LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — As progress continues on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Walt Disney Imagineering is sharing a first look at the mural that will be part of the new attraction.
What You Need To Know
- Construction continues on Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which is set to open in 2024
- Walt Disney Imagineers have shared a first look at a mural that will be part of the attraction
- The artwork comes from visual artist Malaika Favorite and will be located in the exterior queue portion of the attraction
- RELATED: Disney World installs tiara-topped water tower at Tiana's Bayou Adventure
The ride, which is replacing Splash Mountain, will pick up after the events of the 2009 animated film, “The Princess and the Frog.” The storyline will center around Tiana — now a successful business owner — as she prepares for a Mardi Gras celebration.
The mural, created by visual artist Malaika Favorite, will be part of the exterior queue of the attraction. It will include scenes that follow Tiana’s journey to creating Tiana Foods and showcase the things she loves the most — friends, family, food, music and art.
Disney wanted the artwork to not only reflect Tiana’s character but also capture the spirit of the musical and artistic scene in New Orleans.
“When we were exploring how to introduce guests to the story of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as they prepare to embark on the attraction, maintaining the authenticity of Princess Tiana’s experience as a young Black woman striving to achieve her dream in the soulful backdrop of New Orleans was one of our high priorities,” wrote Carmen Smith, senior VP creative development, in a post on the Disney Parks Blog.
The mural is currently being painted at the site of the attraction at Disney World. It will be located on the outside of a repurposed barn, that, as part of the storyline, serves as the main office for Tiana’s business. It will also be added to Disneyland’s version of the ride.
The mural marks the latest milestone for the Magic Kingdom attraction, which is set to debut next year. In June, Disney installed a water tower topped with a large tiara at the front of the construction site.
Disney has been dropping plenty of details about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure this year. In addition to Tiana, it will feature several characters from the film — Prince Naveen, Mama Odie, Louis, and Tiana’s friend Charlotte — as well as band of new animal critters. New Orleans native PJ Morton has also been tapped to compose an original song for the ride.
Disney has not yet announced an opening date for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.