So... What's the Enchanted Tiki Room like?

[ellie-badge]

As I first began visiting the world midway through 1998, I've never once had a chance to experience the original Enchanted Tiki Room that used to reside the building before the refurbishment. As a result, the Enchanted Tiki Room has always included Iago and Zazu for me (seeing as they've been there ever since I began visiting, they're just as much a part of the show as all of the other characters to me), so it will be interesting to adjust to watching the show without them on my next visit, which will hopefully be sometime within the next year or two.

I'm curious, has the pre-show changed because of the restoration? I've always liked watching the pre-show with William and Morris, and I'll actually be pretty sad to hear if they did away with one of the last things that immortalized Phil Hartman. If they have changed it, what is the pre-show like now, or has it become a waiting area with a calming ambiance?

Thanks in advance to all replies, I'm curious and excited to see the original show for myself one day, and I'd like to hear what it's like from people who have seen and grew up with it first hand.

 

[Florida_is_hot]

I like it, it is a shorter version than the original.
The original show was longer, more effects but it is true to the original.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

As I first began visiting the world midway through 1998, I've never once had a chance to experience the original Enchanted Tiki Room that used to reside the building before the refurbishment. As a result, the Enchanted Tiki Room has always included Iago and Zazu for me (seeing as they've been there ever since I began visiting, they're just as much a part of the show as all of the characters to me), so it will be interesting to adjust to watching the show without them on my next visit, which will hopefully be sometime within the next year or two.

I'm curious, has the pre-show changed because of the restoration? I've always liked watching the pre-show with William and Morris, and I'll actually be pretty sad to hear if they did away with one of the last things that immortalized Phil Hartman. If they have changed it, what is the pre-show like now, or has it become a waiting area with a calming ambiance?

Thanks in advance to all replies, I'm curious and excited to see the original show for myself one day, and I'd like to hear what it's like from people who have seen and grew up with it first hand.

The pre-show is still there.

Growing up with the original Tropical Sereneade, the two cartoon birds felt intrusive to me. Invasive. An infantile cartoonification. You're there to watch some tropical birds sing in a South Seas atmosphere, and you're shoved two cartoon birds in your face. Like putting the wicked witch of OZ AA in the Hall of Presidents to fight with Lincoln over overlordship of America. It's dumb.

The restored original lacks the fountain in the middle, is abridged, and misses perhaps one or two things. Otherwise, it is true to the spirit of the attraction. So much better. I love it.

Now to liberate the natural, lush tropical, real-life-themed central Adventurlenad plaza from that awful mechanical cartoon spinner with the desert theme.
The Tiki room used to have a brilliant setting. You'd get a citrus swirl next door, find a seat in the shade in the middle of the open plaza, and enjoy being immersed in the tropical atmosphere of it all: the Tiki Room complex on one side, the South Seas tree of the Treehouse hovering above the plaza, the land and your imgaination fading off into the lush, endless jungle of JC.
Nowadays the thematic build-up to the Tiki Room is being squirted water at by a cartoon desert camel as you try to elbow your way through the claustrophic paths along the loud mechanical spinner.

 

[ellie-badge]

The pre-show is still there.

Growing up with the original Tropical Sereneade, the two cartoon birds felt intrusive to me. Invasive. An infantile cartoonification. You're there to watch some tropical birds sing in a South Seas atmosphere, and you're shoved two cartoon birds in your face. Like putting the wicked witch of OZ AA in the Hall of Presidents to fight with Lincoln over overlordship of America. It's dumb.

The restored original lacks the fountain in the middle, is abridged, and misses perhaps one or two things. Otherwise, it is true to the spirit of the attraction. So much better. I love it.

