It’s not an exaggeration to say that Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth. Come in a grumpy mood, particularly following an exhaustive five-hour flight from the East Coast, and it’s guaranteed to be replaced with joy the minute you step foot on the Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, California. We recently took that magical journey to check out the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration, which introduces new merch, events exclusive to the occasion and virtually a nonstop assortment of ways to have fun with Mickey and the gang.
During our stay at Disneyland Hotel, where lawn parties are daily and Tangaroa Terrace is the go-to hotspot for a torch-lit nightcap, we were pleasantly surprised at how much our culture is rooted in the whole experience. From the Creole-themed restaurant Jazz Kitchen and Black-owned coffee shop Sip & Sonder — more on them later! — to the strip between New Orleans Square and Bayou Country that leads to the grand attraction of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, let’s just say we had ourselves one good ol’ Black time.
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Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in particular, which is less than a year old following its grand opening back in November 2024, proved to be a focal point in Disney’s overall vision of inclusivity for the future. As some are aware, the log flume ride serves as a replacement for the once-popular Splash Mountain attraction (seen above). After 34 years of being in service at Disneyland, the ride was replaced in 2023 due to its historic ties to the racially-insensitive 1946 film, Song of the South. To put it in perspective a bit further, Disney has all but ignored the film’s existence by never releasing it on home video or uploading it to the Disney+ streaming service. The ride still exists in its original form in Tokyo Disneyland, but recent reports suggest that Disney has been in serious talks with the park’s owner, Oriental Land Company, to make similar reconstruction. However, as one might expect in a world still struggling with race relations, OLC isn’t too keen on the idea of replacing cute critter animatronics with the melanated characters featured in The Princess & The Frog. However, there has been some pushback on the new design here in the States as well from those who simply can’t understand the theme of it all.
Take a look below at how Forbes broke it down in a report from last year:
“The new version remains colorful and adds expressive animatronics as well as video screens which are set into the scenery. This has gone down well with some fans but as WDWMagic points out, ‘the overall sentiment has skewed negatively, with many YouTube viewers expressing disappointment in the new attraction’s storytelling and overall experience.
One of the most frequent criticisms centers around the ride’s storyline. Viewers find the plot – centering on Tiana searching for party musicians – lacking depth and coherence. Many feel the story does not capture the magic of ‘The Princess and the Frog’ and misses an opportunity to include more iconic elements from the film.’”
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, we’re here to tell you from first-hand experience that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is all that jazz and then some. Pitch-black drops that feed your adrenaline, sing-song melodies that keep you smiling even with soaked socks and an impressive job in the overall design from characters to lighting all help make it a must-ride water attraction.
Another dose of culture we indulged in during our time in Disneyland came by way of the aforementioned Sip & Sonder, spearheaded by two lovely Black businesswomen. To speak with Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas is to hear passion in motion. Each has a vivid perspective on what it means to be in their front-facing positions to directly represent for the community, with Amanda-Jane telling us, “There’s something about being seen that’s important. We’re oftentimes in the rooms and in the spaces, but overlooked. Having the opportunity to be at Downtown Disney and beyond that have such a visible space that’s unapologetically Black is all very intentional.” Shanita followed suit, adding, “The word that keeps coming to mind is representation. I’m thinking about being in a place that’s about joy and celebration, and also all the little Black girls coming here too! Seeing the new rides in the Bayou and a Black women-owned establishment that’s integrated and part of the experience is seamless representation — it’s incredibly powerful!”
The ladies have been operating in California for some time now, and the recent expansion to Downtown Disney at the top of 2025 was just a testament of their hard work and determination to grow even bigger. “We’re founded in Inglewood in 2017,” confirmed Amanda-Jane, who went on break down the brand’s history by adding, “that’s like our think-tank where we do a lot of our impact work. When we think of how to grow as a company, long-term contracts and sustainability are important. For us, it’s determining how to do that with a mind partner while also remaining true to who we are. Being here [in Downtown Disney], it made so much sense.”
It’s true: little Black girls visiting Disneyland from all across the globe will feel very much at home this year. They’ll see themselves at every corner of the park, be it the Paint The Night parade of lights to maybe even meeting Princess Tiana herself. For everyone else, well, your inner Disney kid will pop out at some point.
Take a look below at some highlights and bright lights from the Disneyland 70th Anniversary, and join the celebration yourselves by clicking here to plan a trip this summer:
