Let's Go to the Tiki-Tiki-Tiki-Tiki-Tiki Room!
Anyone who's ever been to Disneyland or Walt Disney World knows of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Whether you love it or hate it, it's a classic that is here to stay.
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room first opened in Disneyland in 1963 and 1971 in Disney World's Magic Kingdom. This musical animatronic show draws on American tiki culture, a 20th century theme originally used in Polynesian-styled restaurants and clubs. Remember that the next time you're drinking a Tropical Macaw at Kona Cafe!
One extremely remarkable fact about the Tiki Room is that it was the first attraction to feature Audio-Animatronics. Audio-Animatronics is the registered trademark for a type of robotics animation that was created by Walt Disney Imagineering. These robots can move and emit sound, but generally are fixed to their support. One difference between this type of animatronic and an android-type animatronic is that it generally uses pre-recorded sounds and movements rather than responding to the environment it is surrounded by. Other companies have borrowed and expanded upon Audio-Animatronics, making Disney a pioneer of that day an age regarding robotics. Due to the role of computers in this ride since its inception, it also happens to be Disneyland's first fully air-conditioned building.
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room has had a couple of sponsors in its lifespan. For the first 12 years in Disneyland, it was actually sponsored by United Airlines (we're probably glad it isn't now!). In Walt Disney World it was sponsored by Florida Citrus Growers from 1971 - 1986, with the Tokyo Disneyland version being sponsored by Shinko Securities Co. Dole Food Company took over sponsorship in Disneyland in 1976, and they continue to sponsor the attraction to present day. It's thanks to this sponsorship that all y'all have Dole Whip to eat and have an unhealthy obsession over. Here, you can even pay homage to your obsession.
For a little bit of additional history, the Tiki Room was not actually initially intended to be an attraction at all! It was actually going to be a restaurant with singing birds a la Rainforest Cafe (except less elephants, more parrots). The magic fountain in the attraction was actually designed to be a coffee station. Believe it or not, fountain actually still has a storage compartment within its base.
Now that you have some background on Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, let's talk about the attraction!
*Spoiler Alert*
The show actually starts outside the Tiki Room, with two Toucans, Claude and Clyde. They provide a bit of a pre-show amble, where Claude discusses how they came across the power of speech and Clyde provides the sound effects. Who would have guessed a parrot could roar like Mufasa?!
They are interrupted in their story when it is announced it is now show time.
When you enter the Enchanted Tiki Room, a cast member introduces you to the Master of Ceremonies, Jose. He needs to wake Jose up by hitting his perch with a stick.
Jose welcomes you to Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and introduces his amigo, Michael.
Michael introduces Pierre, a bird with a French accent.
Pierre introduces the final Macaw host, Fritz, a bird with a German accent. Fritz is voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft, the same voice of Tony the Tiger for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, the uncredited singer of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”, and even one of the singing busts in the graveyard scene of The Haunted Mansion! He’s grrreeeaaattt!
After the rest of the Tiki Room is woken up, it's time for the show to go on! The cast sings "Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room", the very first song created specifically for a Disney Audio-Animatronic attraction.
After the animatronic cast finishes singing, it's time for the enchanted fountain to get all glitzy and for the 'bird-mobile' full of beautiful female birds to come down and sing. Let's all sing like the birdies sing! Tweet, tweet tweet, tweet tweet. Let's all sing like the birdies sing! Sweet, sweet sweet, sweet sweet!
Once you get a little taste of the Tiki Room, it’s time to get real in here with some Alice in Wonderland-styled flowers. Since the movie came out in 1951, it’s no surprise its influence would make its way into an attraction of the Disney parks.
Get ready, now! It’s time to get out those Tiki battle drums and deal with this:
These totems and Tiki gods give a very pagan feel to the attraction that’s both intriguing and a tad unsettling. Perhaps it’s the Uncanny Valley at play? Either way, it fits in nicely with the theming of The Enchanted Tiki Room, albeit in a slightly eerie way.
As the entire room begins signing in a frantic fever pitch, you can’t help but feel taken in by the atmosphere Walt Disney worked so carefully to craft. His Tiki Room really encompasses what it means to be a part of a Disney park, giving you that immersive magic you can’t find anywhere else. As lightning strikes, it’s time for the cast to bid the guests adieu.
There’s time for one final magic trick. Fritz asks the audience to face the door. “Now we’re going to make you all disappear!” With that, the show is over.
Now that we've discussed the show, it's time to discuss bringing home the magic!
At the Disney Store, they have a pretty cool Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room wall sign (affiliate). However, at $150 USD, it's a little pricey. They also have t-shirts, dresses, handbags, and even silk ties (affiliates)! Unlike other attractions, there is a good selection of official Disney merchandise.
