7 Easter Eggs on Tiana's Bayou Adventure Every Princess and the Frog Fan Should Look, Listen (and Sniff) For

The latest appearance in Tiana’s Bayou adventure may already be familiar to Disney World fans, but the ride is full of surprising new details to discover — including a few that only Imagineers know about.

The former Splash Mountain, which has been remodeled into a continuation of the story of the beloved heroine of the animated classic from 2009. The The princess and the frog and Disney’s first African-American princess, Tiana, opens to the public on June 28. But PEOPLE got an early look at — and rode — the attraction at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom during a media preview on Monday, June 10.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR TIANA’S BAYOU ADVENTURE!

All about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney is coming The princess and the frog Driving

Olga Thompson/Disney

The core components of the flume ride remain, including its famous 50-foot drop. But the trip to the hill was replaced by a trip through the magical landscape of the bay at night, filled with familiar faces and new creatures, accompanied by loud movie tunes and new original music.

From the moment guests enter the line, every element is carefully crafted to immerse them in Tiana’s world. Some details, however, are so small or subtle that even lifelong fans might miss them.

Here are some Easter eggs to look out for, as revealed to PEOPLE by the Disney Imagineers who helped create them!

Olga Thompson/Disney

The voice of the “real” Tiana

A special fictional radio station plays throughout the meandering sequence of Bayou Adventure. At one point, the voice of Leah Chase, the late legendary New Orleans restaurateur on whom Tiana is said to be based, comes through the speakers singing “Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?”

The Chase family’s line of condiments and gumbo bases — used in their iconic Nola Dooky Chase restaurant — can also be purchased exclusively at the gift shop on the ride.

Olga Thompson/Disney

The rabbit plays license plate

Watch out for one creature in particular in the Mardi Gras party scene at the end of the ride, one imagineer tells PEOPLE. One of the original animal characters is a rabbit who plays the license plate as if it were a washboard. He acquired an amazing instrument from a vintage car parked outside in the queue, which on closer inspection was missing its plates.

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The next chapter in Tiana’s story

The story of the ride is set several years after the events of the film. Tiana developed her company, Tian’s Palace, into Tian’s Foods, a successful collaboration with a range of products. As guests enter the ground level of the interior order, they will encounter her office, complete with a typewriter and her personal belongings.

Mackenzie Schmidt

There is a copy on the table New Orleans Business Journal newspaper announcing that they were going to throw a Mardi Gras party for the whole town. A smaller headline notes that all the city’s bands are booked for that date.

Mackenzie Schmidt

On the opposite wall is a to-do list for Tiana and her colleagues to prepare for the party. The scheduling of the band is left to Louis, a jazz-loving alligator, and it soon becomes clear that he dropped the ball as the story of the ride revolves around a gathering of musicians who are likely to perform at a feta.

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Unseen family photos

One hallway in the waiting line is lined with black-and-white photos and framed, handwritten letters. To the right, the riders can see Tiana’s father in uniform. (He served in World War I in the film.) And on the right are articles and accolades documenting her mother’s successful dressmaking business.

Mackenzie Schmidt

The creator explained to reporters who visited the ride Monday that because so many fans relate to the American princess’ family — a working mother who owns a small business, a family member in the military, etc. — they wanted to highlight that connection as visitors delve deeper into her world. .

Beignet smell

A few weeks ago, rumors started circulating that Disney would put the sweet smell of fresh beignets in the queue. Well, it’s true! But it’s not just a gimmick to sell quintessential New Orleans confections — although you can pick them up for a limited time at Golden Oak Outpost and The Friar’s Nook.

Paul Morse/Disney

The scent spreads through one special part of the line: Tiana’s kitchen, where fresh food is prepared on the counter, enlivening the scene.

Tiana’s secret recipe in plain view

Mackenzie Schmidt

Another treat in the kitchen is a recipe card for her famous beignets left on the counter so passers-by can easily snap a photo. There is also a jar of honey nearby, a sign of the princess’s secret ingredient.

Both Tiana and Leah Chases cookbooks are also available for purchase on site.

Gumbo pot

Mackenzie Schmidt

Beneath the kitchen island is a collection of seemingly innocuous dishes, but the large brown pot, which the Disney mastermind revealed to PEOPLE, is the pot Tiana and her father use to make gumbo at the beginning of the film.

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There are sure to be many more tributes to Tiana, the real Chase family and beyond The princess and the frog universe. The only way to find them will be for eagle-eyed enthusiasts to visit and take a drive!

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens to the public on June 28 at Walt Disney World. It will open at Disneyland in California later this year.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education