Now to liberate the natural, lush tropical, real-life-themed central Adventurlenad plaza from that awful mechanical cartoon spinner with the desert theme.
The Tiki room used to have a brilliant setting. You'd get a citrus swirl next door, find a seat in the shade in the middle of the open plaza, and enjoy being immersed in the tropical atmosphere of it all: the Tiki Room complex on one side, the South Seas tree of the Treehouse hovering above the plaza, the land and your imgaination fading off into the lush, endless jungle of JC.
Nowadays the thematic build-up to the Tiki Room is being squirted water at by a cartoon desert camel as you try to elbow your way through the claustrophic paths along the loud mechanical spinner.

That's great to hear!

Haha, I can understand. I can only imagine that it ruined the show for a number of people that grew up and fell in love with the original. I suppose that I had the misfortune of growing up with the nuisance that was Under New Management, but as I never knew any better nor saw anything else before it, I had always thought it was fine and made it a point to watch it every so often on my visits to the world. I can't guarantee that I'd suddenly realize the "error of my ways" when I eventually do see the original (or as much of it that they could restore, anyway), but I have no doubt in my mind that I'd enjoy it regardless.

I have to agree with you, I absolutely hate how tightly spaced it is with Aladdin's Flying Carpets smack dab in the center of everything. Having to make my way through the mob to get to another attraction around the giant circle is very bothersome, especially during peak seasons. Why did they ever feel it was necessary to put something like it there, anyway? *cringes at the very thought of being packed like a sardine in the area*

Thank you so much for replying! It's very much appreciated!

 

[bethymouse]

I miss the pre show. Every time we've gone to see the Tiki Birds, we've basically just walked right on in. The song is just so catchy. I guess that's why I hated the "new management" thing because they cut it off so abruptly! The jokes are corny, but I love watching the tiki gods sing and the flowers too.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

You might also want to try checking YouTube. I think there were some vids posted after it reopened last summer- so you can see what you'll get if you stop by. We were there last summer on the day of the soft opening, but sadly it happened after we left that area and we just never made it back. My girls love the music so much that this is actually their #1 thing to see when we go back.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I love the restored Tiki Room. I do hope, however, that TDO will fix the lip-syncing issue with the flowers.

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

My mother and I were discussing the Tiki room this weekend. We've been vacationing in Disney almost every year since 1974 and her comment was, "Have they burned that annoying Tiki Room to the ground yet? Those bird were the worst thing I have ever seen in my entire life." Well, just one persons commentary on the original Tiki Room. Maybe I've been brainwashed by my Mom but I think it's the most boring/annoying "attraction" in all of Disney's history and the sight of the building makes me cringe when I imagine the time I've wasted inside of it - 3 visits - 2 original and 1 "under new management".

I would rather drink pirate water.

 

[ellie-badge]

I miss the pre show. Every time we've gone to see the Tiki Birds, we've basically just walked right on in. The song is just so catchy. I guess that's why I hated the "new management" thing because they cut it off so abruptly! The jokes are corny, but I love watching the tiki gods sing and the flowers too.

Aww! I personally would have waited for the next show to start so that I could watch the pre-show. I feel as though I never get the full experience of an attraction at Disney if I don't see the entirety of a pre-show that's before it. If it's something lengthy like Muppet Vision 3D or Ellen's Energy Adventure, then I can live with seeing only part of it or the tail-end of it, but if it's something short like Enchanted Tiki Room, my folks and I always wait for the next show.

I can agree, I've always thought the song they were all singing in the beginning was catchy, but I'm so used to hearing it getting cut off. I think it'll be really nice to be able to finally listen to the whole song once I visit in person! I don't mind shows or attractions that or corny, as it's all a part of the Disney magic in the grand scheme of everything. I quite like the singing tikis and flowers as well, they're just sooo cute!

You might also want to try checking YouTube. I think there were some vids posted after it reopened last summer- so you can see what you'll get if you stop by. We were there last summer on the day of the soft opening, but sadly it happened after we left that area and we just never made it back. My girls love the music so much that this is actually their #1 thing to see when we go back.

