Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opens this weekend and fans, especially young Black girl nerds will finally get the opportunity to experience an amusement ride at a place deemed the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland. The We Came to Play initiative, a marketing campaign designed to encourage Black families to feel included and welcomed into Disney parks and experiences, continues to expand and become a touchstone tourist attraction for the Disney brand. Black Girl Nerds had the opportunity to attend a holiday reception with Disney executives in attendance sharing their origin stories as well as how important this initiative is for so many guests that come to the theme park.
Carmen Smith, Senior Vice President of Creative Development at Disney Parks Experiences and Products says, “our North Star is making sure that whenever we are developing and designing an experience that we have a diversity of voices around the table making those decisions, those with lived experiences, those with great talent. And again, it is all about making sure that we have our eyes wide open and we’re looking at what’s around us and what’s in front of us.”
Seeing ourselves reflected in the things we love has value and importance. Carmen Smith speaks to that eloquently when discussing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride. “It’s a ride that is all about great storytelling. When you develop a character that everyone can see themselves in, whether it’s their attributes, whether it’s the way in which she moves…her understanding of family and community and being of service, she has all of that. But I think what really makes it important is the incredible team that one assembles, to make sure that we’re telling a great story.”
Charita Carter, the first Black female executive of Walt Disney Imagineering worked on the team to help create and cultivate what you will experience with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. I asked about the impact of Disney’s first Black princess and what that meant to her as a Black female Disney imangineer. Check out the video below:
Paul David Bryant, is the show director for Disney live entertainment. He’s also develops entertainment celebrate gospel, which is one of the cornerstones for Celebrate Soulfully. For Bryant he puts it simply: “We’re trying to make sure that everyone is seen. But for me, I need to make sure that WE are seen, because for so long, we didn’t think we belonged.”
Leading this discussion was Sybil Crum, Vice President of Marketing and Commerical Strategy for the Disneyland Resort. We chatted with Sybil before about We Came To Play at the 2024 Essence Festival. Sybil delivered a compelling quote from Walt Disney himself that speaks to what this is all about: “Disneyland will never be finished as long as there’s imagination still left in the world.”
Brooke Aston Harper is the architect behind the incredible live spectacle performed by Jenifer Lewis, Anika Noni Rose and more celebrating the launch of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland. Harper says, “It’s just such a joy to feel supported and to feel empowered. And that show last night was one of the most joyful experiences that I’ve had in my very short tenure here.”
In the newly renamed Bayou Country at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif. Inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film The Princess and the Frog, guests board a log flume to join Tiana and her alligator friend Louis on a fun adventure through the bayou in search of a band for her Mardi Gras soiree.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the latest chapter in the princess and entrepreneur’s story at Disneyland Park, which also includes the Tiana’s Palace quick-service restaurant and three themed retail shops.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort also begins today and continues through Jan. 6, 2025, bringing décor, entertainment and festive family fun across the resort. Disney Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure Park, featuring flavorful food and beverages and a variety of live performances.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, new additions to Downtown Disney District and limited-time festivities are among the many exciting reasons to plan a multi-day Disneyland Resort vacation this holiday season. Disney+ subscribers in the U.S. and Canada can purchase 2 days and get 1 day free with a specially priced 3-Day, 1-Park per day ticket for visits between Nov. 18 and Dec. 27, 2024.
