Difference between revisions of "Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room"

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{{Template:Infobox Disney ride
 
{{Template:Infobox Disney ride
 
| image=TikiRoomBuilding3.jpg
 
| image=TikiRoomBuilding3.jpg
| caption='''The entrance to Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Photo by Theme Park Tourist''
+
| caption='''The entrance to Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Photo by Theme Park Tourist'''
 
| land=[[Adventureland]]
 
| land=[[Adventureland]]
 
| opened=October 1, 1971
 
| opened=October 1, 1971
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==Attraction History==   
 
==Attraction History==   
 
===Creation for Disneyland===     
 
===Creation for Disneyland===     
The genesis of what would one day become Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room began in 1950s with Walt Disney himself. At the time, Walt and his Imagineers had been working on a way to animate three dimensional figures for use in Disneyland. So far they had found minimal success however, as the technology that they developed (Audio Animatronics) was still very crude and unreliable. Although they had been able to animate some of the animals found on Disneyland’s [[Jungle Cruise]], attempts at more complex Animatronics had proven unsuccessful. Things began to change however, when while on vacation in New Orleans Walt came upon and bought a mechanical toy bird that could sing (as well as move its beak and
+
The genesis of what would one day become Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room began in 1950s with Walt Disney himself. At the time, Walt and his Imagineers had been working on a way to animate three dimensional figures for use in Disneyland. So far they had found minimal success however, as the technology that they developed (Audio Animatronics) was still very crude and unreliable. Although they had been able to animate some of the animals found on Disneyland’s [[Jungle Cruise]], attempts at more complex Animatronics had proven unsuccessful. Things began to change however, when while on vacation in New Orleans, Walt came upon and bought a mechanical toy bird that could sing (as well as move its beak and wings) <ref name= "org"> http://www.waltdisney.org/blog/disneyland-classics-walt-disneys-enchanted-tiki-room </ref>.[[Image:Walttiki.jpg|thumb|400px|Walt Disney in Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room]].
[[Image:Walttiki.jpg|thumb|400px|Walt Disney in Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room]] wings) <ref name= "org"> http://www.waltdisney.org/blog/disneyland-classics-walt-disneys-enchanted-tiki-room </ref>. Inspired by the technology used within the toy, Walt decided that if toy makers could animate 3D objects, his Imagineers could too. After dissecting the bird and understanding the technology that made it work, Disney Imagineers were able to produce fluid, Audio Animatronic tropical birds (including toucans and macaws) <ref name="D23">https://d23.com/tiki-room-50th-anniversary-archives/ </ref>.  
+
Inspired by the technology used within the toy, Walt decided that if toy makers could animate 3D objects, his Imagineers could too. After dissecting the bird and understanding the technology that made it work, Disney Imagineers were able to produce fluid, Audio Animatronic tropical birds (including toucans and macaws) <ref name="D23">https://d23.com/tiki-room-50th-anniversary-archives/ </ref>.  
  
 
With this new technology in hand, Walt decided to revisit an old idea. Earlier in the 1950s, Disney had planned on building a Chinese restaurant (complete with an Audio Animatronic Confucius) for Disneyland's Main Street USA <ref name="D23"/>. Also included in the show was to be a number of real and imaginary animals, including birds.  Although the human Audio Animatronic proved too difficult, Walt decided to retheme the restaurant as a Polynesian musical revue, featuring singing tropical birds. The restaurant was going to be called “The Enchanted Tiki Room” (although some sources use the name "Tiki Hut") and it was to be located in Disneyland’s Adventureland <ref name= "org"/> <ref name= "Spence"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/magic_kingdom/adventureland/the_enchanted_tiki_room/ </ref>. Although Disney announced plans for the restaurant to the public, logistical concerns eventually derailed the idea. It was determined that a full course meal would take between 45 and 60 minutes on average, and thus a very limited number of guests would be able to see the musical show <ref name= "Spence"/>. On October 9, 1963, Walt decided that instead of creating a dinner show, Disney would create a full-fledged attraction <ref name= "D23"/>.
 
