Disneyland nears opening of Tiana’s Palace restaurant: ‘We’re almost there’

A real-world version of the New Orleans restaurant in the “Princess and the Frog” animated film taking shape at Disneyland is “almost” ready to open in the heart of New Orleans Square at the Anaheim theme park.

Construction scrims have been removed from the building revealing the thematic riverboat wheelhouse and twin smokestacks atop the restaurant and the Tiana’s Palace sign on the wrought iron balcony over the entrance.

“We’re almost there,” according to the official Disneyland Twitter account. “Slated to open later this year, Tiana’s Palace restaurant at Disneyland received its marquee, wheelhouse and two smokestacks topped with crown-shaped ornamentation giving the restaurant its distinctive shape inspired by the film.”

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But you can’t book a reservation just yet for Tiana’s Palace. Disneyland has not confirmed an opening date for the restaurant — beyond sometime later this year.

“Active construction is still going on in the kitchen and interior of the establishment,” according to MiceChat.

Construction started in February in New Orleans Square on the transformation of the French Market into Tiana’s Palace.

The quick-service restaurant will offer New Orleans classics and seasonal flavors inspired by the film while expanding on current dishes offered by the French Market. The Mint Julep Bar will continue to sell mint juleps and Mickey beignets.

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The refreshed outdoor dining courtyard will be covered with a gold and green awning framed by rows of Tivoli lights.

While the Princess Tiana meet-and-greet character may frequent the New Orleans Square area around her Disneyland eatery, the new restaurant will not offer character dining. Concept art shows Tiana waving to diners from the balcony of her new Disneyland restaurant.

The theme park eatery and the restaurant run by Tiana in the animated movie share a long history. Filmmakers took inspiration from the exterior of Disneyland’s French Market when designing Tiana’s Palace for the movie.

Tiana’s takeover of New Orleans Square and nearby environs has been progressing at a steady pace.

The rethemed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is scheduled to open in 2024 as replacement for the controversial Splash Mountain ride based on the 1940s Disney film “Song of the South” that has been criticized for perpetuating racist stereotypes. Splash Mountain closed in May to begin the yearlong transformation. Disneyland has not yet announced if the Critter Country ride will get a New Orleans Square address when Tiana takes up residence.

Eudora’s Chic Boutique retail store opened in New Orleans Square in September with a portion of the new shop dedicated to Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets. The Tiana-themed store that replaced Le Bat en Rouge shop is named for the seamstress mother of the animated Disney princess.

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