Disney’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: A tribute to Black princess and New Orleans

Anika Noni Rose (above), the voice of Tiana, and musician PJ Morton prepare to deliver a performance of their new song “Special Spice,” composed for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.& Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice Walt Disney World’s newest attraction& Tiana’s Bayou Adventure& is almost here. Based on Disney’s 2009 film “The Princess and the Frog,” the ride has transformed the former Splash Mountain attraction into a love letter to Disney’s first Black princess and New Orleans. Featuring a 50-foot drop, animatronics thanks to the minds of& Disney’s Imagineers& and the sounds of the beloved movie soundtrack along with new music, the Magic Kingdom ride takes guests on a journey that digs a little deeper into the lives of Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen a year after the film. “Tiana was our inspiration because Tiana is everybody’s princess. She comes from a real place in America. She wasn’t born into royalty. She has a working mom. She has military ties, and there’s so much about her life and that is relatable,” said Charita Carter, the executive creative producer of Walt Disney Imagineering, at a showcase. “Everyone can find an aspect of the story in their own story. And so many people...