Disney Reveals Some of the Musical Critters in Residence at ‘Tiana’s Bayou Adventure’

As “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” gets closer to opening, we’re learning more about the story, and Disney has revealed some details on the musical critters inside the ride.

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The Details

When Princess Tiana suddenly finds herself in need of a band, she and Louis head into the bayou in a last-minute search for this essential missing ingredient for her party — musical critters.

In the first critter encounter, guests will meet a group of critter musicians playing a rendition of “Gonna Take You There,” from “The Princess and the Frog.’ These are original characters created just for the attraction.

The familiar melody is being played on charming makeshift instruments constructed from natural materials and some human-made found objects, including a fiddle, accordion, washboard.

But who are the critters behind the catchy tune?

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The Critters

Meet some of the adorable musicians in “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” and get to know them a little more.

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 (acutally 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.

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In collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios, Laura West, a lead concept designer with Walt Disney Imagineering, carefully crafted the brand-new characters that you’ll see in the attraction.

Here’s a look at the process:

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Plushies

And there can’t be new cute Disney characters without merchandise, and if you wish you had a critter friend of your own at the end of the ride, you are in luck: Beau, Apollo and Rufus will soon be available in the form of huggable plushies for you to take home.