French Market Restaurant at Disneyland is remains completely surrounded by scaffolding and scrim as it is turned into Tiana’s Palace.
Disney Imagineers are partnering with Disney Animation artists from “The Princess and the Frog” to bring Tiana’s Palace to life. The film’s designers took inspiration from the exterior of the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square when designing Tiana’s Palace, so the retheme will be relatively simple.
Concept art and directional signage are on the blue construction walls that also surround the restaurant.
With the scrim and scaffolding, we can’t see much of the construction that is going on. We have previously seen crew members working on the restaurant’s balconies.
Earlier this month, the French Market Restaurant sign was removed from the archway entrance.
Mint Julep Bar is also closed for construction but will reopen with Tiana’s Palace, still as Mint Julep Bar and still serving mint juleps and Mickey beignets. The classic treats are available at the nearby Royal Street Veranda during construction.
Tiana’s Palace
At the 2022 D23 Expo, it was announced that in addition to her own ride — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — a second “The Princess and the Frog”-themed installation would come in the form of its very own restaurant, Tiana’s Palace.
Tiana’s Palace will be very similar to the restaurant that Tiana owned in the movie and will feature elegant fixtures and decorations that represent Tiana’s life and friendships. The quick-service restaurant will offer New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures. It’s scheduled to open later this year.
Tiana’s Palace will not be a character dining location, but guests who wish to meet Tiana will be able to do so in New Orleans Square.
Eudora’s Chic Boutique featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets is already open in New Orleans Square.
A restaurant called Tiana’s Place — which was the original name Tiana envisioned — is on the Disney Wonder cruise ship.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Splash Mountain will be closed permanently at Disneyland park beginning on May 31, 2023. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is expected to open in late 2024.
Splash Mountain opened at Disneyland on Monday, July 17, 1989, in the newly renamed Critter Country. Actor Jim Varney (known popularly as Ernest) and twelve celebrity children join Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner, Br’er Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Mickey Mouse in turning on the water pump to create a big splash. It cost approximately $75 million and recycled animal audio-animatronics from America Sings.
Check out our complete history of Splash Mountain at Disney Parks around the world for more on the attraction’s development.
Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom has been closed for a few months and construction is well underway. Splash Mountain is set to remain as-is at Tokyo Disneyland, where it opened in 1992.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes place after the events of “The Princess and the Frog.” Tiana’s Foods is an employee-owned community food co-op established by Tiana in 1927, following the success of her restaurant, Tiana’s Palace. The co-op is housed inside a salt mine, with growers planting crops along the old Splash Mountain waterway. Guests will ascend through a mill house built into the side of the mountain.
The attraction will follow Tiana venturing into the bayou to find animal friends. She’s hosting a party for the people of New Orleans, but it’s missing a special ingredient. Some of the original cast will be providing their voices to the attraction, including Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Bruno Campos (Naveen), Michael Leon Wooley (Louis), and Jennifer Lewis (Mama Odie).
Read more details about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure:
- Logo for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Revealed
- First Look at Tiana’s New Outfit for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Model at D23 Expo 2022 Shows Removal of Iconic Splash Mountain Tree
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Backstory and More Information Revealed at D23 Expo 2022
- More Details Revealed for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Story, Original Cast Returning
Are you excited to dine at Tiana’s Palace and ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Let us know in the comments!
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