Some Disney attractions, like Peter Pan’s Flight, simply current the story of an present film in a new format. However for Tiana’s Bayou Journey, the extremely anticipated Splash Mountain rework, Disney’s Imagineers determined to take another route and increase previous the film’s story, bridging the hole between the film and the beforehand introduced Tiana TV series.
“Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes place about a year after the events of the film The Princess and the Frog,” stated Ted Robledo, govt artistic director at Walt Disney Imagineering, in a presentation at a Walt Disney World press occasion. “So a lot has changed since then. And one of the most exciting parts of the attraction is seeing where life has taken her after that movie. Following the successful opening of her restaurant, Tiana’s Palace, there next to the beautiful Mississippi River in New Orleans, she’s continued to grow her business. But this time, she’s included members of the community, and built a new, beloved brand called Tiana’s Foods.”
There’s a complete storyline with the ride, which includes Tiana and Louis the alligator trying to find animal musicians for an upcoming Mardi Gras competition. It isn’t the first Disney ride to be a form of micro sequel: Frozen Ever After in neighboring Epcot takes place a 12 months after the occasions of Frozen. However Disney Parks senior vice chairman of artistic improvement Carmen Smith says Tiana’s story will proceed past the ride.
“Our partners at Walt Disney Animation Studios have also been amazing about this attraction’s development,” stated Smith. “We’re so excited that Tiana’s story will continue after the attraction. And that’s with a new show coming to Disney Plus.”
Photograph: Petrana Radulovic/Polygon
The Tiana present was beforehand introduced again in 2020, together with a Moana series, however manufacturing information has been scant. The Moana series was retooled into an upcoming theatrical film, however past just a few writer-director bulletins and delays, there hasn’t been information about the Tiana present in fairly a while. It was initially supposed to debut in 2022, however then was pushed to 2023, then to 2024, with the announcement of Joyce Sherri as showrunner. No particular premiere date has been introduced.
If the Tiana present’s abstract continues to be correct, it would see Tiana setting off for Maldonia, the place her husband, Naveen, hails from, and stepping up as crown princess. However her New Orleans heritage continues to be an enormous a part of her life. The setting distinction means the story of Tiana’s Bayou Journey gained’t have vital plot ramifications for the present. An Imagineer that Polygon spoke to at the occasion maintained that the ride is “about a specific story in a specific moment here at Tiana’s Foods.”
Nevertheless it’s arduous to think about that a few of the particulars established by the ride — particularly Tiana managing an employee-owned firm — will likely be completely ignored by the upcoming present. Smith’s phrases suggest that Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios have been working collectively a minimum of a bit of to set up a canon for Tiana. In any case, Tiana is a enterprise proprietor and chef first, and a princess second; abandoning the restaurant and enterprise she labored her entire life for doesn’t look like the Tiana method.
[Disclosure: This article is based on a press event held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, on June 9 through 11. Disney provided Polygon’s travel and accommodations for the event. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.]
