Some Disney attractions, like Peter Pan’s Flight, just present the story of an existing movie in a new format. But for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the highly anticipated Splash Mountain remodel, Disney’s Imagineers decided to take an alternative route and expand past the movie’s story, bridging the gap between the movie and the previously announced Tiana TV series.
“Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes place about a year after the events of the film The Princess and the Frog,” said Ted Robledo, executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, in a presentation at a Walt Disney World press event. “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 whole storyline with the ride, which involves Tiana and Louis the alligator searching for animal musicians for an upcoming Mardi Gras festival. It isn’t the first Disney ride to be a sort of micro sequel: Frozen Ever After in neighboring Epcot takes place a year after the events of Frozen. But Disney Parks senior vice president of creative development Carmen Smith says Tiana’s story will continue beyond the ride.
“Our partners at Walt Disney Animation Studios have also been amazing about this attraction’s development,” said 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.”
Photo: Petrana Radulovic/Polygon
The Tiana show was previously announced back in 2020, along with a Moana series, but production news has been scant. The Moana series was retooled into an upcoming theatrical movie, but beyond a few writer-director announcements and delays, there hasn’t been news about the Tiana show in quite some time. It was originally supposed to debut in 2022, but then was pushed to 2023, then to 2024, with the announcement of Joyce Sherri as showrunner. No specific premiere date has been announced.
If the Tiana show’s summary is still accurate, it will see Tiana setting off for Maldonia, where her husband, Naveen, hails from, and stepping up as crown princess. But her New Orleans heritage is still a huge part of her life. The setting difference means the story of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure won’t have significant plot ramifications for the show. An Imagineer that Polygon spoke to at the event maintained that the ride is “about a specific story in a specific moment here at Tiana’s Foods.”
But it’s hard to imagine that some of the details established by the ride — especially Tiana managing an employee-owned company — will be totally ignored by the upcoming show. Smith’s words imply that Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios have been working together at least a little to establish a canon for Tiana. After all, Tiana is a business owner and chef first, and a princess second; leaving behind the restaurant and business she worked her whole life for doesn’t seem like the Tiana way.
[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.]