Disney World is facing public criticism after a guest observed a ride prop held together with duct tape. The incident, shared on X by user @CoasterK24, involved a fake car in the queue area for the newly opened Tiana's Bayou Adventure, where visible strips of adhesive tape were used on its edges.
The user expressed dismay, noting that the use of duct tape detracted from the immersive theming designed to transport guests to 1920s Louisiana, the setting of "The Princess and the Frog." They pointed out that duct tape was not invented during that historical period, calling the repair "embarrassing" for a "top tier theme park."
Other social media users echoed these sentiments, with some suggesting that Walt Disney himself would disapprove and expressing hope that the repair is a temporary measure.
Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which opened in June 2024 and replaced Splash Mountain, is described as a musical adventure through the bayou. The queue aims to immerse guests in Tiana's Foods, the business featured in the film.
This is not the first recent incident to draw attention to the attraction. Last month, safety concerns were raised following an event at Disneyland in California where a 13-year-old boy climbed out of a log flume mid-ride and fell down a 50-foot drop. The boy sustained no critical injuries and was released from the hospital. The attraction was inspected by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and cleared to reopen the following day.
The lack of seatbelts or lap bars on the ride, common for log flume attractions, became a topic of discussion among social media users following the Disneyland incident. Some questioned why restraints were not installed, while others noted that such restraints are not typical for log flume designs due to engineering considerations, including potential drowning risks if a vehicle were to flip.