Walt Disney Imagineering is bringing the next chapter of Princess Tiana’s story to life with a brand-new exhibit: Tiana’s Joyful Celebration. Tour the exhibit with us, read our honest thoughts, and see where it’s heading after it leaves The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis!

As invited media, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis provided WDWNT with early access and opening day access to the exhibit. As always, WDWNT will still provide our honest thoughts.

About the Exhibit

The exhibit is inspired by the culture, music, and spirit of New Orleans, as well as the story of Princess Tiana in Princess and the Frog.

The shared vision of Walt Disney Imagineering and The Children’s Museum aims to celebrate culture and embrace creativity through uniting the storytelling of one of Disney’s beloved princesses and educational excellence to create an unforgettable family experience.

Tiana’s Joyful Celebration is recommended for ages 6–10. It opened on March 7, 2026 and runs through January 3, 2027 and is included in the price of admission.

Tiana’s Joyful Celebration is a bilingual exhibit, with labels available in both English and Spanish. Anika Noni Rose (Princess Tiana), Michael Leon-Wooley (Louis), Jenifer Lewis (Mama Odie), and Bruno Campos (Prince Naveen) reprised their respective roles for this exhibit. Here are the voice actors for the Spanish-speaking features of the exhibit:

• Princess Tiana: Mireya Mendoza
• Louis: Edgar de Marte
• Mama Odie: Rebeca Patiño
• Prince Naveen: Mario Filio

Many portions of the exhibit also have Braille writing.

Preparing for the Exhibit

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis completed extensive research prior to building Tiana’s Joyful Celebration, to ensure accuracy to Tiana’s story and New Orleans. In 2024, the team traveled to the Walt Disney Imagineering campus for research about Tiana, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and to brainstorm exhibit messaging.

In 2025, the team traveled to New Orleans to conduct further, more in-depth research into the city’s history, including a visit to Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, a trip down the bayou, Mardi Gras history, participation in cultural and historical tours, a trip through the French Quarter, and more.

This research was crucial in creating a realistic, authentic, and inclusive exhibit for Tiana’s Joyful Celebration.

A lot of work also went into the museum itself, including giving the large dinosaurs outside the building some fun accessories. This is often done during special events the city hosts or for major exhibits coming to the museum.

Mother dinosaur has a Tiana ear headband on her head, and she wears a beaded necklace with Tiana’s tiara on the end. She stirs a pot of gumbo.

The smaller dinosaurs each wear their own ear headbands and beaded necklaces as well.

Conversations with Imagineering & Stella Chase

During the media preview, we were able to speak with Walt Disney Imagineering leadership and Stella Chase, daughter of Leah Chase. We heard rare insights into the cultural storytelling that shaped the exhibit’s creations. More information regarding Leah Chase can be found on the wall outside the exhibit (pictured above).

Special Guest Stella Chase

Stella Chase is the daughter of Louisiana culinary legend “Queen of Creole Cuisine” Leah Chase, who was the inspiration for Disney’s Princess Tana’s character and her story of perseverance and passion.

In speaking with her, we learned so much about her role in the exhibit’s creation. Specifically, she was responsible for ensuring the spirit of New Orleans was accurately represented in all aspects of the exhibit.

She also shared her excitement that the exhibit created so many learning opportunities for children through play and that so many activities were accessible to guests of all ages and abilities. Stella shared that her mother loved to make people feel loved and special, and she feels the exhibit continues that hospitality.

We also spoke with Carmen Smith, Senior Vice President of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering. She shared so much regarding how Imagineering embraced the storytelling of the attraction to bring it to the museum for guests who many not be able to travel to the parks.

It didn’t take long for us to find the right partner for this journey and after spending time with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and learning they are over 100 years old…for us it was a perfect match from day one. We were in alignment with how to bring Tiana and New Orleans to life.

Opening Day Surprises

On opening day, March 7, there were “surprise and delight moments” for guests in attendance, including a live second line band and appearances from Princess Tiana and Louis!