I was thinking about doing that earlier today, but a part of me wants to wait until I can see the original magic for myself when I eventually do go to Walt Disney World again. Aww, I'm sorry to hear that you missed soft openings. I hope you and your family enjoys it on your next trip to the world! I know I probably will!

I love the restored Tiki Room. I do hope, however, that TDO will fix the lip-syncing issue with the flowers.

I'm glad to hear all of the positive feedback from everyone thus far! Ooh, it does sound like something that Disney needs to tweak relatively soon. Then again, there are a lot of things that Disney should tweak around all four parks, but I digress.

My mother and I were discussing the Tiki room this weekend. We've been vacationing in Disney almost every year since 1974 and her comment was, "Have they burned that annoying Tiki Room to the ground yet? Those bird were the worst thing I have ever seen in my entire life." Well, just one persons commentary on the original Tiki Room. Maybe I've been brainwashed by my Mom but I think it's the most boring/annoying "attraction" in all of Disney's history and the sight of the building makes me cringe when I imagine the time I've wasted inside of it - 3 visits - 2 original and 1 "under new management".

I would rather drink pirate water.

Hehe. One person's treasure is another person's garbage, I suppose. I realize that not everybody liked Enchanted Tiki Room, and I especially realize that hardly anybody liked Under New Management, so I can understand.

Unfortunately, I don't think Disney has any plans on gutting the area and turning it into something else, as the attraction was the first of its kind way back in the day. As such, it kinda has historical value (well, mostly the one in Disneyland, but in Disney World as well), sorta like Carousel of Progress. With that being said, I think it will still be a very, very long time before Disney actually decides to give those parrots the boot, but eh, who really knows?


I want to thank everybody again for replying, it's greatly appreciated.

 

[shmmrname]

I don't feel strongly about it either way. I will say, my wife absolutely hates it.

 

[DisDadEddie]

The Tiki Room for us is one of those thing if you do it once there isn't really a need to return, like the Hall of Presidents for us. We will stop in maybe once a trip, most of the time it's just to get a break from the sun.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I want to thank everybody again for replying, it's greatly appreciated.

Ooww...you're so polite! What a breath of fresh air!

Do keep it up, show us cynical old-timers some proper manners!

 

[ellie-badge]

Ooww...you're so polite! What a breath of fresh air!

Do keep it up, show us cynical old-timers some proper manners!

Aww, thank you! I try to be as polite as I can, especially in an age where there seems to be an awful lot of rude people on the internet. It goes to show how much times have changed.

 

[Laura]

Like putting the wicked witch of OZ AA in the Hall of Presidents to fight with Lincoln over overlordship of America. It's dumb.

Actually, I'd pay extra to see that.

 

[englanddg]

Worse than the Country Bears?

I like the "new" tiki room. The Iago MC show was lame, full of terrible jokes, and an obvious tie in.

I don't mind the magic carpets, but I do find it an annoying ride (mostly because it's just Dumbo with a spitting camel)

 

[ellie-badge]

Worse than the Country Bears?

I like the "new" tiki room. The Iago MC show was lame, full of terrible jokes, and an obvious tie in.

I don't mind the magic carpets, but I do find it an annoying ride (mostly because it's just Dumbo with a spitting camel)

I like the Country Bear Jamboree.

I can agree that Under New Management was really, really cheesy. I don't particularly mind the magic carpets, either, I just don't like where it's located. With the second Dumbo spinner soft opening, I think the ride has become rather defunct now... but who knows, maybe it'll still be crowded and packed. I don't see why it would be anymore, though.

 

[Disneyboy17]

One word = Boring

 

[JenniferS]

We venture in at least once per trip - usually to escape the heat, or the pouring rain.
I'll say this for the location though; it's conveniently near to Aloha Isle. Dole Whips are a beautiful thing.

 

[Jeff456]

Good to hear the positive feedback, I have to only seen the Under New management version so am looking forward to experiencing a version more true to the original. I can't say I hated Under New Management but I only saw it once and probably wouldn't have rushed to see it again.