Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to Honor Veterans

    Published:

    Disney World has announced that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will honor veterans with a backstory for Tiana’s father, James, and his military service. Here’s the announcement:

    New Photos Dive into Tiana’s Dad James’ Military Backstory

    Fans of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog” will recall that Tiana’s father, James, was a veteran of World War I. Walt Disney Imagineering took this as inspiration and built upon his story inside the attraction in partnership with their fellow storytellers at Disney Animation.

    Princess and the Frog characters, Tiana's Dad James, in military uniform, and a young Tiana embrace in front of a train.

    Ted Robledo, executive creative director for Walt Disney Imagineering, said that his team was thrilled to be able to expand James’ story in a way that honored veterans. He shared that one of the things that makes Tiana so unique is how relatable her story is. Her mother was an entrepreneurial dress maker, and her father was a decorated veteran.

    “We looked for inspiration for how we could best expand on his backstory in a way that honored the military families who visit our parks,” said Ted. “In creating these photos for the attraction, we were inspired by real photos of soldiers who served during WWI to ensure we got it right.”

    The photos that served as reference for the expanded backstory of James were those of soldiers who served in 369th Regiment, one of the first African American regiments to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. This unit was renowned for its bravery and many members were awarded the prestigious Croix de Guerre medal by the French government for their valiant service in action.  

    In faded sepia tone, Tiana’s father, James, offers gumbo to military service members as they play instruments around him.

    As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!

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