Please note that these offerings are not part of the permanent exhibit and were available for one day only.

What’s in the Exhibit

In the exhibit, explore the art, food, dance, music, and spirit of New Orleans alongside Princess Tiana. The storyline of the exhibit is that Tiana is getting ready for a Mardi Gras parade and celebration in her childhood neighborhood, and she needs help because the parade time got moved up one hour! Everyone must come together and contribute their unique talents – a bit of their special spice – to pull the parade together in time.

Watch our full tour of the museum and continue reading for more!

Entrance

The exhibit is located on the second floor of the museum.

As you enter the exhibit, you’ll be greeted by Princess Tiana (via screen animation) as she welcomes you into her office at Tiana’s Foods. She chats about the Mardi Gras celebration and how she needs our help for the parade. You’ll get a brief explanation of the activities that are available inside.

On the backside of the entrance display, there is a cut out of Tiana in her bayou look that debuted for the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disney World and Disneyland.

There are sketches for the floats that guests will see inside the exhibit, including one themed to a pot of gumbo, the royal-themed float, and the music-themed float.

The sides of the office display feature framed photos, newspaper clippings, and more highlighting Tiana’s story and family. It features the same image of Tiana and her father, James, from his time in the U.S. Army that is found in the attraction queue.

There’s a note from Eudora, Tiana’s mother, as well as framed photos and decor.

You may recognize some of these scenes from Princess and the Frog and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

The exhibit closely follows the story of Tiana that is covered in the attraction. Instead of throwing a party for her friends and family, she is now working on a celebration in her childhood neighborhood.

We noticed several references to Tiana’s Foods.

Her calendar for February 1928 shows all the events and happenings going on for the celebration. Underneath is a framed photo of a younger Tiana holding a plate of powdered beignets.

Beyond the office display, the walls resemble New Orleans, with yellow paint, shuttered windows, patio railings, lantern lights, moss, and Mardi Gras beads.

There are also potted flowers, wooden crates, glass jars, and cloves of garlic.

Posters on the wall highlight the bayou critters. These are also in display outside Lari’s Lair (more on that in a bit).

Food-Themed Activities

Moving inside the exhibit, the first thing you will notice is Tiana’s Co-Op Sno-Op, which is an interactive station for creating magical snow cones with Mama Odie. You’ll notice both sides are the same but are different heights so everyone can participate. The taller side also has room to fit a wheelchair, making it very accessible.

The snow cone sits on a track that you move to create your own special snow cone.

Choose flavors that light up in vibrant colors as you push the button on the top of the dispenser.

The different flavors are strawberry, orange, green apple, blueberry, and grape.

Next, Louis hosts you as you explore the food-themed displays.

As mentioned above, this exhibit is bilingual, so written words are in English and Spanish.

Parades are a big part of any Mardi Gras celebration, and guests can help decorate the float during their time visiting the exhibit.

This float is in the shape of a large pot of gumbo, and guests will “add some zesty colors to the pot” by putting the Lite-Brite acrylic sticks in the design of the pot.

The lights on the side are timed to music.

In this area, guests will also stack and play with large, soft pieces of food. Though the exhibit is recommended for ages 6-10, several areas can be enjoyed by younger guests.

Moving on, guests will cook up a pot of Tiana’s daddy’s gumbo at the food truck-themed display.

The recipe calls for sausage, chicken, and shrimp! Use the tongs to place the food on the designed spot, and watch the videos highlighting the food, where it comes from, and more of its New Orleans history in this portion of the exhibit.

The other side of the food truck is for free play, allowing guests to plate up their own creations of gumbo, rice, bread, and more.

There are aprons in a nearby basket as well to foster an authentic experience for the youngest chefs.

Another station is for creating your own hot sauce by selecting three ingredients and placing them in the pot.

As you toss the ingredients into the pot, Louis talks with you about the ingredients on the screen.

