The Princess and the Frog Release Dates The Princess and the Frog, Disney's 49th animated feature, first hit theaters in a limited release on November 25, 2009 , in New York City and Los Angeles. It premiered earlier on November 15, 2009, at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California.

This vibrant tale of Tiana, the hardworking waitress turned frog alongside Prince Naveen, was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker— the duo behind classics like The Little Mermaid. Originally slated for Christmas Day 2009, Disney shifted the wide release to December 11, 2009 , to dodge competition from Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Key Release Timeline
Here's a quick breakdown of the rollout:

Event| Date| Locations/Details 1357
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World Premiere| November 15, 2009| Burbank, CA (Disney Studios)
Limited Theatrical| November 25, 2009| NYC & LA (2 theaters initially)
Wide Theatrical| December 11, 2009| U.S. nationwide & international markets
DVD/Blu-ray| March 16, 2010| Home video availability 1

Behind-the-Magic Context
Imagine the buzz in 2009: Disney revived hand-drawn 2D animation after years of CGI dominance, setting the story in a jazzy 1920s New Orleans bayou. Tiana became the first Black Disney princess, sparking both excitement and early debates over the "frog princess" title (once considered before tweaks). The shift from extravagant CGI to a nostalgic, organic 1950s-style look hooked fans back to Disney's golden era roots.

Even 16+ years later (as of February 2026), it remains a holiday favorite, with streaming on platforms like Disney+ and Google Play fueling nostalgia. No major remakes or sequels yet, but Tiana's Palace ride opened at Disneyland in 2024, keeping the magic hopping.

TL;DR at Bottom: Limited release November 25, 2009; wide December 11, 2009. A magical return to Disney's 2D roots!

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