With this new technology in hand, Walt decided to revisit an old idea. Earlier in the 1950s, Disney had planned on building a Chinese restaurant (complete with an Audio Animatronic Confucius) for Disneyland's Main Street USA <ref name="D23"/>. Also included in the show was to be a number of real and imaginary animals, including birds.  Although the human Audio Animatronic proved too difficult, Walt decided to retheme the restaurant as a Polynesian musical revue, featuring singing tropical birds. The restaurant was going to be called “The Enchanted Tiki Room” (although some sources use the name "Tiki Hut") and it was to be located in Disneyland’s Adventureland <ref name= "org"/> <ref name= "Spence"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/magic_kingdom/adventureland/the_enchanted_tiki_room/ </ref>. Although Disney announced plans for the restaurant to the public, logistical concerns eventually derailed the idea. It was determined that a full course meal would take between 45 and 60 minutes on average, and thus a very limited number of guests would be able to see the musical show <ref name= "Spence"/>. On October 9, 1963, Walt decided that instead of creating a dinner show, Disney would create a full-fledged attraction <ref name= "D23"/>.
  
In order to turn this new Tiki attraction into a reality, Walt turned to his Imagineers. Although Walt had originally told him, “This show doesn’t have to be a natural history museum. Let’s have some fun!” <ref name= "D23"/> Imagineer Rolly Crump's designs were deemed to be a bit too abstract. Disney then turned to sculptor Blaine Gibson to create the residents of the Enchanted Tiki Room. Although much more realistic then Crump's designs, Gibson still did not create an "absolutely realistic parrot" in order to give the hosts some character <ref name= "D23"/>. Assisting Gibson in creating characters was Imagineer Marc Davis who designed the totems who come to life inside the attraction, as well as some of the singing flowers and birds <ref name= "D23"/>. When it came to creating the birds themselves, Imagineer Harriet Burns was charged with designing and creating the feathering, which she often did using real feathers. When describing his vision for the birds Walt told Burns I want these birds to be so real you can see them breathe." <ref name= "D23"/>
+
In order to turn this new Tiki attraction into a reality, Walt turned to his Imagineers. Although Walt had originally told him, “This show doesn’t have to be a natural history museum. Let’s have some fun!” <ref name= "D23"/> Imagineer Rolly Crump's designs were deemed to be a bit too abstract. Disney then turned to sculptor Blaine Gibson to create the residents of the Enchanted Tiki Room. Although much more realistic then Crump's designs, Gibson still did not create an "absolutely realistic parrot" in order to give the hosts some character <ref name= "D23"/>. Assisting Gibson in creating characters was Imagineer Marc Davis who designed the totems who come to life inside the attraction, as well as some of the singing flowers and birds <ref name= "D23"/>. When it came to creating the birds themselves, Imagineer Harriet Burns was charged with designing and creating the feathering, which she often did using real feathers. When describing his vision for the birds, Walt told Burns, "I want these birds to be so real you can see them breathe." <ref name= "D23"/>
  
 
With the design of the show now in place, Walt turned to the Sherman Brothers to create a new song for the attraction <ref name= "Spence"/>, which had a working title of Legends of the Enchanted Tiki <ref>https://d23.com/tiki-room-50th-anniversary-archives/</ref>. According to the Shermans, “we suggested that the song could be done in a calypso beat: ‘the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room.’ It had a sound you could remember. And Walt bought the idea, just like that." <ref name= "D23"/> As they were working on the attraction, the Sherman brothers suggested that a specific parrot be the emcee of the entire show. Walt liked this idea, but took it one step further. Instead of relying on a single host, the attraction would be hosted by four parrots which had French, Spanish, German, and Irish accents. Besides just providing the Tiki Room with a catchy song, the Sherman brothers also previewed what would be coming in the rest of the attraction with their opening number [[The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room]] <ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trtJMX90Etw </ref>.
 
