I’m almost there!

After much pomp and circumstance Disneylandthe new attraction of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens this week and actress Anika Noni Rosewho held court during the opening celebration at Disneyland on November 13, has a lot of feelings about it.

“The ride is absolutely beautiful,” says Rose, 52, who has played Princess Tiana since the groundbreaking 2009 animated film. This week, she and her family had the chance to ride the attraction, which replaced Splash Mountainbefore its official opening to the public on November 15.

As for the famous fall at the end of the ride, “I love it,” she says. “I’m a drop girl, a Tower of Terror girl, so I’m all about the fall. ”

She also talks about what this moment means to fans. “The remarkable thing is how personal it is,” says Rose, whose voice and image helped pave the way for the world to come. first black Disney princess 15 years ago.

“People come up to me all the time, telling me what it meant to them as children or now as adults. It’s very moving. It’s beautiful and it remains something very personal and special In my opinion.”

Thinking back to 15 years ago, “I feel the same type of wonder and excitement. When I first saw the movie, my nephew, who was here today, was with me. He was 19, now he’s 30. My grandmother was with me that was the last experience she had with me and she knew what was happening at that time.”

Princess Tiana is once again making history as Disney’s first black princess with her own attraction at both Disney World and now Disneyland. “It feels like progress is what it feels like,” Rose says of that moment.

She continues: “It feels like we are represented in a more complete and integral way. It’s quite beautiful for the children who will come here and see themselves or their friends or loved ones represented in this space.”

Another thing she’s proud to shine a light on: New Orleans, the iconic city at the heart of the film and the new ride.

“We also pay a big tribute to New Orleans and its culture,” she says, “which is something more American than I think America is. It’s actually a melting pot. That says a lot about this particular period.”

At the grand opening celebration, which took place in the park’s New Orleans Square and featured savory dishes and donuts from the new restaurant Tiana’s PalaceRose reunited with her fellow voice actors from the film, including Jennifer Lewiswho voiced Mama Odie.

To end the evening, they boarded the park’s Mark Twain steamboat and performed songs from the soundtrack, including Rose’s inspirational hit “Almost There,” as well as a new song written by PJ Morton specifically for the new ride.

“I feel love and support within me when I walk the streets of Disney,” Rose says, taking it all in. “Someone shouted to me today, and I’ve heard it a lot over the last few months, they shouted. ‘She’s the People’s Princess!’ It touches me deeply. I’m very honored.”