Some Disney points of interest, like Peter Pan’s Flight, simply current the story of an current film in a brand new format. However for Tiana’s Bayou Journey, the extremely anticipated Splash Mountain transform, 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 collection.
“Tiana’s Bayou Journey takes place a couple of 12 months after the occasions of the movie 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 so much has modified since then. And one of the crucial thrilling elements of the attraction is seeing the place life has taken her after that film. Following the profitable opening of her restaurant, Tiana’s Palace, there subsequent to the gorgeous Mississippi River in New Orleans, she’s continued to develop her enterprise. However this time, she’s included members of the group, and constructed a brand new, beloved model referred to as Tiana’s Meals.”
There’s a complete storyline with the experience, which includes Tiana and Louis the alligator trying to find animal musicians for an upcoming Mardi Gras competition. It isn’t the primary Disney experience to be a type 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 growth Carmen Smith says Tiana’s story will proceed past the experience.
“Our companions at Walt Disney Animation Studios have additionally been wonderful about this attraction’s growth,” stated Smith. “We’re so excited that Tiana’s story will proceed after the attraction. And that’s with a brand new present coming to Disney Plus.”
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Picture: Petrana Radulovic/Polygon
The Tiana present was beforehand introduced again in 2020, together with a Moana collection, however manufacturing information has been scant. The Moana collection was retooled into an upcoming theatrical film, however past a couple of writer-director bulletins and delays, there hasn’t been information concerning the Tiana present in fairly a while. It was initially speculated 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 can 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 received’t have important plot ramifications for the present. An Imagineer that Polygon spoke to on the occasion maintained that the experience is “a couple of particular story in a particular second right here at Tiana’s Meals.”
Nevertheless it’s laborious to think about that a few of the particulars established by the experience — particularly Tiana managing an employee-owned firm — shall be completely ignored by the upcoming present. Smith’s phrases indicate that Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios have been working collectively at the very least somewhat to determine 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 complete life for doesn’t seem to be the Tiana approach.
[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.]
