Full guide to the critters of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Back in 2022, we told you about a few of the critters who would be joining Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, but now we know a bit more about them, including their names and backstories.
We knew the attraction takes place as Princess Tiana is getting ready to throw a big Mardi Gras party, but (of course) there’s a bit of a mix-up. Tiana finds herself in need of a band, so guests follow her into the bayou in a last-minute search for musicians…or as we’ve now learned, musical critters.
“You’ve watched murals and metalwork flourishes for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure come to life. You’ve followed along with construction updates. You’ve seen an Audio-Animatronics figure of Tiana make her social media debut,” Imagineering Executive Creative Director for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ted Robledo wrote in the Disney Parks Blog. “Now […] I’d like to welcome you among the cypress trees, water lilies, and Spanish moss to learn about some of the new Audio-Animatronics friends who play an important role in this musical adventure.”
Who Are The Critters of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?
As they embark on their journey through the bayou, guests will meet the first group of critter musicians playing “Gonna Take You There” from “The Princess and the Frog” on instruments they’ve made from natural materials and found objects.
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 and 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 sometimes come across as a little sarcastic 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 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.
Brand-New Original Disney Characters
“It’s not every day we get to debut brand-new original Disney characters as part of an attraction in our theme parks,” Robledo wrote. “Not only are these critters special, but so are the many innovative Imagineers and partners who are bringing them to life [including] my talented colleague and storyteller, Laura West, a lead concept designer with Walt Disney Imagineering, and the creator of these adorable critters.”
According to West, the process for creating these characters starts with sketches so she could figure out what the character looks like and what their instrument is made of. Then, the sketches move to hand-drawn “turnarounds” that show what the pose looks like from every angle and next to a dimensional artist who create a 3D version. Last, but certainly not least, the character goes to mechanical design and fabrication to become an audio animatronics figure.
“I’ve had the incredible privilege to create a whole new group of characters for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure [and] they’re all original to Walt Disney Imagineering,” West said.
Guests hoping to have a critter friend of their own will be able to take home Beau, Apollo, and Rufus plushies.
More Musical Critters
In addition to the critters who’ll make up the zydeco band for the beginning of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a group of Rara musicians who’ll be playing tunes for Princess Tiana’s Mardi Gras party.
Commonly heard at festivals and street processions in New Orleans, Rara music features unique instruments with distinctive sounds. Here are the Audio-Animatronics Rara musicians guests will meet in the bayou:
Octavia the Bobcat – Octavia plays the vaksin, a single-note horn instrument popular in Rara music. She’s an adventurous bobcat kitten, and she loves climbing and hanging out in trees almost as much as she loves performing. This daredevil almost never gets scared.
Pawpaw the Bobcat – Not only is Pawpaw Octavia’s devoted grandfather, but he also taught her how to play the vaksin! Pawpaw lives to make Octavia smile and has the view that everything has a way of working itself out – he’s seen it all but isn’t jaded.
Claude the Louisiana Black Bear – Claude is a salt of the earth kind of bear (or, as they say in the bayou, “salt of the mound”) who plays his horn along with the other members of his family. He’s a tinkerer who loves to create with things found in the forest, and is frequently funny without intending to be, especially when it comes to his home-grown creations.
Bernadette the Louisiana Black Bear – Bernadette loves to enjoy life, from splashing in the waters of her bayou home with her cub, Sebastián, to playing the horn with her mate, Claude. She’s a clear thinker and is warm and supportive. Bernadette loves to sink into the bayou waters and munch on plants (so long as Sebastián is clearly within sight).
Sebastián the Louisiana Black Bear – Though he’s definitely a “mama’s cub,” Sebastián charted his own musical course as a drummer, despite his parents being devoted horn players. He’s happy to follow his friend Octavia’s adventurous lead as they explore and play, and is fascinated with the small details in the bayou, like the insects and mushrooms.
Phina the Gray Fox – Phina’s enthusiasm extends beyond her drumming, as she’s constantly thinking of new ideas with optimism and energy! This imaginative fox is continually starting new projects with excitement, and her friends accept and celebrate her unique thinking.
Claude, Bernadette, and Sebastian also appear in the Walt Disney World attraction poster, along with Beau and Apollo from the zydeco band, Louis the alligator, and Mama Odie.
The last group of musical critters is a quartet of frogs who will bring Afro-Cuban music to the bayou:
Felipe the Frog – Deep among the cypress trees, you’ll hear band leader Felipe making musical magic on the piano! Felipe is also the proprietor of an exclusive bayou night club, where the local fireflies love to dance the night away to a musical recipe of hot rhythms and spicy melodies. He’s an old-school family guy, especially to his “family” in the band.
Mayra the Frog – Have you ever seen a frog play a flower blossom like a trumpet? You will when you meet Mayra; be sure to stick around for one of her toe-tapping solos. Mayra’s the most ambitious of the four frogs and has been practicing her instrument since she was just a tadpole!
Mondo the Frog – Mondo is a natural on the conga drums, which he made as a happy accident when his favorite bottle cap got stuck on his second-favorite acorn. From there, the rhythm in Mondo’s soul took over! He’s very copacetic and accepts what comes, a trait as steady and reliable as his drumbeat.
Isabel the Green Tree Frog – Learning from Mondo’s example, Isabel loves getting lost in the music playing her congas. She’s the youngest member of the group, and there’s nothing she loves more than “going with the flow” and getting to play drums all night long!
“From Zydeco to Rara to Afro-Cuban jazz, you’ll hear all kinds of musical flavors from critters big and small around the bayou, just like you would walking the streets of the French Quarter in the Crescent City,” Robledo notes.
Not all the critters on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are musical. Guests will also see frog pals Gloria and Delores, who love to “people watch” as logs float past, and Lari the armadillo, who has a habit of “borrowing” things that aren’t his.
Guests will meet all these critters when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens at Walt Disney World this summer and later this year at Disneyland.
