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Sneak Peek: Tiana's Showboat Jubilee at Disneyland

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Tiana's Showboat Jubilee opens at Disneyland this morning, and MousePlanet had the opportunity to watch an after-hours dress rehearsal of the show earlier this week. Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed at the rehearsal, so you'll have to wait until after today's public debut for photos.

According to Show Director Carla Carlile, the show takes place after the movie ends, and is not meant to tell the story of the film. Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen are enjoying their Happily Ever After, and have come to the waterfront for a celebration that will include up to 20 park guests per performance.

The show is very similar to the Walt Disney World version that opened last month at the Magic Kingdom. The Disneyland presentation begins with a processional from the New Orleans Square train station down to the Mark Twain loading dock. A cast of 22 dancers and the 7-piece Jambalaya Jazz Band join Tiana and Naveen in this procession. Waiting on board the Mark Twain is Louis, the trumpet-playing alligator from the film. Once the performers and pre-selected park guests are on board the Mark Twain, the ship moves into position for the show.

During the actual "show stop," the Mark Twain is positioned in front of the Old Mill on Tom Sawyer Island. If you're looking for a front-and-center spot from which to watch the show, look for the two speaker towers on the water's edge - the Twain will stop directly between those. Fantasmic-style viewing areas will be set up along the Rivers of America, with a walkway kept open to facilitate traffic flow through the area.

Another good vantage point is from the tiered walkway that is usually VIP seating for Fantasmic!, but you'll need to wait for the processional to pass before you can claim a spot there.

The show stop includes five songs from the film, with Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and Doctor Facilier (who makes an dramatic entrance in the middle of the show) all performing live. The character of Louis is voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley, who also voiced the character in the movie.

At the end of the 9-minute show stop, the Mark Twain continues around the Rivers of America. During this "day cruise," the park guests selected to participate in the show enjoy a private meet and greet with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen, and a Disney PhotoPass photographer is on board to take pictures. Once the Twain returns to dock, the performers reverse their procession and march through to New Orleans Square.

The entire show, from the moment the dancers first enter New Orleans Square to the moment they step backstage, is approximately 35 minutes. River traffic along the Rivers of America, including the canoes, the Sailing Ship Columbia and the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, will be impacted to varying degrees by the show. Carlile was a little vague on the specifics, but expect the canoes to be closed for about 30 minutes for each performance, and the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island to be closed from the time the Mark Twain leaves its loading dock to the time it passes the raft docks, about 15 minutes per show. The Sailing Ship Columbia will continue to offer day cruises, but will wait at the loading dock while the Mark Twain is stopped for the show.

If you want to be selected to perform in the show, you'll want to head to New Orleans Square right after park opening, and hope to be selected by the entertainment cast that will be scouting the area. There is no age limit to participate in the show, and 20 guests are selected for each performance. If you are selected, you will receive a "boarding pass" with the date and time you should return for the show. Participants get to perform in the show and have a private meet and greet with the lead characters.

Tiana's Showboat Jubilee will be presented daily at Disneyland, with showtimes at 11:15, 12:45, 1:45 and 4:15. The show is currently scheduled to run through January 3, 2010.

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Comments

  1. Drince88's Avatar
    Do you know if there are any requirements for things like closed-heeled/toed shoes? I know there was something like that that stopped a number of people from the parade participation a few years back.