With the design of the show now in place, Walt turned to the Sherman Brothers to create a new song for the attraction <ref name= "Spence"/>, which had a working title of Legends of the Enchanted Tiki <ref>https://d23.com/tiki-room-50th-anniversary-archives/</ref>. According to the Shermans, “we suggested that the song could be done in a calypso beat: ‘the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room.’ It had a sound you could remember. And Walt bought the idea, just like that." <ref name= "D23"/> As they were working on the attraction, the Sherman brothers suggested that a specific parrot be the emcee of the entire show. Walt liked this idea, but took it one step further. Instead of relying on a single host, the attraction would be hosted by four parrots which had French, Spanish, German, and Irish accents. Besides just providing the Tiki Room with a catchy song, the Sherman brothers also previewed what would be coming in the rest of the attraction with their opening number [[The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room]] <ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trtJMX90Etw </ref>.
  
Although the Sherman Brother's song set the stage for the rest of the attraction, The Enchanted Tiki Room's script was written by Larry Clemmons, Marty Sklar, Wally Boag, and Fulton Burley <ref name= "magic"> http://www.wdwmagic.com/articles/10aug2016-let's-all-sing-like-the-birdies-sing---part-ii.htm </ref>. Hosting the tropical revue was four McCaws named Jose, Fritz, Michael and Pierre (voiced respectively by Wally Boag, Fulton Burley, Thrul Ravenscroft, and Ernie Newton <ref name= "magic"/> .  
+
Although the Sherman Brother's song set the stage for the rest of the attraction, The Enchanted Tiki Room's script was written by Larry Clemmons, Marty Sklar, Wally Boag, and Fulton Burley <ref name= "magic"> http://www.wdwmagic.com/articles/10aug2016-let's-all-sing-like-the-birdies-sing---part-ii.htm </ref>. Hosting the tropical revue was four macaws named Jose, Fritz, Michael and Pierre (voiced respectively by Wally Boag, Fulton Burley, Thrul Ravenscroft, and Ernie Newton <ref name= "magic"/> .  
  
 
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room finally opened to guests on June 23, 1963. In total the attraction featured a stunning 225 Audio Animatronic characters performing a 17 minute tropical revue.
 
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room finally opened to guests on June 23, 1963. In total the attraction featured a stunning 225 Audio Animatronic characters performing a 17 minute tropical revue.
  
 
===Walt Disney World===
 
===Walt Disney World===
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room proved to be a smash hit for Disneyland, and thus it was an obvious choice for inclusion in Walt Disney World. In the Magic Kingdom, the Enchanted Tiki Room was renamed "Tropical Serenade" and housed inside the Sunshine Pavilion sponsored by the Citrus Florida Growers <ref name= "dated"> http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id47.htm </ref>. [[Image:UnderNewManagement.jpg|thumb|400px|In 1998 The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) opened]]Opening with the rest of the park on October 1, 1971, Tropical Serenade was essentially of a carbon copy of the Disneyland show. With that being said there were major differences in the queue and attraction building. For starters, Tropical Serenade featured three separate covered lines, giving the queue more order then its Disneyland counterpart. Furthermore, while Disneyland's preshow centered on Tiki god statues, the Tropical Serenade preshow centered on two birds named Clyde and Claude having a conversation with each other<ref name= "dated"/>. Also of note is the fact that the Tropical Serenade was housed in a much lager theater then the Disneyland version of the show, and the attraction was topped with a large pagoda that drew guests to the Sunshine Pavilion <ref> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/stt.htm </ref>
+
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room proved to be a smash hit for Disneyland, and thus it was an obvious choice for inclusion in Walt Disney World. In the Magic Kingdom, the Enchanted Tiki Room was renamed "Tropical Serenade" and housed inside the Sunshine Pavilion sponsored by the Citrus Florida Growers <ref name= "dated"> http://waltdatedworld.com/id47.htm </ref>. [[Image:UnderNewManagement.jpg|thumb|400px|In 1998 The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) opened]]Opening with the rest of the park on October 1, 1971, Tropical Serenade was essentially a carbon copy of the Disneyland show. With that being said, there were major differences in the queue and attraction building. For starters, Tropical Serenade featured three separate covered lines, giving the queue more order then its Disneyland counterpart. Furthermore, while Disneyland's preshow centered on Tiki god statues, the Tropical Serenade preshow focused on two birds named Clyde and Claude having a conversation with each other<ref name= "dated"/>. Also of note is the fact that the Tropical Serenade was housed in a much lager theater then the Disneyland version of the show, and the attraction was topped with a large pagoda that drew guests to the Sunshine Pavilion <ref> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/stt.htm </ref>
  
