- Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a feel-good trip that is good for households.
- It isn’t a curler coaster, however visitors could need to convey a poncho to remain dry.
- Tiana’s Bayou Journey opens on June twenty eighth at Walt Disney World in Florida and later this yr at Disneyland in California.
Early on in Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” film, Tiana’s dad James tells her, “You know the thing about good food? It brings people together from all walks of life. It warms them right up, and it puts little smiles on their faces.”
As an alternative of meals, insert Tiana’s Bayou Journey, and also you’ll know what to anticipate when the highly-anticipated attraction formally opens on June twenty eighth at Walt Disney World in Florida and later this yr at Disneyland in California.
USA TODAY obtained a preview of Disney World’s new trip, which replaces Splash Mountain at each parks. Right here’s what visitors ought to know.
What’s Tiana’s Bayou Journey like?
Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a feel-good trip.
Not like “The Princess and the Frog,” the trip has no villains, like Dr. Facilier. Visitors with little ones who’re fearful of the darkish must be conscious that it will get fairly darkish for a number of stretches, however there’s nothing else to be afraid of. Even the massive drop is extra thrilling than scary. Energetic music performs the entire time, and the bayou critters visitors see alongside the way in which are as endearing as Louis the alligator from the movie.
The surface of the attraction is roofed in lush foliage, which carries into components of the inside. Inside are some digital on-screen visuals blended in with bodily units, however not as many as on Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway or Remy’s Ratatouille Journey. And the swinging and swaying audio-animatronics are simply what followers have been asking for after seeing the technological developments at Disney’s worldwide parks.
Is Tiana’s Bayou Journey the identical as Splash Mountain?
No. The bones of the attraction could also be related and there are few Splash Mountain Easter eggs, however it’s a very totally different story. The large splashdown continues to be there, however the mountain has been reimagined as a salt dome-like Avery Island, Louisiana, which Imagineers visited on one in all their analysis journeys for Tiana’s Bayou Journey. This salt dome homes Tiana’s Meals, an employee-owned cooperative that visitors study within the trip queue.
“She’s continued to grow her business, but this time she’s included members of the community,” stated Ted Robledo, one in all Disney’s inventive executives on the attraction. Robledo defined {that a} co-op was chosen as a result of it was correct for Tiana’s time and area, and co-ops empowered the traditionally disenfranchised.
Inclusion, authenticity and illustration are vital components of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, which fellow inventive government Charita Carter known as “truly a love letter to New Orleans.”
Who’s Tiana impressed by?
“Tiana would not be possible if we were not Leah Chase,” stated fellow Disney inventive government Carmen Smith. Chase was the famed late government chef and proprietor of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans. “It wasn’t just a restaurant. It was a gathering place that inspired so many.”
Chase’s grandson and the restaurant’s present government chef Edgar ‘Dook’ Chase IV stated his grandmother invited everyone into the kitchen. “That’s what her true gift was – not only her passion of food, but she just loved people.”
He stated she would’ve been honored and humbled to be a part of Tiana’s Bayou Journey. “Every time she would get recognized, she would always say, ‘I have to work that much harder. I have to do more to showcase this honor that I’m getting,’” he stated.
Smith stated the Chase household was a “huge part of this project.” Louisiana artists like Sharika Mahdi and Malaika Favourite impressed the texture of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, and a few of their work is featured outdoors it. New Orleans music legends PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard labored on the music.
“It makes me feel as though I’m seen and that they took so much care to not just like use the culture, but actually understand the culture and involve the people who help continue the legacy of that culture,” stated Victoria Wade, a Disney fan and theme park influencer who beforehand spoke with USA TODAY concerning the cultural impacts of each Splash Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Journey. “It’s important, and it’s honestly a great way, especially with this particular princess, to continue a legacy for New Orleans and for Black people in general.”
Why did Disney shut Splash Mountain?
Splash Mountain’s Br’er Rabbit story was tied to “Song of the South,” a 1946 Disney movie, which has been criticized for its idealized portrayal of plantation life. A petition to retheme Splash Mountain went viral in 2020.
That very same yr, Disney introduced the trip’s reimaging, saying, “The new concept is inclusive – one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.” Disney additionally famous that modifications had been within the works since 2019.
Wade was one of many first individuals to preview the brand new trip.
“There’s a sign when you enter, and it says everyone’s welcome,” she recalled. “I love that message so much because it’s not just about, you know, Black people. It’s ultimately welcoming everybody in to be joyful and celebrate one another in our cultures and what makes us unique.”
Tiana could also be Disney’s first Black princess, however Carter famous, “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 that is relatable.”
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Accomplished:Why some Disney followers had been achieved with Splash Mountain
What’s Tiana’s Bayou Journey primarily based on?
Tiana’s Bayou Journey is the following chapter within the story that begins with “The Princess and the Frog.”
Spoiler alert: On the finish of the movie, Tiana’s dream of proudly owning a thriving restaurant lastly comes true. Now, she’s giving again to her neighborhood and internet hosting an enormous Mardi Gras social gathering, the place everyone seems to be invited.
The one hassle is she’s lacking a key ingredient. Mama Odie shrinks visitors right down to the scale of frogs to assist search for it within the bayou. Alongside the way in which, they’ll see acquainted characters voiced by the identical actors from the movie and meet new musical critters.
“Technologically wise, it was phenomenal,” Wade stated. “They’re very lifelike in their movements. I was particularly impressed with the Louis the gator animatronic.”
Is Tiana’s Bayou Journey a curler coaster?
No. It’s a log flume-style water trip like Splash Mountain was. Visitors could need to convey a poncho to remain dry, although there’s loads of Tiana-themed merchandise on the market in the event that they want a change of garments.
“I didn’t get wet, but I think it’s because I was in the back of the boat,” Wade stated with fun. “I actually love what they did with the drop. I feel like, based on how it looks with Mama Odie’s bottles, it’s reminiscent of the (movie’s) ‘Dig a Little Deeper’ scene. I feel like at night, particularly, it’s going to look absolutely incredible.”
Can I meet Tiana at Disney World?
Sure. Princess Tiana greets visitors in her signature ball robe at Princess Fairytale Corridor in Magic Kingdom.
Visitors may also meet her outdoors the parks with character eating at 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. She wears her new pantsuit there.
What’s Tiana’s restaurant known as at Disneyland?
Identical to in “The Princess and the Frog,” Tiana’s restaurant in Disneyland is known as Tiana’s Palace. The short-service eatery opened final September and serves iconic New Orleans dishes like gumbo, po’boys, muffaletta sandwiches, and beignets.
Whereas there’s no Tiana’s Palace at Disney World, visitors can get Tiana’s Bayou Journey treats in Magic Kingdom from June 28 via Sept. 6 and at choose places throughout the resort for a restricted time.
They will additionally take house Mama Odie’s Sizzling Sauce and Dooky Chase’s Seasonings, which had been beforehand solely offered at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans.
The reporter on this story acquired entry to the occasion from Disney. USA TODAY maintains editorial management of opinions.