So, what do you think of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room? Whimsical? Creepy? Dated? A technological masterpiece? Let me know! Comment and subscribe :)
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room first opened in Disneyland in 1963 and 1971 in Disney World's Magic Kingdom. This musical animatronic show draws on American tiki culture, a 20th century theme originally used in Polynesian-styled restaurants and clubs. Remember that the next time you're drinking a Tropical Macaw at Kona Cafe!
 |
| Tiki-licious! |
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room has had a couple of sponsors in its lifespan. For the first 12 years in Disneyland, it was actually sponsored by United Airlines (we're probably glad it isn't now!). In Walt Disney World it was sponsored by Florida Citrus Growers from 1971 - 1986, with the Tokyo Disneyland version being sponsored by Shinko Securities Co. Dole Food Company took over sponsorship in Disneyland in 1976, and they continue to sponsor the attraction to present day. It's thanks to this sponsorship that all y'all have Dole Whip to eat and have an unhealthy obsession over. Here, you can even pay homage to your obsession.
 |
| Admit it, you would sell your soul/voice to Ursula the Sea Witch for one of these! |
For a little bit of additional history, the Tiki Room was not actually initially intended to be an attraction at all! It was actually going to be a restaurant with singing birds a la Rainforest Cafe (except less elephants, more parrots). The magic fountain in the attraction was actually designed to be a coffee station. Believe it or not, fountain actually still has a storage compartment within its base.
 |
| If there was coffee in here right now, I would so drink it. |
Now that you have some background on Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, let's talk about the attraction!
*Spoiler Alert*
The show actually starts outside the Tiki Room, with two Toucans, Claude and Clyde. They provide a bit of a pre-show amble, where Claude discusses how they came across the power of speech and Clyde provides the sound effects. Who would have guessed a parrot could roar like Mufasa?!
 |
| Claude and Clyde |
They are interrupted in their story when it is announced it is now show time.
When you enter the Enchanted Tiki Room, a cast member introduces you to the Master of Ceremonies, Jose. He needs to wake Jose up by hitting his perch with a stick.
 |
| Jose |
Jose welcomes you to Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and introduces his amigo, Michael.
 |
| Michael |
Michael introduces Pierre, a bird with a French accent.
 |
| Pierre |
Pierre introduces the final Macaw host, Fritz, a bird with a German accent. Fritz is voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft, the same voice of Tony the Tiger for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, the uncredited singer of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”, and even one of the singing busts in the graveyard scene of The Haunted Mansion! He’s grrreeeaaattt!
 |
| Fritz |
After the rest of the Tiki Room is woken up, it's time for the show to go on! The cast sings "Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room", the very first song created specifically for a Disney Audio-Animatronic attraction.
After the animatronic cast finishes singing, it's time for the enchanted fountain to get all glitzy and for the 'bird-mobile' full of beautiful female birds to come down and sing. Let's all sing like the birdies sing! Tweet, tweet tweet, tweet tweet. Let's all sing like the birdies sing! Sweet, sweet sweet, sweet sweet!
Once you get a little taste of the Tiki Room, it’s time to get real in here with some Alice in Wonderland-styled flowers. Since the movie came out in 1951, it’s no surprise its influence would make its way into an attraction of the Disney parks.
 |
| You can practically hear them being condescending to Alice. It's like you're really there! |
Get ready, now! It’s time to get out those Tiki battle drums and deal with this:
 |
| These may have seemed more endearing if they didn’t have to blink ONE. EYE. AT. A. TIME. Like, hot damn. |
These totems and Tiki gods give a very pagan feel to the attraction that’s both intriguing and a tad unsettling. Perhaps it’s the Uncanny Valley at play? Either way, it fits in nicely with the theming of The Enchanted Tiki Room, albeit in a slightly eerie way.
As the entire room begins signing in a frantic fever pitch, you can’t help but feel taken in by the atmosphere Walt Disney worked so carefully to craft. His Tiki Room really encompasses what it means to be a part of a Disney park, giving you that immersive magic you can’t find anywhere else. As lightning strikes, it’s time for the cast to bid the guests adieu.
 |
| Let Jose go back to sleep! |
There’s time for one final magic trick. Fritz asks the audience to face the door. “Now we’re going to make you all disappear!” With that, the show is over.
Now that we've discussed the show, it's time to discuss bringing home the magic!
At the Disney Store, they have a pretty cool Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room wall sign (affiliate). However, at $150 USD, it's a little pricey. They also have t-shirts, dresses, handbags, and even silk ties (affiliates)! Unlike other attractions, there is a good selection of official Disney merchandise.
So, what do you think of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room? Whimsical? Creepy? Dated? A technological masterpiece? Let me know! Comment and subscribe :)
Let me book the magic for you! Fill in this form for a FREE quote and/or click here for my contact information!
Comments
Post a Comment