 
The Tropical Serenade remained unchanged until 1997, when the show closed for renovations. Due to the attractions waning popularity, Disney decided they needed to seriously update the show. In order to do this, Imagineers added the popular characters Zazu (from Disney’s The Lion King) and Iago (from Disney’s Aladdin) to the attraction. Furthermore, the show was given a new plot that centered around Iago and Zazu becoming the new owners of the Tiki Room <ref name= "yester"> http://www.yesterland.com/newmanagement.html </ref>. Although the show featured a brand new script and musical numbers, the original Tiki birds remained a part of the show <ref name= "yester"/>. After an extensive refurbishment, the Tropical Serenade reopened as The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management on April 5, 1998 <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/the-enchanted-tiki-room-under-new-management.htm </ref>.  
 
The Tropical Serenade remained unchanged until 1997, when the show closed for renovations. Due to the attractions waning popularity, Disney decided they needed to seriously update the show. In order to do this, Imagineers added the popular characters Zazu (from Disney’s The Lion King) and Iago (from Disney’s Aladdin) to the attraction. Furthermore, the show was given a new plot that centered around Iago and Zazu becoming the new owners of the Tiki Room <ref name= "yester"> http://www.yesterland.com/newmanagement.html </ref>. Although the show featured a brand new script and musical numbers, the original Tiki birds remained a part of the show <ref name= "yester"/>. After an extensive refurbishment, the Tropical Serenade reopened as The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management on April 5, 1998 <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/the-enchanted-tiki-room-under-new-management.htm </ref>.  
  
Despite Disney's efforts to make the new show appeal to a wider audience, Under New Management quickly proved to be unpopular with guests and attendance problems once again plagued the attraction <Ref name= "Spence"/>. In 2011 a small fire broke out in the attic of the Tiki Room theater, causing the sprinkler system to be activated <Ref name= "yester"/>. Although no one was injured in the fire, it has been heavily speculated that the Audio Animatronic Iago was badly damaged and that the attraction suffered some water damage <ref> http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/01/16/update-on-tiki-room-fire/ </ref>. The damage of the fire combined with the fact that a refurbished Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland had regained its popularity, convinced Disney that the time was right to bring back the Tropical Serenade <ref name= "Spence"/>. To this end, on August 15, 2011 <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/08/walt_disneys_enchanted_tiki_ro_1.html </ref> the original show reopened as Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Opening in time for the Magic Kingdom's 40th anniversary <ref name= "yester"/>, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room follows the same script as the original show, however it is six minutes shorter. This brevity was caused by the removal of the "Barcarolle" number from Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffman” opera <ref name="magic"/> and some of the attraction's dialogue <ref> http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/walt_disney_world's_magic_kingdom/enchanted_tiki_room/ </ref> <ref name= "Spence"/>.
+
Despite Disney's efforts to make the new show appeal to a wider audience, Under New Management quickly proved to be unpopular with guests and attendance problems once again plagued the attraction <Ref name= "Spence"/>. In 2011 a small fire broke out in the attic of the Tiki Room theater, causing the sprinkler system to be activated <Ref name= "yester"/>. Although no one was injured in the fire, it has been heavily speculated that the Audio Animatronic Iago was badly damaged and that the attraction suffered some water damage <ref> http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/01/16/update-on-tiki-room-fire/ </ref>. The damage from the fire combined with the fact that a refurbished Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland had regained its popularity, convinced Disney that the time was right to bring back the Tropical Serenade <ref name= "Spence"/>. To this end, on August 15, 2011 <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/08/walt_disneys_enchanted_tiki_ro_1.html </ref> the original show reopened as Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Opening in time for the Magic Kingdom's 40th anniversary <ref name= "yester"/>, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room follows the same script as the original show, however it is six minutes shorter. This brevity was caused by the removal of the "Barcarolle" number from Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffman” opera <ref name="magic"/> and some of the attraction's dialogue <ref> http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/walt_disney_world's_magic_kingdom/enchanted_tiki_room/ </ref> <ref name= "Spence"/>.
  
