Enchanted Tiki Room Celebrates 55th Anniversary
Happy Anniversary (tomorrow!) to the Enchanted Tiki Room! It is the 55th year since the Polynesian attraction opened for the first time in Disneyland June 23, 1963. It’s now located in Orlando’s Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and in Tokyo Disneyland at Tokyo Disney Resort too.
Here are other facts you may not know about this fun 12-minute attraction:
It’s a Disney first
The Enchanted Tiki Room was the first attraction to ever feature Audio Animatronics. This technology was also used in other Disney attractions, such as “it’s a Small World”, “Haunted Mansion,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” It was also the first ride to be air-conditioned. It had to be because of all the computers running the animatronics!
It was supposed to be a dinner show
Walt Disney had great ideas, but not every one ends up coming to fruition. In this case, the Enchanted Tiki Room was thought of by Walt Disney to be a dinner show at first, but the idea didn’t work and he turned it into this fun attraction instead.
Two Talking Toucans
Meet Clyde and Claude – they are the two toucans who are glad to make your acquaintance and keep you entertained before the show even starts.
225 is the number
We’ve added the amount of birds for you – there’s 225 to be exact! Not all of them are able to sing, but they are all there to entertain you!
Four Macaws
The names of the four original macaws on the Enchanted Tiki Room ride were Jose, Michael, Pierre and Fritz, each representing a different culture. Jose represented Mexico, Michael represented Ireland, Pierre represented France, and Fritz represented Germany.
Dole it out!
Have you ever wondered why the Dole Whip soft-serve dessert is sold right outside the entrance of the attraction? It’s because Hawaii’s Dole Food Company has been the sponsor of the Enchanted Tiki Room for many years. There’s also a brief history of – what else — the pineapple in the attraction as well – how appropriate! You need to see it!
Sing-a-long!
The catchy tunes that you will hear on the ride are “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room,” “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing,” and “Hawaiian War Chant.” Don’t be afraid to sing along with the music. They want you to, but you first need a singing lesson. The words to “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” are in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki tiki room In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki tiki room – you get the idea! “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” song was actually created by the famous Sherman Brothers, Richard and Robert. You might know them from a few of their other little songs from Mary Poppins – ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,’ and “Chim Chim Cher-e.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa9zrA-ZXrY
Heed the Tiki gods!
These are the Tiki gods and goddesses who are represented from the Pacific Island cultures. Maui –Polynesian god who slowed down time; Rongo – Polynesian god of agriculture; Pele – Hawaiian fire goddess; Tangaroa – Polynesian god of sea of sky; Ngendei – causes earthquakes; and Hina Kaluua – Hawaiian mistress of rain; Tangaroa-ru – goddess of the rain.
Birdie makeover:
The Enchanted Tiki Room got a small makeover back in January 2011, after a small fire broke out in the attic of the ride. It was refurbished and reopened later that year. Years ago, the original length of the show was 17:23, but it has since been cut by almost five minutes to 12:33. That doesn’t mean it’s less fun though!
Now that you’re up to speed on the Enchanted Tiki Room, make sure to read, Everything You Need to Know About Dole Whips and Where to Find Them!
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