Those Guests who have visited both Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort will know that the two theme parks are very similar, though the Magic Kingdom is much bigger. Each theme park is made up of various lands — Frontierland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, and Fantasyland. But where the Magic Kingdom has Liberty Square, Disneyland has New Orleans Square. New Orleans Square takes Guests to the Big Easy, with fun shopping and dining opportunities.
There are several places to eat in New Orleans Square, including the popular French Market Restaurant. French Market Restaurant was a quick-service dining location that included scrumptious dishes like slow-roasted Louisiana Beef Stew, Roasted Chicken and mashed potatoes, jambalaya, corn chowder, and a French Dip sandwich.
In January 2023, Disney announced that the French Market Restaurant would be closing for refurbishment and reopening later in the year as Tiana’s Palace. The news came as Disney Imagineers were hard at work creating Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is taking the place of Splash Mountain at both Disneyland and Disney World.
A month after Tiana’s Palace was announced, the French Market Restaurant closed, and Disney crews began working on the transformation. It has been slow but steady progress, and now we have brand-new photos from Disney showing some amazing progress. Tiana’s Palace now has its marquee and other beautiful outdoor details!
We’re almost there! 💚💛 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.
We’re almost there! 💚💛 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. pic.twitter.com/6ioIrIjEem
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) July 28, 2023
More on Tiana’s Palace
While Tiana owned a sit-down restaurant in The Princess and the Frog, Tiana’s Palace at Disneyland will remain a quick-service restaurant. Much like the menu before it, the food at Tiana’s Palace will be bright, delicious, and full of New Orleans flavor.
Here’s what Disney had to say about the new dining spot.
Tiana’s Palace will be the newest restaurant on Orleans Street. Within its peach-colored walls and fancy green wrought-iron balconies, you’ll find elegant fixtures and appointments reminiscent of Tiana’s life and friendships. The new Tiana’s Palace will have much of the same pinch of pizzazz and flair as the restaurant from the film, offering authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures in this quick-service style restaurant. While Tiana’s Palace is not a character dining location, guests may find Tiana in New Orleans Square. Â
The menu at Tiana’s Palace will expand on many of the current favorites served in the location, explore seasonal flavors and, of course, offer some New Orleans classics. Tiana’s Palace is sure to be a gathering place for friends and family to enjoy great food and celebrate together, just like Tiana and her father James dreamed of.
Disney Imagineers are working closely with animators who worked on The Princess and the Frog. Disney wants Tiana’s Palace to be as true to its animated origins as possible, so the team-up is a beautiful thing.
At this time, Disney has not given an official opening date for Tiana’s Palace, but we do know it will be open later this year. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is scheduled to open at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom sometime in late 2024.
