Otterhead
Well-Known Member
There were kids dancing in the aisles and singing along when I was last there. I think that's a good reason to keep it.
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Rumor Bye Bye (Tiki) Birdies?
- Thread starter WDW1974
- Start date
JediMasterMatt
Well-Known Member
While I don't have any news on the MK's Tiki Room, I do want to comment on this philosophy - the Pokémon syndrome of "Gotta Ride 'Em All" while in Orlando. It's amazing how conditioned (conditioned is the right choice of words; but, instead of the Helsinki Syndrome it's the Orlando Syndrome) the average guests to WDW have become to their trips to the World being a treated like a pre-flight checklist. A vacation to this majority is nothing more than cycling through the available options and feeling satisfied when they are done. The concept of not getting a spin on everything on offer is a terrifying and daunting one indeed. The fear of leaving more on the plate for the next visit is too scary for most to take.
Unfortunately, this mindset in Orlando of touring is being preyed upon by the TDO decision makers. It directly lead to the apathy and malaise at the resort for over the last two decades. They've learned that guests were happy for the most part in just cycling through the same roster of stuff year after year. This is why so many experiences were left to rot or, in the ever increasing mindset, have services or attractions removed and not get replaced. Management knows that time on a vacation is the most valuable commodity. If guests are already sated in their appetites with the current attraction roster, why put anything more on the menu that you'd have to pay for?
For all the good that is on the drawing boards in Orlando now, let's not forget that now that the sleeping giant seems to have been awakened, it cannot go back to sleep once Pandora, TSL, SW, EPCOT, and MK get finished. True Spirited Change will only take place if they can show some semblance of sustaining this momentum for future years and the countless guests that will either be visiting for the first time or dare I say - revisiting their favorites.
As a cautionary tale, let's take Spirit's quote from above and slightly modify it from TDO's perspective - "We have to operate all the rides and attractions and we're not blowing 50 grand this week to pay for operating something that such a low percentage of guests add to their checklist in the Tiki Room".
This is the same resort that nixed the extra outlay for the 3rd attraction for SWL not only for the initial cost; but, the continued costs of maintaining and staffing it for years to come. They understood that a 3rd attraction of lesser status in their prized new land would potentially get the Tiki Room bypass when compared to its bigger brothers. Who cares if
I'm cautiously optimistic that the sticker shock of addressing the years or neglect won't cause us to repeat this chapter from history... I also, think that they will find any excuse to cutback their budgets once the attendance skyrockets with SW. "Fool me once WDW... shame on me. Fool me twice... you won't upcharge me again."
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Laketravis
Well-Known Member
Hopefully they won't push the limits of external IP like USO and put in some sort of screen based 3D attraction featuring Jimmy Kimmel.
That sure was a very clear differentiation in the past. Universal has iconic movies and television shows that were made into attractions; WDW had iconic attractions that were made into movies.
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
Don't confuse Disney respecting nostalgia with an unwillingness to update things.
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
There was a missed opportunity with Skipper Canteen. I would have had the Tiki Birds relocated in some form and be a separate room in the restaurant. Sing a song every 15 minutes or so and you preserve a component of an attraction that has failed to bring in guests for years.
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
When I was a wee lad, I actually wrote a letter to WDW to ask them for a recording of the Enchanted Tiki Room song (along with a couple of others). Naturally, being corporate savages, they told me to go scratch and buy the official record (I had no idea of such things or that this existed - remember, I was a wee lad). Naturally, I have a digital copy of the song these days...
I've been going to the Tiki room as long as I've been going to WDW. I would be heartbroken if it went away. Not to mention the Orange Bird, slowly fading into oblivion. Together with JC, that whole corner of Adventureland is a huge part of my memories.
The last thing they need there is more food options or a cheezy IP/overlay.
I've been going to the Tiki room as long as I've been going to WDW. I would be heartbroken if it went away. Not to mention the Orange Bird, slowly fading into oblivion. Together with JC, that whole corner of Adventureland is a huge part of my memories.
The last thing they need there is more food options or a cheezy IP/overlay.
Buried20KLeague
Well-Known Member
Mystic Manor is a HUGE attraction, with a HUGE footprint. In Hong Kong, the mansion being up on a huge hill masks the large show building behind it.
Also it doesn't fit in Adventureland. Henry Mystic TRAVELED to far off and remote places to get his artifacts... His Mansion and museum aren't LOCATED in a far off and remote place.
Also, the tiki room building is surrounded on all sides by guest areas. In my opinion, nothing would go into this space that wouldn't solely be indoor construction into the existing building. I just don't see them going through the pain of any major exterior work and construction in an area surrounded by guests. Especially when there are expansion pads close by in the area if they were looking to actually build something from the ground up.
