ORLANDO, FL.- Walt Disney World’s newest attraction Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is almost here. Based on Disney’s 2009 film “The Princess and the Frog,” the ride has transformed the former Splash Mountain attraction into a love letter to Disney’s first Black princess and New Orleans. Featuring a 50-foot drop, animatronics thanks to the minds of Disney’s Imagineers and the sounds of the beloved movie soundtrack along with new music, the Magic Kingdom ride takes guests on a journey that digs a little deeper into the lives of Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen a year after the film.
“Tiana was our inspiration because Tiana is everybody’s princess. She comes from a real place in America. She wasn’t born into royalty. She has a working mom. She has military ties, and there’s so much about her life and that is relatable,” said Charita Carter, the executive creative producer of Walt Disney Imagineering, at a showcase. “Everyone can find an aspect of the story in their own story. And so many people are inspired by her. Tiana is a dreamer and a doer.”
At the start of the ride, guests are able to wander through the main office of Tiana’s Foods — an employee-owned cooperative she started after the success of Tiana’s Palace — as she prepares to throw a Mardi Gras party for all of New Orleans. The queue is littered with easter eggs and mementos highlighting the success of the restaurant from winning best new restaurant to inspiring young locals.
Guests are then taken up to the kitchen that is filled with framed photos of family and friends. Ted Robledo, the executive creative director of Disney Imagineering, also revealed that the space will be pumped with the smell of fresh beignets, further immersing people in Tiana’s world.
The ride relies heavily on storytelling that draws from elements of the movie and real-life inspirations as well. The character of Tiana was inspired by Leah Chase. Known as the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” she was an award-winning chef and the culinary legend behind Dooky Chase as we know it. A New Orleans staple, Dooky Chase became a gathering spot for many after she took over the restaurant with her husband, Edgar “Dooky” Chase II, in 1946.
That inspiration carried on into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The executive team behind the ride took many research trips to New Orleans and visited the Chase family as they worked to continue their families legacy.
“Tiana would not be possible if it were not for Leah Chase. She was a dreamer and a doer — a working mom of four who followed her dream to run a restaurant,” said Carmen Smith, senior vice president of creative development for Walt Disney Imagineering. “Though Leah and Dooky are gone, their legacy lives on in the future generations who are a huge part of this project. Their children were our guides to her life and her community.”
Fans of the film are reunited with beloved characters such as Mama Odie, Louis the Alligator, Charlotte La Bouf, Tiana’s mother, Eudora, and Prince Naveen’s younger brother Prince Ralphie throughout the water ride. Many new critter characters are also introduced through dozens of brand-new audio animatronics.
The ride ends with a big musical number featuring a new song from Grammy award-winning musician and songwriter PJ Morton and the voice of Tiana Anika Noni Rose titled “Special Spice.”
They express how glad they are to welcome everyone to their “joyful celebration” that needs “no invitation.”