Some of the ingredients are not conventionally used for sauce, and he will make encouraging comments about “bold choices.”

Once done, you can push the button to “blend” the sauce together.

One of the back sections of the exhibit pace contains a large garden area because how else will you get all the ingredients for the gumbo and sauce?!

The seating area has tables and chairs. The walls also light up along the neighborhood scene to look like fireflies have come out in the evening.

There are vertical planters as well as horizontal garden beds.

Produce to play with includes celery, carrots, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, peppers, and more.

A separate display has a smaller version of the garden that is wheelchair accessible.

There is a shelf of props above it behind glass.

There is also a herb display in the garden area, where guests can name and smell the herbs.

Herbs like these help build complex flavors. They change how the gumbo tastes, making it earthy, bright, sweet, or citrusy. Smell the herbs. Which would you add to your pot?

You’ll get to smell thyme, lavender, basil, lemon balm, and oregano.

The names are also written in Spanish as well as Braille.

Art-Themed Activities

The next area is hosted by Eudora, and guests will create wristbands, help design masks and costumes for the parade, and add paint to the mural. Tiana’s mother, Eudora, is a talented dressmaker.

In the wristband station, you will grab a shimmery gold wristband and stamp the symbols on the paper. Directions are available in English, Spanish, and Braille, and it is wheelchair accessible.

Tiana chose the symbols herself to show what is special to the community. The display has several swatches of fabric, feathers, and a special note from Tiana behind glass.

Choose from a crown (leadership), pepper (individuality), castle (joy), rooster (generosity), and music note (creativity).

You’ll be able to fit about four stamps on the wristband.

Another station allows guests to paint a mural and help design the costumes. One side has Tiana’s ballgown displayed in the window of Eudora’s Chic Boutique. For another Disney Park connection, Eudora is also represented at Eudora’s Chic Boutique in Disneyland Park.

This is the side for the painting. There are two screens that create a large mural of Louis playing his trumpet. On each side is the painting that inspired the design of this mural.

It creates a rainbow of sorts, and other animals and people are scattered throughout. On the shelves are paintbrushes, jars, and a photo of young Tiana and Eudora.

Push the button to change the color of the paint.

The other side of this station is where guests design the capes for the parade costumes.

We’re beading a cape for the queen of the parade! The cape shows symbols of what makes our community so special. Will you help finish the beadwork?

Guests will select a pattern: either a crown, musical note, or a lily pad, or they can create their own. The magnetic pens pull the beads up out of the holes to make the design.

The orange plates can be removed to create a unique design.

Another station in the art-themed area involves helping Charlotte in adding sparkle to Mardi Gras masks.

Choose between a food or music-themed mask and follow the steps to create the design.

After you have designed the mask, a camera will capture your creation. You can have it emailed in addition to being “hung” on the wall next to the screen, as seen above.

Finally, there are four mannequins and plenty of dress-up clothes and accessories for guests to use their imagination in creating parade costumes.

Music-Themed Activities

Naveen has been tasked with finishing Tiana’s to-do list, including organizing the firefly light show, arranging the water lilies, finding the froggy jazz band, and rehearsing with the critter band.

Join Prince Naveen and the Bayou Community Band, experimenting with rhythm through interactive percussion alongside Rara and Zydeco loops.

The exhibit also gives guests the opportunity to decorate the music-themed float by “planting” the water lilies. When you rotate the knob on the lantern, the lights on the back display change colors.

Inside the float is this fun space for kids to hang out. There is a frog display and night sky scene.

Parade Float

The stunning royal-themed float in the center of the exhibit comes to life as you learn second line dances through step-by-step video tutorials from a second liner dancer from New Orleans.

Guests can also join Tiana for a special performance that takes place intermittently throughout the day on the screens for the main float that light up in a magical way for the big finale. Sing and dance along with her as Tiana sings “Special Spice.”

The float is decorated with a variety of flowers, greenery, and white railing.

