Leaked Notes Reveal Disney Bans Voodoo, Splash Mountain, and Frog Transformation References for Tiana in Theme Parks

Disney’s stories are starting to feel less original, shaped too much by corporate decisions. For example, *The Princess and the Frog* offered a unique story about Tiana, a princess in New Orleans, filled with music, culture, and even voodoo. It explored themes of pursuing dreams, personal growth, and the risks of making questionable bargains.

However, documents leaked from the Disney Character Foundation, detailing guidelines for performers, and shared on X by @cynical_disney, suggest that nearly all of those original themes have been revised, toned down, or completely removed.

Important documents from Disney’s costume design department have been released, detailing plans for ‘The Princess and the Frog.’ These files reveal limitations placed on Dr. Facilier’s outfit, a rule against Tiana mentioning her time as a frog, and censorship of references to voodoo and hoodoo practices. You can find more details in ‘The Tiana Files’ linked here.

— Cynical Disney (@cynical_disney) September 22, 2025

Internal documents reveal Disney’s plans to significantly change *The Princess and the Frog*. They’re removing the unique cultural elements and story aspects that made the film special, including its Voodoo influences and the focus on Tiana’s frog transformation. References to the Splash Mountain ride are also being eliminated, replaced with new themes centered around identity.

Voodoo Vanishes from the Bayou

According to recently revealed guidelines, performers are not allowed to use the terms “voodoo” or “hoodoo.” They’ve been instructed to refer to Dr. Facilier’s abilities as “parlor tricks,” “incantations,” or “spells” – a decision reportedly made to avoid negatively portraying voodoo.

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— Cynical Disney (@cynical_disney) September 22, 2025

I’ve noticed some big changes with Mama Odie, and honestly, it’s a little sad. They’ve completely removed any mention of her roots in Voodoo or Hoodoo – the notes for performers specifically say *not* to talk about it. It’s not just behind the scenes either; Disney now officially describes her as a ‘bayou fairy godmother’ instead. It feels like they’re erasing a really important part of who she is, and it’s disappointing to see.

This significantly diminishes one of the most special parts of the original story: the rich spiritual traditions of New Orleans. It’s been simplified to basic magic tricks and visual effects, stripping away the cultural depth that made *The Princess and the Frog* stand out. Without the influence of voodoo, Dr. Facilier loses his menacing power and comes across as just a simple magician.

Disney didn’t just water this down; they boiled it away.

A Frog-Free Princess?

It’s also surprising that talking about Tiana’s time as a frog is forbidden. Essentially, the entire storyline of *The Princess and the Frog* – the movie where everyone first met her – is a no-go topic.

According to the leaked guidelines:

As a film fan, it really bothers me when I see characters of color, especially leads, visually altered in ways that erase their features – it feels like it diminishes the importance of their story and their background. Take *The Princess and the Frog* – the way Tiana and Naveen are turned into frogs is a prime example. While their time as amphibians is a fun part of the movie and they even enjoy it for a while, Tiana doesn’t really *want* to talk about being a frog. When guests bring it up at the parks, she’ll usually make a quick, playful comment about her adventure, but quickly steers the conversation towards things she *does* want to discuss – like life with Naveen as humans, her friends in the bayou, or Mama Odie’s incredible magic. It’s like she wants to focus on who she is *now*, not just what she went through.

Let’s take a moment to consider this: Tiana’s entire journey – her struggles, what she learns, and even finding love – all takes place while she’s a frog. That’s the core of her story. It would be like asking Ariel to hide her mermaid identity or Elsa to keep her ice powers a secret. But with Tiana, people seem hesitant to acknowledge or discuss her time as a frog, which is central to her experience.

If a guest mentions the movie’s central theme, cast members have been told to steer the conversation away from it. Essentially, the most important part of the film is being left out of the experiences within the park.

What Guests Are Supposed to Hear

Okay, so I’ve been digging into some leaked scripts, and honestly, it looks like Disney’s really trying to steer the conversation towards current issues like race and culture. It’s not about the fantasy anymore, it’s about making a statement, and it’s pretty noticeable if you read between the lines.

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— Cynical Disney (@cynical_disney) September 22, 2025

Some of the pre-written guest questions Disney preps performers for include:

“How does it feel to be the first African-American Disney Princess?”
“How does it feel to be the first mixed-race Disney couple?”
“How are you celebrating Juneteenth or Black History Month?”

It’s strange – Tiana is now expected to share pre-written statements about Juneteenth, even though she can’t discuss her magical experiences or time as a frog. Surprisingly, even the villain, Dr. Facilier, has been given scripted lines for both Black History Month and Juneteenth.

I have to say, this isn’t the charming, fairytale experience of *The Princess and the Frog*. It feels like Disney is prioritizing pushing certain social and political ideas over telling a good story, and using its characters to do it. It’s disappointing to see them become symbols of identity politics rather than beloved characters.

What’s Off-Limits for Tiana Besides Voodoo and Frogs?

The list of banned topics for Tiana and company goes well beyond voodoo and the frog storyline.

According to the notes, performers are not to mention:

Splash Mountain — even though Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was built directly on top of it.
Ray’s death — one of the most emotional scenes in the entire movie.
Wealth or poverty — despite this being central to Tiana’s ambition to open her own restaurant.
Real historical events — no mentions of Hurricane Katrina, the 1920s, or any specific period.

Content relating to Tiana is being judged based on whether it reflects genuine cultural or emotional depth from the film-if it does, it’s being rejected. However, if it simply aligns with current trends or identity categories, it’s being prioritized.

A Manufactured Disney Character

As a huge Disney fan, I’ve been looking at these leaked materials from the Disney Character Foundation, and honestly, it’s a bit disheartening. It really seems like Disney doesn’t fully believe in the power of its own stories anymore. Take Tiana, for example. Originally, she was this incredible, determined woman who faced real challenges and learned so much through her journey. Now, it feels like they’ve turned her into this…polished figurehead, basically reading lines about current events instead of letting her story speak for itself. It’s a big shift, and not one I’m thrilled about.

The new version of the film has lost the rich cultural elements rooted in New Orleans voodoo that were central to the original. It’s also missing the emotional core built around Tiana’s experience as a frog and Ray’s selfless act. All that remains feels like a list of requirements the studio wanted to meet.

This remake feels like a disappointment for fans hoping to see *The Princess and the Frog* treated with the same respect and care as other classic Disney films like *Cinderella*, *The Little Mermaid*, and *Beauty and the Beast*. It removes the film’s important cultural elements related to voodoo and diminishes Tiana’s unique story, leaving her as a watered-down character who only says and does what the company considers acceptable.

The Bottom Line

Disney has repeatedly demonstrated that prioritizing strong storytelling and cultural sensitivity is more important than simply pushing a corporate agenda. When those values clash, the story always suffers.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was intended as a heartfelt tribute to New Orleans and the inspiring princess Tiana. However, recent information suggests it falls short of that goal. Fans are concerned that the attraction doesn’t accurately represent the true characters of Tiana and Dr. Facilier, instead presenting altered versions that lack depth, cultural richness, and genuine storytelling.

It’s ironic that Disney, a company so vocal about diversity, seems quick to remove the cultural details that were central to Tiana’s story and made it meaningful.

2025-09-22 20:00