Otterhead
Well-Known Member
For what it's worth, they've been pushing the Orange Bird quite hard the last few years. He went from virtual obscurity to being all over the place in Adventureland, merchandise in quite a few stores, plush toys, Orange Bird ear-hats, pillows, shirts, and his own MagicBands. I don't think he's going away anytime soon.
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
It's easy to focus on the main star(s) of the ETR - the birds. But IMO, I like effect of the rain and thunder outside - and especially the chanting tikis, more. Then there's that song... It wraps itself around your cerebellum and won't let go. And while the pre-show is kind of cool, with the waterfall and all - who can deny that the building, when seen from the likes of JC just looks awesome? No, this isn't just a bunch of snapping birds and a showtune.
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BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
True, he has seen a bit of a renaissance in recent years with the makeovers in the area. There was a lot of outcry before that though, which one might hope was at least part of the reason he's enjoying this comeback.
WDWdream97
Well-Known Member
Hopefully most of these changes will make Magic Kingdom a bit more pleasant to be at. I used to love MK, but it is now hard to have a nice day there with the wall-to-wall crowds, strolled and ECVs filled with MeeMa and PawPa's.
brb1006
Well-Known Member
I still remember back when I visited WDW for the first time in 2004. I remember seeing an entire group of Disney characters walking past me as they are preparing for the then current parade "Share A Dream Come True Parade" while it didn't count as wandering. It's the closes I've ever gotten to experiencing this since that ended in the 1990's.
brb1006
Well-Known Member
And especially after the recent news of roaming characters at Star Wars Land. I kinda of envy people who visited WDW from the 70's till the 90's that were able to spot any character randomly.
Since1976
Well-Known Member
Considering that the original concept for the Tiki Room was a restaurant, this idea would bring things full circle! I would totally be behind either adding the birds to the Skipper Canteen (perhaps changing the story of the restaurant a little to incorporate them), or creating a new restaurant somewhere else in Adventureland. Or maybe even turning the Tiki Room show building into a quick service location.
Buried20KLeague
Well-Known Member
The fact that Disney went out of their way to make such a big deal about the original show returning to WDW after the fire only to potentially remove it a short number of years afterward feels like a giant kick in the jewels.
A completely expected, predictable, par-for-the-course kick in the jewels.
In fact, I could envision them having the Dreamfinder announce the official closing while standing on a 20k sub, while showing off the new line of "going away forever" merch that will be in limited release (for only 3 years!).
A completely expected, predictable, par-for-the-course kick in the jewels.
In fact, I could envision them having the Dreamfinder announce the official closing while standing on a 20k sub, while showing off the new line of "going away forever" merch that will be in limited release (for only 3 years!).
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flynnibus
Premium Member
No it wasn't.. but you're on a roll so why stop now.
Phil12
Well-Known Member
You might want to investigate the history of the contrivance originally known as Walt Disney Inc. The proof you're looking for is in the undisputed recorded history of TWDC. Both Roy O. Disney and his son Roy E. Disney were disgusted with Walt's unsavory and unethical business practices. And in reality, Walt never got his comeuppance because he was crafty enough to settle the lawsuit before it went to court. And as for your assertion that time has sufficiently healed the wounds of Walt's dishonest behavior, I think the company would like to distance itself from as much of the "bad Walt" as they can. Did you know that between 1955 and 1981 TWDC (current name) paid RETLAW (current name in 1981) $75 million that came directly out of the shareholders pockets?
With the death of Dianne Disney Miller in 2013, the Walt Disney Family Foundation is beginning to fade. Since there was no love lost between TWDC and the foundation, TWDC is now in a better position to get rid of old attractions such as the Enchanted Tiki Room which hold such bad memories for TWDC.
You might want to check on the Disney family feud between the "Roy Boys" and the "Walt Boys" which might help you to better understand the massive dis-function in the Disney family. Did you know that Roy O. Disney and Walt Disney stopped talking to each other for over a year because of Roy's revulsion with Walt's unethical business practices?
I know a lot of Disney fans that just prefer not to know about the "bad Walt". And those are the same people that are often surprised and distressed to learn of changes in the parks.
FYI the current Disney family (as of 2014) is no better off: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/walt-disney-family-feud-inside-706029
Otterhead
Well-Known Member
Wait, you're telling me that Disney-MGM studios wasn't based, thematically, on the golden age of Hollywood, themed to the 1930s-40s, with attractions based on classic movies and shows like Twilight Zone, Indiana Jones, the Wizard of Oz, and the original Star Wars movies? Wow! I wonder what park I've been going to?
tribbleorlfl
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't mind if they replaced the birds with a Moana attraction, provided it wasn't just a M&G.
Bocabear
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately it would be...and they would come up with tons of guest surveys saying that guests preferred meet and greet experiences more than actual attractions...Look at the person on these boards that was upset because she didn't know how to tell her neice that she might not be able to meet Moana... THAT is the problem... as long as guests keep telling TWDC they want Meet & Greets instead of attractions, that is exactly what we are going to get!