The Enchanted Tiki Room|June 23, 1963 - June 23, 2003
From JustDisney.com
The Enchanted Tiki Room exhibits Walt Disney's first use of Audio Animatronic figures, a wild, and rousing cast of over 250 talking, singing, and dancing birds, flowers, masks drummers, and tiki-poles.
Through the years, Walt had toyed with the idea of three-dimensional characters at Disneyland. At one time, he hoped to create a Chinese Restaurant featuring a Confucius-Style mechanical man, that would speak out words of Wisdom.
Early concepts of "Audio-Animatronics" were featured in the Jungle Cruise, and Natures Wonderland. In essence, the process of "Audio-Animatronics" electronically synthesizes and combines voices, music, and sound effects, with movement of animated figures.
Originally, Walt thought the Tiki Room would be staged as a Dinner, and show, attraction. Although, WED designers scrapped the idea, because this type of attraction was not practical at Disneyland.
What was left was a 17-minute revue with a full Audio-Animatronics cast. The Enchanted Tiki Room, "overflowing with the color and spirit of the islands," opened in 1963. Four avian emcees -- Jose, Michael, Pierre, and Fritz -- lead a company of animated orchids, bird-of-paradise flowers, parrots, macaws, toucans, cockatoos, carved wooden tiki poles, tiki drummers, and masks.
The show was originally sponsored by United Airlines. A strange sponsor you say? Not at all, if you consider that Hawaii was just recently made a state at the time, and people were flocking to the Islands like crazy. United was doing a special Hawaiian promotion , and partnership was perfect. The show is now sponsored by Dole Pineapple.
The Show starts even before you begin, a wonderful pre-show greets guests waiting. The pre-show sets the stage for what's waiting inside. During the pre-show guests watch the powerful Tiki Gods, Kor, Maui, Pele, Rongo, Tangaroa, and Tangaroa-Ru. Once inside the Tiki Room your greeted by guides, which happen to be talking birds- Fritz, Jose, Michael, and Pierre.
The show itself is full of wonderfully choreographed music, themed to the according topic, Hawaii. The music, songs, and lyrics were created by the famous Sherman Bros, Richard and Robert. Musical acts include: include "The Hawaiian War Chant," "Let's All Sing (Like the Birdies Sing)," "Aloha to You," and, of course, the show's theme song, "In the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room"
Often Walt Disney would come and enjoy the show for himself. He would talk to guests, by asking "so . . .what did you think of those birds?, that rain scene is something, huh." Many people believe this was one of Walt Disney's favorite Disneyland attraction. This was one of the last projects Walt contributed to in the park.
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On October 1, 1971, the same show, but named 'Tropical Serenade,' opened to guests in Walt Disney World's Adventureland.
After nearly 30 years, Walt Disney World's version of the show went under a drastic rehab: Iago and Zazu were added to the show as the Hawaiian flavor was quickly replaced with mock-up songs of the 50s and rap age. Reviews have been mixed for this version.
Disneyland still offers the original Enchanted Tiki Room to guests - barely changed since its original opening. Unfortunately, the 'Offenbach' number has been completely removed, and the original opening song shortened.
Unfortunately, rumor has it that Disneyland's original show, which still brings in the guests, will have major modifications after Disneyland's 50th Anniversary. Rumors include shutting the entire attraction down, adding 'Stitch' to the Tiki Room, and replacing it with Tokyo's "Magic Lamp Theater."
Feel free to discuss the Tiki Room's 40th Anniversary right here!
From JustDisney.com
The Enchanted Tiki Room exhibits Walt Disney's first use of Audio Animatronic figures, a wild, and rousing cast of over 250 talking, singing, and dancing birds, flowers, masks drummers, and tiki-poles.
Through the years, Walt had toyed with the idea of three-dimensional characters at Disneyland. At one time, he hoped to create a Chinese Restaurant featuring a Confucius-Style mechanical man, that would speak out words of Wisdom.
Early concepts of "Audio-Animatronics" were featured in the Jungle Cruise, and Natures Wonderland. In essence, the process of "Audio-Animatronics" electronically synthesizes and combines voices, music, and sound effects, with movement of animated figures.
Originally, Walt thought the Tiki Room would be staged as a Dinner, and show, attraction. Although, WED designers scrapped the idea, because this type of attraction was not practical at Disneyland.
What was left was a 17-minute revue with a full Audio-Animatronics cast. The Enchanted Tiki Room, "overflowing with the color and spirit of the islands," opened in 1963. Four avian emcees -- Jose, Michael, Pierre, and Fritz -- lead a company of animated orchids, bird-of-paradise flowers, parrots, macaws, toucans, cockatoos, carved wooden tiki poles, tiki drummers, and masks.
The show was originally sponsored by United Airlines. A strange sponsor you say? Not at all, if you consider that Hawaii was just recently made a state at the time, and people were flocking to the Islands like crazy. United was doing a special Hawaiian promotion , and partnership was perfect. The show is now sponsored by Dole Pineapple.
The Show starts even before you begin, a wonderful pre-show greets guests waiting. The pre-show sets the stage for what's waiting inside. During the pre-show guests watch the powerful Tiki Gods, Kor, Maui, Pele, Rongo, Tangaroa, and Tangaroa-Ru. Once inside the Tiki Room your greeted by guides, which happen to be talking birds- Fritz, Jose, Michael, and Pierre.
The show itself is full of wonderfully choreographed music, themed to the according topic, Hawaii. The music, songs, and lyrics were created by the famous Sherman Bros, Richard and Robert. Musical acts include: include "The Hawaiian War Chant," "Let's All Sing (Like the Birdies Sing)," "Aloha to You," and, of course, the show's theme song, "In the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room"
Often Walt Disney would come and enjoy the show for himself. He would talk to guests, by asking "so . . .what did you think of those birds?, that rain scene is something, huh." Many people believe this was one of Walt Disney's favorite Disneyland attraction. This was one of the last projects Walt contributed to in the park.
____________________________________________
On October 1, 1971, the same show, but named 'Tropical Serenade,' opened to guests in Walt Disney World's Adventureland.
After nearly 30 years, Walt Disney World's version of the show went under a drastic rehab: Iago and Zazu were added to the show as the Hawaiian flavor was quickly replaced with mock-up songs of the 50s and rap age. Reviews have been mixed for this version.
Disneyland still offers the original Enchanted Tiki Room to guests - barely changed since its original opening. Unfortunately, the 'Offenbach' number has been completely removed, and the original opening song shortened.
Unfortunately, rumor has it that Disneyland's original show, which still brings in the guests, will have major modifications after Disneyland's 50th Anniversary. Rumors include shutting the entire attraction down, adding 'Stitch' to the Tiki Room, and replacing it with Tokyo's "Magic Lamp Theater."
Feel free to discuss the Tiki Room's 40th Anniversary right here!
