A Disney princess shares her Splash Mountain vision
The actress who voiced Tiana in Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” wants Disneyland to build a realworld version of the animated film’s New Orleans restaurant to go alongside the transformation of the Splash Mountain log flume ride.
Actress Anika Noni Rose, who voiced Princess Tiana in the 2009 movie, told People magazine she wants to see Tiana’s Palace from the film realized as a real restaurant at Disneyland and Disney World.
Disney’s Anaheim theme parks remain closed until further notice. Walt Disney World’s four theme parks reopened in mid-July with strict capacity constraints.
The Splash Mountain makeover coming to Disneyland and Disney World will transform the classic log flume rides with a new Princess Tiana backstory that will take riders down on the bayou. The “Princess and the Frog” film starring Rose as the voice of Tiana was celebrated as Disney’s first animated depiction of an African American princess.
“Princess and the Frog” fans excited about the renovated Splash Mountain ride have been sending Rose messages asking, “Now, where’s the restaurant?” “People keep asking me like I’m in charge of making the restaurant,” Rose told People magazine with a laugh. “I’m like, ‘One thing at a time!’ But people are excited.”
Rose told People she shares the fans’ enthusiasm for creating Tiana’s Palace restaurants at Disney’s U.S. parks — once the ride makeovers are complete. “I’ve been looking forward to a Tiana’s Palace for years,” Rose told People. “I agree with the fans that it would be great.” Rose has ideas about the menu and entertainment for Tiana’s Palace when Walt Disney Imagineering begins working on the restaurant.
“I have dreams of them partnering with Café du Monde on some real deal beignets, having some fantastic shrimp and grits and king cake during Mardi Gras season,” Rose told People. “And the occasional second line (brass band procession) through the joint. Basically all the things I love.”