Guests are invited to make music and dance with the entertainers that can be found throughout the exhibit at various times.

There are common household items to create music and umbrellas for second line dancing.

This display also has a checklist of tasks that must be completed before the parade is ready to commence.

Lari Easter Eggs

Keep an eye out for Lari the armadillo and his found-object instruments. You’ll see his name and paw print on various wooden crates.

We also spotted Lari himself hiding in the food truck. Read more Lari Lore here.

Lari’s Lair

Lari’s Lair is the special room in the exhibit where the shows are located.

There are posters on the windows outside the room, including this one that features the Bayou Community Band.

Please note that when this exhibit travels to other museums (more on that below), Lari’s Lair will not be included. It’s specific to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis only.

Lari has been collecting several items, including musical instruments and ingredients, to bring back to his lair. There are wooden crates, old fence posts, burlap sacks, and even a ship’s helm.

On the shelves are more objects like lanterns, a bust, moss, tin cans, sugar, instruments, and seashells.

On the wall next to that is a shovel, guitar, window shutter, and framed artwork. On the shelf, a photo of Leah Chase and her family is placed in front of a box of threads.

There are more of Lari’s finds on the opposite side of the room. We spotted a washboard, an old chair, drums, tin can with paintbrushes, and several more items that one would find in the bayou.

There are two shows performed in here, and showtimes can be found posted outside the room. They are approximately 20 minutes long.

Space is limited, so guests will be given a card to hold their spot for the show, given on a first come first serve basis. We recommend lining up about 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a seat.

The first show is called Magic Cookin’. The premise is that we are cooking gumbo, but it needs our special spice.

Guests are invited to create their own unique blend by writing what makes them unique and adding it to the plastic jar with glitter “spice.” Then, they add the spice to the pot.

In addition to the jar of special spice, guests are also given the recipe for gumbo to take home. Watch the full show below:

The second show is called A Joyful Puppet Adventure, and the entertainers use a screen display for the story. Guests are invited to help tell the story of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure with musical instruments.

This show is really cute and has a lot of guest participation.

Watch our full video below:

Other Areas of the Museum Featuring Tiana and Disney

Right across from the exhibit is the artwork featured in the mural painting activity.

The mural celebrates how music wakes a city at the start of Mardi Gras season, and more information is available regarding the painting and its artist, Malaika Favorite.

Just around the corner is a place to sit and watch a video from Walt Disney Imagineering.

There is also a Tiana-themed pop-up shop in the gift shop, themed to a New Orleans street market. You’ll find generic Princess Tiana merchandise.

The glass display outside the gift shop advertises the Tiana exhibit and the items available to purchase, including musical instruments, dress-up items, apparel, books, toys, and dolls.

The llama (featured as part of the “Take Me There: Peru” exhibit) wears a Mardi Gras mask.

Elsewhere in the museum, there are a few Disney references you’ll want to check out if you are visiting. Inside the “Power of Children: Making a Difference” exhibit, there is a Mickey Mouse tea set that a young Jewish girl by the name of Illo Heppner brought with her when her family escaped from Germany. She brought it with her when she moved to Indiana in 1954.

The “American Pop” exhibit has some fun Disney artifacts, like the Darth Vader and Spudtrooper Mr. Potato Head figures from 2005 and an Aladdin lunchbox from 1992.

Guests will also see a Kermit plush from 1977 and a Donald Duck store display from the 1960s-1980s.

Where the Exhibit is Headed Next

After wrapping up at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in January 2027, Tiana’s Joyful Celebration will travel to 12 other museums nationwide, including:

• The Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio: Fall 2027
• The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan: Spring 2028
• The Fort Worth Museum of Science and Industry in Fort Worth, Texas: Spring 2029
• The Children’s Museum of Atlanta: TBA
• The Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa, Florida: TBA
• And more!

What do you think of the exhibit? Are you going to visit Tiana’s Joyful Celebration at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis or at another museum? Let us know on social media.

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