 1: 39:29

Pre-registration is required and space will fill up quickly very, very fast those event dates are going to be for wednesday, june 12th, from 1 to 4 pm eastern time, and wednesday, june 19th, from 9 am to noon eastern time.

Speaker 2: 39:43

Now the eligibility for this is you must be a disney vacation club member who are eligible June 19th, from 9 am to noon Eastern Time. Now, the eligibility for this is you must be a Disney Vacation Club member who are eligible for members extras benefits. They must hold a qualifying Disney Resort reservation using their membership and to attend you and the number of your guests on your resort reservation, as of May 12th 2024, must have a valid theme park admission and a theme park reservation for Magic Kingdom on the day of the preview event, unless you are not required for your admission type.

Speaker 1: 40:09

Now the last one that we have.

Speaker 2: 40:10

There is a lot of steps we're going to go through them very slowly. We'll also be posting all of this on social media, so this will be something you can reference back the entire time.

Speaker 1: 40:19

So the last preview that we have, which is where majority of people are going to be trying to get on, is the annual Passholder previews that will take place on June 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 20th.

Speaker 2: 40:35

I'm really proud of Disney for giving us, for giving Passholders there, quite a bit of days there compared to the others.

Speaker 1: 40:41

That being said, you have to have a park reservation and a virtual queue. So even if you get a park reservation, still not guaranteed to get in. Nope, here's the problem. The website for reservations crashed almost immediately after these dates were named Correct and guests have they've said it's not worked well since then and I believe all of the previews are those dates. The reservations are full.

Speaker 2: 41:08

Correct Now, in order to do all this, we're going to give you all the steps here and we're going to help you as much as we can. However, we cannot guarantee that following all these steps is something that you will be able to accomplish. You will actively be able to accomplish getting a Tiana's Bayou Adventure preview and going through those steps Now. If you are familiar with a virtual queue which you should be if you've read Tron Guardians of the Galaxy.

Speaker 1: 41:32

We have that later. We have virtual queue later. Go through the steps. We're running out of time. Ashley and I have somewhere to be in like 30 minutes. Yes, we really do.

Speaker 2: 41:40

Now you first are going to make a park reservation at Magic Kingdom Park on the preview date to have the opportunity to join at the 7 am virtual queue for that day, or you can make a park reservation at any theme park on a preview date to have the opportunity to join the 1 pm virtual queue.

Speaker 1: 41:54

So you are only eligible for the 7 am virtual queue if you have a Magic Kingdom reservation. That's correct On your reservation date. Request to join the virtual queue by using the my Disney Experience app. There will be two opportunities each day to join these previews.

Speaker 2: 42:07

Now, the 7 am, virtual queue will be available to pass holders with a park reservation to Magic Kingdom only for that day.

Speaker 1: 42:14

The 1 pm virtual queue will be available to pass holders with a park reservation for any theme park that day. As a reminder, pass holders must enter the theme park where they have the reservation before visiting Magic Kingdom, or on June 13th, 14th, 17th, 18th or 20th. They can enter the Magic Kingdom park without a reservation after 2 pm.

Speaker 2: 42:37

Now Passholders do not have to enter a theme park when they request to join the virtual queue.

Speaker 1: 42:43

Planning on riding Tron, light Cycle Run or Guardians of the Galaxy, cosmic Rewind? Don't worry, you can hold a virtual queue for one of those attractions and for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, passholder Preview at the same time, when available. This special perk is only offered during Passholder Previews.

Speaker 2: 42:58

That's correct. Don't go thinking you can do it twice.

Speaker 1: 43:01

So some important info. Oh, that was important so sorry.

Speaker 2: 43:06

Pass holders must have a Walt Disney World Resort annual pass with a valid admission on the preview date Applicable pass. Blackout dates apply, so park reservations are unlimited and subject to availability.

Speaker 1: 43:18

Each pass holder can request to join a virtual queue no more than once per day can request to join a virtual queue no more than once per day.

Speaker 2: 43:26

Now pass holders may hold boarding groups for the preview virtual queue and an attraction virtual queue at the same time, when available.

