On March 4, millions of Americans across the nation celebrated Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. The day is filled with vibrant parades, countless beads, and plenty of indulgent food and drinks. Mardi Gras takes place the day before Ash Wednesday, when Christians worldwide begin their observance of Lent by giving up some of their favorite things.
While the biggest festivities are in New Orleans, that doesn’t mean people outside the city can’t join in. Even Disney tried to get in on the action, but things didn’t quite go as expected for the company.
Related: Could Disney Springs Be the Perfect Place for a Mardi Gras Celebration?
Disney’s attempt to join in the Mardi Gras celebrations has been met with fierce backlash after the company shared a festive post on social media featuring The Princess and the Frog (2009) characters Tiana and Louis.
The video, meant to celebrate the holiday, quickly became a point of controversy, sparking frustration from fans who felt that Disney’s timing and messaging were insensitive.
The video’s release came just one day after Disney made the shocking announcement that the Tiana series, which was slated to premiere on Disney+, had been canceled. Fans had been eagerly awaiting the series, which promised to follow Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess, as she embarked on new adventures.
Happy Mardi Gras from Tiana and Louis! 🎺🎉 #DisneyParks #MardiGras #TianasBayouAdventure pic.twitter.com/8OBKvuNMoY
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) March 4, 2025
The timing of the announcement, coupled with the Mardi Gras post, created an optics problem for Disney, leaving many fans feeling as though the company was attempting to distract from the series’ cancellation by posting a lighthearted video.
As one fan tweeted, “This is just wrong. Disney promotes Tiana in the parks, but cancels the show. They’re trying to distract us with a Mardi Gras post, but it’s not working.”
The timing made the celebration of Tiana feel hollow and disconnected from the real issues that fans were passionate about. This was a stark contrast to how Disney had previously hyped the Tiana series as part of their ongoing commitment to diverse storytelling.
Related: The Shocking Truth Behind Disney’s Original Plans for Princess Tiana
The Backlash Over Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The controversy surrounding the Mardi Gras post was compounded by the ongoing frustrations with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the attraction that replaced Splash Mountain at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
While many were excited about the new ride’s focus on Tiana and the world of The Princess and the Frog, the attraction has faced numerous technical issues since its opening. Riders have reported frequent breakdowns and malfunctions, which detract from the immersive experience that Disney had promised.
Most recently, the Louis animatronic, a fan-favorite character from the film, was found malfunctioning in the attraction. Visitors to Magic Kingdom shared photos and videos of the animatronic, which appeared to have a strange slit in Louis' throat, sparking discomfort among park guests.
The malfunctioning ride and the lack of attention to detail further fueled the frustration surrounding Disney’s handling of Tiana’s legacy.
Fans were already questioning Disney’s sincerity in promoting Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and the technical issues only intensified the criticism.
As one X (formerly Twitter) user noted, “You canceled her show and the Louis animatronic is already deteriorating.”
You canceled her show and the Louis animatronic is already deteriorating
— Fallonfish (@Fallonfiish) March 4, 2025
Many echoed this sentiment, feeling that Disney’s execution of the attraction didn’t live up to the company's high expectations.
The Lack of a Real Mardi Gras Celebration
To add insult to injury, Disney did not host any major Mardi Gras celebrations in its parks this year. While the Port Orleans – French Quarter resort at Walt Disney World celebrates Mardi Gras every year, the parks themselves had no significant festivities.
The absence of a proper Mardi Gras celebration in the theme parks, especially given the occasion, felt like a missed opportunity.
Universal Studios Orlando has hosted a month-long Mardi Gras event for years, complete with parades, concerts, and themed food. By comparison, Disney’s minimal efforts felt lackluster.
The single social media post, paired with the lack of a larger park celebration, highlighted Disney’s failure to fully embrace the spirit of Mardi Gras and left many fans questioning why the company didn’t invest in a bigger celebration.
Fans Express Disappointment
Fans were quick to express their disappointment across social media, with many pointing out that Disney’s actions were contradictory and tone-deaf.
One fan tweeted, “You just cancelled Tiana's show, stop pretending y'all care about her.”
You just cancelled Tiana's show, stop pretending y'all care about her.
— “One of Those Splash People” (@SplashFan2000) March 4, 2025
If Disney wants to move past this controversy, it will need to take action. This includes addressing the technical issues with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, offering a more substantial Mardi Gras celebration in the parks, and reevaluating its messaging around Tiana.
Fans want to see Disney truly commit to honoring Tiana’s legacy, rather than just using her as a promotional tool.
As Disney moves forward, it must understand that its audience is paying attention, and they expect better. Fans of The Princess and the Frog have been waiting for years to see more from Tiana, and the cancellation of the series, paired with the problematic ride and tone-deaf social media posts, has left many feeling like their voices aren’t being heard.
Do you think Disney mishandled the Mardi Gras post? How do you feel about the Tiana series cancellation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
