Photos: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue unveils enchanting details
The Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue, the immersive pathway leading to the highly anticipated log flume ride inspired by Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” is brimming with details that transport guests to the heart of the Louisiana bayou.
I recently was able to ride the attraction at Magic Kingdom this week. (I’ll provide some thoughts later after another ride, so I can properly give impressions.) But I do want to talk about the queue.
The outside queue winds through lush greenery and weathered structures, hinting at Tiana’s bustling life after happily ever after. Playful signage with colorful lettering adorns the walkways, while the air hums with the melody of Cajun fiddle music throughout the queue.
Along the way, you will find a Children’s Garden where a variety of plantings and Tiana’s delivery truck.
Hand-painted murals by Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite bring the bayou to life, showcasing iconic scenes from the film and glimpses of Tiana’s life as a restaurateur.
The first entrance helps start the storyline with the New Orleans Business Journal and the headline “Princess Tiana Throws Mardi Gras Party For All Of New Orleans.” The newspaper is in the front office area of the store and restaurant.
The queue then follows the employee entrance room where workers place there clothes and get their aprons.
Then it’s time to punch in for work with the list of time cards. There’s even one for Tiana.
The queue then walks past the storage room with the various products created by Tiana foods.
The next section of the queue
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will have a storyline inspired by Tiana’s father that will feature a salute to military service.In the movie, Tiana’s father, James, was a veteran of World War I. The photos on the wall serve as a backstory of James and soldiers who served in 369th Regiment, one of the first African American regiments to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. This unit was renowned for its bravery and many members were awarded the prestigious Croix de Guerre medal by the French government for their valiant service in action.
In addition to the photos are letters to Tiana from her father. The letters are sweet and endearing.
We then turn to the baking area of the operation. On the board in the kitchen is a reminder from Tiana that there is a celebration tonight at her house, and everyone is welcome.
As we walk the final halls we see birthday celebrations.
The placing of the Tiara on top of the water tower.
And the award as the Best New Business. All of these help to reinforce the time period you are now in – 1927.
After moving through the offices we then walk down the mountain, just as we all did on Splash Mountain, toward the boarding area. Here we get the warning of what’s ahead.
The immersive queue is a nice extension of the storytelling experience, providing a nice background and sense of place for the actual ride. The ride opens to the public on June 28, 2024.
