New nighttime show coming to Disneyland pays tribute to New Orleans
Though Disneyland is in sunny Southern California, Walt Disney's original theme park has prominent ties to New Orleans. The park has an entire land called New Orleans Square, inspired by Walt's travels to the city in the years leading up to Disneyland's opening in 1955. The mayor of New Orleans was even on hand to make Walt an honorary citizen of the city when the land was added to Disneyland in 1966.
Everything from the architecture and greenery to the shops and restaurants feels straight out of the Big Easy. You can dine on Cajun- and Creole-inspired dishes like shrimp and grits, gumbo and po'boy sandwiches at the newly opened Tiana's Palace restaurant or pick up an order of freshly made Mickey-shaped beignets and a nonalcoholic mint julep next to Tiana's Palace at the Mint Julep Bar.
Aside from the food, it's the toe-tapping jazz that really makes you feel like you are in New Orleans. You can hear it playing daily as you stroll down the streets of New Orleans Square, around attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. Soon, the spirited sound of New Orleans jazz will play its way into an all-new nighttime show across from New Orleans Square on the Rivers of America: “The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural."
“The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural” will expand upon an entertainment offering already available on the Rivers of America featuring Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band. The current show features 20 minutes of live music played aboard a colorfully decorated barge floating along the river.
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Queenie and the band play popular New Orleans songs like "Jambalaya on the Bayou" and "When the Saints Go Marching In," including a few classics that were included on "The Princess and the Frog" soundtrack, such as "Down in New Orleans" and "Gonna Take You There."
The new nighttime show will take place between Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band's sets and will feature colorful projections on the Rivers of America. The projections will tell the story of a "mischievous little frog from the bayou that leaps into the lively city of New Orleans when he is lured by the jazzy sounds he hears in the distance," according to the Disneyland website.
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Disney is billing “The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural” as an "art installation" that will bring to life original artwork by Disney Live Entertainment graphic designer Marcella "Marci" Swett, who is known for her live chalk art demonstrations at Downtown Disney District.
Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band and, soon, “The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural” will serve as exciting new replacements for "Fantasmic!" which was put on hold after the show's larger-than-life dragon caught fire earlier this year. "Fantasmic!" is set to return in the spring of 2024, according to the Disneyland website, so the newly announced offering may only be temporary.
This new nighttime show will kick off on Sept. 29, running select evenings this fall and nightly during the holiday season. Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band currently play sets at 8:15 p.m. and 9:05 p.m. If those times stay the same, “The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural” will take place between those two sets.
Related: Every new land and attraction coming to Disneyland and Disney World in 2023 and beyond
If that isn't enough Big Easy excitement for you, you'll be able to visit New Orleans with Tiana and her friends in late 2024 when the new Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction opens at Disneyland. The ride will replace Splash Mountain, utilizing the same layout and mechanics but featuring an all-new storyline, characters and, of course, jazz music.
Related reading:
- Everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland
- Where to stay at Disneyland: The best on- and off-property hotels
- The hotel with a private entrance at Disneyland: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
- The Marriott Courtyard at Disneyland that costs up to $700 and is valet-only
- Luxury within walking distance to Disneyland: The new Westin Anaheim
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
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- Terms Apply.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.