The holiday movie season is fast approaching and both Walt Disney fans and the news media are buzzing about The Princess and The Frog. Not only does this movie mark Disney’s return to hand-drawn 2D animation, but it heralds the arrival of Disney’s first black princess, Princess Tiana. Hints of merchandise have already come out including pictures of the adorable Princess Tiana doll and promotional “fortune cards” that go with the voodoo and magic theme incorporated in the New Orleans-based story.

The Princess and the Frog brings together the winning creative team that brought us classics like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. With gorgeous animation and a variety of jazz-infused songs that are sure to get stuck in your head, Disney is hoping the magic of 2D animation returns with the re-telling of this classic fairytale. But until the movie’s holiday release, both Walt Disney World and Disneyland are gearing up for a series of promotional events to let everyone know Disney is ready for a new princess—and they want you to be too!

One of the first things the Disney company did was formally introduce the Princess Tiana cast member to the press. While she is voiced by Anika Noni Rose, a Tiana cast member will now appear at both Disney parks in California and Florida, greeting fans of all ages and races in her elegant princess dress and crown. Herown “Prince Charming” is the frog-turned-human Prince Naveen, who will also be making appearances and signing autographs for fans of the movie starting this fall.

Tiana will officially be introduced into the princess merchandise lineup in early 2010 after the movie’s release, and then we will see her next to Aurora, Jasmine, Cinderella and all of the other princesses in Disney’s products. As for events at the Disney theme parks, fans can expect to see Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee for the 2009 holiday season. This promotional show will debut at Disney World on October 26, 2009 and will run through January 3, 2010.

Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee will be a “Mardi Gras-style” musical show that utilizes the gorgeous Liberty Belle show boat in Frontierland next to the Haunted Mansion attraction. The show begins with a procession of jazz musicians heading over to the Liberty Belle as the crowds follow along to the docks. Once there, a small group of pre-selected guests will be selected to board the Liberty Belle with characters from the movie including Tiana and Naveen as the boat then takes off performing songs from the feature’s soundtrack along the river.

With all of these great promotional events going on at the Disney theme parks, The Princess and The Frog is going to be a hit this holiday season. Princess Tiana’s reign has only just begun!