Over the past few days, Disney fans who managed to get on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World were among the first to experiment Tiana’s Fairy Tale Sequel after the events of 2009 The princess and the Frog. The attraction itself serves as a sequel in attraction form, where guests follow Tiana and her friends as they form a group for their Mardi Gras celebration. But plenty more details are revealed before even riding the waterslide for fans of the beloved Disney film.
One of the biggest official revelations is that, unlike the Disney princesses who came before her, even as far back as Snow White-The Princess of New Orleans has a real last name. In line for the Walt Disney World attraction, fans noticed that Tiana is referred to as Tiana Rogers, daughter of Sergeant James Rogers, in newspaper clippings and cooking awards for Tiana’s Palace and Tiana’s Foods (her culinary cooperative). And that was intentional, Ted Robledo, Disney Imagineer shared: “There’s so much of her story that was touched on in the film, the relationship with her father, a World War I veteran; her relationship with her mother, (who) we like to say was the entrepreneurial inspiration that allowed her to become the successful businesswoman that Tiana is today in our story.”
See below for in-universe confirmation of Tiana Rogers’ last name.
Fairy tale fans have been very picky when it comes to the Disney princess lineup and their official titles. Technically, Rapunzel could have taken Eugene Fitzherbert’s name, but it’s never canonized in Disney content, just like other married princesses, including Snow White or Cinderella (can the real Ms. Charming please stand up?). Even in the case of The princess and the FrogTiana married Prince Naveen of Maldonia, which would make her Tiana Rogers, Princess of Maldonia, since she clearly kept her father’s name to honor him with her successful food business in New Orleans.
“Tiana’s story is going to be further explored in a new series that has been announced,” Robledo continued, confirming that Disney Imagineers have been working closely with Disney Animation to stay in canon on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as the studio prepares for its Disney Plus series Tianawhich will delve a little deeper into what’s in store for the princess and her family. The series will focus on things like “her relationship with her husband, who is from another country or probably of mixed heritage. It’s a time of indigenous people and colonization. I think the team, from what little we’ve heard, is going to explore that. But I will say this about Naveen: We knew it early on, and even if Naveen plays a small or big role in this story, he has a role — they’re a married couple, they care about each other. So to honor that, we want to make sure that he’s included somewhere in a real way. And it’s actually kind of funny, like this little performance of our story.” We can’t wait to see Tiana and Naveen return with more New Orleans adventures in the Disney+ series Tianabut for now, taking boat rides on the bayou will do the trick at the Disney parks.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is now open at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to open soon at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
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