Anika Noni Rose, Voice of Princess Tiana in “Princess and the Frog”, Looking Forward to Tiana’s Palace Restaurant at Disney Parks

Jessica Figueroa

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Tiana's Palace in The Princess and the Frog

Anika Noni Rose, Voice of Princess Tiana in “Princess and the Frog”, Looking Forward to Tiana’s Palace Restaurant at Disney Parks

With the announcement of Splash Mountain being rethemed to “Princess and the Frog” at both Disneyland Park and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, fans have been clamoring for a restaurant manned by Tiana herself in the parks as the perfect accompaniment to the new attraction. In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, the voice of Princess Tiana, Anika Noni Rose, expressed her own interest in a potential restaurant for the Disney heroine.

tianas palace
Tiana’s Palace restaurant as seen in “The Princess and the Frog” animated film.

“People keep asking me like I’m in charge of making the restaurant [at Disney],” Rose says with a laugh. “I’m like, ‘One thing at a time!’ But people are excited. That makes me feel good because it’s been 11 years since the movie came out. For people to still have a great, excited, motivated love for Princess Tiana and for the movie is really wonderful.”

“I’ve been looking forward to a Tiana’s Palace for years,” she says. “I agree with the fans that it would be great. I have dreams of them partnering with [New Orleans’] Café du Monde on some real deal beignets, having some fantastic shrimp and grits and king cake during Mardi Gras season. And the occasional second line through the joint … Basically all the things I love!”

Anika Noni Rose in an interview for People Magazine

So far, it seems the singer and actress already has a plan in mind for the restaurant, including a partnership with the famed Cafe du Monde, which is known for its beignets and chicory coffee, plus some seasonal additions like king cake during Mardi Gras. Of course, the restaurant would have to have a musical element to it with a traditional Second Line band parading through the restaurant at various intervals throughout the day.

Disney has not announced any further plans to re-theme any nearby restaurants at either park where “New Adventures with Princess Tiana” is set to debut. Aboard the Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder ship, guests can dine at Tiana’s Place, a smaller-scale “swinging supper club” where they can experience southern specialties and a live jazz band.

Source: People Magazine

2 thoughts on “Anika Noni Rose, Voice of Princess Tiana in “Princess and the Frog”, Looking Forward to Tiana’s Palace Restaurant at Disney Parks”

  1. Long before the announced change to Splash I thought it would be a perfect fit to change the French Market restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland to Tiana’s Palace. For those who have never been there it is an open-air eating area with wrought iron fence work and shade cloth stretching over it and a small stage. You get your food (sort of cafeteria style) inside and then eat outside. So the footprint and food facilities are already there. They could fairly easily build up and enclose the eating area and design it to look like the movie. It’s a perfect setting along the river and the Haunted Mansion is just across from it. A no brained in my option!

  2. For our 10th anniversary cruise from New Orleans on St. Valentine’s Day on the Disney Wonder we made a point of dressing up and swing dancing at Tiana’s Place every night we were seated there for dinner and also danced at that French Quarter Lounge every single night. When the ship got back to port in New Orleans we participated in our 11th Mardi Gras together and marched with REX the King of Mardi Gras.

    The fact is, more New Orleans means more fun and Walt Disney himself loved New Orleans. When we’re in Disneyland we always shop and eat in New Orleans square and in WDW we often stop at Port Orleans. More New Orleans please!

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