Speaker 1: 43:30

Joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to participate in the preview. Boarding groups for the virtual queue are limited, subject to availability and are not guaranteed. Not all boarding groups will be called to return based on the availability of the attraction. You can learn more about virtual queues. Offering dates and hours are subject to change. That was a weird. I thought that you learn more about virtual queues and then it just ends. Go ahead and do your thing.

Speaker 2: 43:59

You can learn more about virtual queues on Disney's website. Now you can offer. Dates and hours are subject to change or cancellation without notice or liability. Remember, guys, this is a preview, so at any moment a ride could go down, things could happen, life happens. This attraction is not open yet to the main public, which means they're kind of getting all their nicks and crannies out of the way before it does open to everybody. So have some patience and be super kind to those cast members.

Speaker 1: 44:21

So have some patience and be super kind to those cast members. Now, if you don't get to come until June 28th or after, here is some helpful information on how you can get to ride as the standby line or, as, if you don't know, just standing in line and waiting for the attraction will not be available until a later date.

Speaker 2: 44:36

Now the public opening is going to be a drop in on a virtual queue yet again. When Tiana's Bayou Avenger opens up on Juneune 28th, it will be a using a virtual queue. Guests will request to join the virtual queue via my disney experience app at one at of two different times, 7 am or 1 pm. Now, with a standby queue not be available during the attractions initial opening date, we can expect an opening standby queue soon after the attractions opening and that is a disney statement.

Speaker 1: 45:02

We can expect a standby queue soon after the attractions opening and that is a disney statement we can expect a standby queue soon after the attractions opening. Hopefully it's not two years so you can visit disneyworldcom forward slash virtual queue for more information about how virtual queues at disney world work and what you need to know before you visit the magic kingdom park or you can use disney genies plus service.

Speaker 2: 45:22

Diana's Bayou Adventure will also be included as a Lightning Lane entrance in Disney Genies Plus. You can purchase this service on my Disney Experience app, which helps you to get some of your favorite attractions faster through Lightning Lane experiences, and includes digital downloads of select Disney PhotoPass attraction photos taken in the park on the day of your purchase at no additional charge. Guests may check the app on the day of their visit for pricing and availability.

Speaker 1: 45:47

And, as always, please plan before you go. Be educated. Disney parks and universal parks do not work like regular theme parks across the country.

Speaker 1: 45:57

They are a whole new world. So we recommend that you visit DisneyWorldcom and for more information about Lightning Lane you can visit DisneyWorldcom forward slash Lightning Lane for more details on that and how it works. I'm actually not super familiar with how Lightning Lane works, so do you not have to have a virtual queue if you buy it in the Lightning Lane? No, I can only imagine how much that is going to cost per person.

Speaker 2: 46:18

It's $60 a person, $60? $16. $1.6. Oh that's actually not that bad. Yes, but that's per each ride.

Speaker 1: 46:28

Yeah, but if I'm just going to, virtual queue, tiana's, and that's it.

Speaker 2: 46:29

Yeah, but can you imagine all these people that pay for each individual?

Speaker 1: 46:30

ride. That is wild and crazy. Can you imagine paying?

Speaker 2: 46:31

$16 for Tomorrowland Speedway.

Speaker 1: 46:33

But we are here 13,. I think it's going to be 13 months after Splash Mountain closed for. Tiana's to open to open, so definitely not a Tron Light Cycle Run construction here. Super proud of them for that. We're super excited to see Tiana's Bayou Adventure and what other fun and exciting things are happening beyond Big Thunder Mountain which we may talk about in the future. But with that it is now 1130 in the morning. We've got somewhere to be in 15 minutes.

Speaker 2: 46:59

Here we go.

Speaker 1: 47:00

So stay safe, stay educated.

Speaker 2: 47:02

And, of course, share our podcast with your friends, your family and your favorite bartender. Please be nice to those cast members when you see them. If you pop into tiana's bayou adventure, remember you need them just as much as they need you. Thanks, guys, bye.