Disneyland welcomed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Attraction on November 15 in the newly renamed Bayou Country (formerly Critter Country). Based on the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog, the ride tells the story of Princess Tiana and her upbringing (and entrepreneurship) in New Orleans in the 1920s. 

It’s about time Disney put the only animated Black princess in the spotlight and gave her a spot and ride at Disneyland (and Walt Disney World) — not only for Black kids and adults (though this is mainly for them), but also for people who love the story of Tiana. 

During the Disneyland media event, Charita Carter, the executive creative producer of Walt Disney’s Imagineers, shared that Tiana is everybody’s princess. 

“First of all, she’s an American princess,” says Carter. “She’s a relatively modern princess. She hails from a real place – the beautiful city of New Orleans. She wasn’t born to royalty. She has a working mom who has her own shop now (Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets). [Tiana] has family ties to the military. She worked hard for her dreams. She’s an excellent cook and loves to feed people good food. So I imagine many of you here can connect to at least one of those points.”

Unlike most film-based rides, which retell the film in short form, Tiana’s ride reflects her life in the bayou AFTER the film’s events. The musical journey has Tiana and her alligator friend Louis on a trip to search for a band for a Mardi Gras soiree. Family photos and awards are displayed along the walls when people walk through the halls. Her kitchen is proudly displayed as riders walk by. 

The Imagineering team wanted to show how amazing Tiana is as a character and honor what made her relatable. They felt pride in ensuring the ride and her world would inspire others. 

“Many people are inspired by her,” Carter states. “Her character exudes pride, perseverance, chasing your dream, never stopping or taking no for an answer, and she really believes in this universal truth that what lies in US has the potential to make our dreams come true.”

When Carter was asked to lead the team around 2020, which was at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement centered on George Floyd’s death, she felt a strong sense of purpose in joining this project. 

“A lot of the things that I had experienced and had developed leading up to that had prepared me for what we were going to do with Tiana’s Bayer adventure,” Carter admits. “I’m also going to let you know that I felt the weight of that when you think about where we were culturally at that time, in 2020. I felt the weight of it, and so, at first, it [felt] daunting. Then [I thought], ‘no, this opportunity has opened up.’ This is a great medium to tell the story [and] put Tiana out front and center and have her be the image that people can connect with, even though she’s a fantastical character. So then, that sense of the importance was something that drove the rest of our team.”

Princess Tiana herself was inspired by African American chef and Civil Rights activist Leah Chase, best known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, who was based in New Orleans. The Imagineering Team worked closely with the Chase family, collaborating on the foods of New Orleans and the presentation of Tiana. 

“I also want to acknowledge all the other collaborators on Tiana’s body adventure, including our operations team, Walt Disney Animation Studios, [and] the amazing Chase family,” Carmen Smith, Senior Vice President and Executive Creative Development Product/Content & Inclusive Strategies for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, credits. “The story was inspired by Leah Chase, the iconic figure of New Orleans, who imbues all of the attributes of kindness, warmth, community, family, and again, a great source of inspiration to all of us.”

Smith also thanked many others who inspired the culture of New Orleans, including the state of Louisiana. They worked closely with those who specialized in Louisiana music (the great PJ Morton, Terrence Blanchard, and Michael Leon Woolley) and artists from New Orleans (Sharika Mahdi and Malika Favre). 

“When we talk about authenticity, we really spent a considerable amount of time in New Orleans – understanding the stories, the legacy, talking with educators, museums, chefs,” says Smith. “You name it. We left no stone unturned to tell you a story that we believe is authentic.” 

Ted Robledo praised Smith for her knowledge and research of New Orleans. He says she had “an endless contact list of subject matter experts.” They had experts on the history of Louisiana, jazz music, indigenous people in the South, and even child psychologists to craft a story that would inspire kids. 

“[We wanted it to be a positive reflection and an inspiration,” Robledo tells The Nerds of Color. “We had so many subject matter experts.”

While the ride doesn’t showcase the voodoo portion of the film or the New Orleans culture, Concept Art Leader Laura West says it was to keep the focus on the heroes in the story, especially Tiana. She created 19 new, original characters to support Tiana’s new journey. 

“One of our core things is that Tiana is at the center,” says West. “We almost build out the constellation of ideas around Tiana. That’s why it feels like, when you’re going through the ride, she is who you’re connecting with all the way through.”

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Attraction is now available to ride at Disneyland Resort.