 
==Attraction Plot==
 
==Attraction Plot==
 
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is a Polynesian Revue, featuring 150 singing Audio Animatronics.
 
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is a Polynesian Revue, featuring 150 singing Audio Animatronics.
 
===Preshow===
 
===Preshow===
The Enchanted Tiki Room's preshow begins as guests wait outside of the Sunshine Pavilion. When the show is close to beginning, a waterfall found in the middle of the queue opens up to reveal two toucans, Claude (voiced by Sebastian Cabot) and Clyde (voiced by Dallas McKennon). After introducing themselves, Claude and Clyde tell the humerus tale of how they found the Enchanted Tiki Room before telling the audiance that they hope that (guests) have a real "Tropical Serenade".  
+
The Enchanted Tiki Room's preshow begins as guests wait outside of the Sunshine Pavilion. When the show is close to beginning, a waterfall found in the middle of the queue opens up to reveal two toucans, Claude (voiced by Sebastian Cabot) and Clyde (voiced by Dallas McKennon). After introducing themselves, Claude and Clyde tell the humerus tale of how they found the Enchanted Tiki Room before telling the audience that they hope that (guests) have a real "Tropical Serenade".  
  
 
===The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room===
 
===The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room===
 
[[Image:Jose.jpg|thumb|400px|Jose, one of the hosts of the Enchanted Tiki Room]]
 
[[Image:Jose.jpg|thumb|400px|Jose, one of the hosts of the Enchanted Tiki Room]]
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room begins with guests entering the Enchanted Tiki Room, only to find all of the birds inside sleeping. A cast member then “wakes up” Jose (The red, white and green Macaw located in the middle of the room) by either taping him with a stick or having the audience cheer loudly. After Jose was awake, the Macaw wakes up the attractions three other hosts:  Michael (a white and green Macaw), Pierre (a white and blue Macaw) and Fritz (a red, black, and white Macaw). With the four hosts now ready to put on the show, Michael says they need to “wake up the glee club” which he does with a loud whistle. As all of the birds throughout the room begin to chirp, the cast sings the attractions first song [[The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room]]
+
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room begins with guests entering the Enchanted Tiki Room, only to find all of the birds inside sleeping. A cast member then “wakes up” Jose (The red, white and green macaw located in the middle of the room) by either taping him with a stick or having the audience cheer loudly. After Jose is awake, the macaw wakes up the attractions three other hosts:  Michael (a white and green macaw), Pierre (a white and blue macaw) and Fritz (a red, black, and white macaw). With the four hosts now ready to put on the show, Michael says they need to “wake up the glee club”, which he does with a loud whistle. As all of the birds throughout the room begin to chirp, the cast sings the attraction's first song [[The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room]]
  
 
====Song Lyrics====
 
====Song Lyrics====
Line 169: Line 169:
  
 
===Hawaiian War Chant===
 
===Hawaiian War Chant===
After the girls finish their song, Pierre introduces the next act as a “musical luau!” On this cue, the flowers located throughout the Tiki Room begin to sing, they are soon joined by the totem poles.
+
After the girls finish their song, Pierre introduces the next act as a “musical luau!” On this cue, the flowers located throughout the Tiki Room begin to sing. They are soon joined by the totem poles.
  
 
====Song Lyrics====
 
====Song Lyrics====
Line 246: Line 246:
  
 
====Song Lyrics====
 
====Song Lyrics====
 
+
[[Image:tikitImagineer.jpg|400px|thumb|A WED designer painting Jose]]
 
'''Birds:''' The birdies had their fling (birds chirp and sing on cue)
 
'''Birds:''' The birdies had their fling (birds chirp and sing on cue)
  
Line 271: Line 271:
  
 
===Heigh Ho===
 
===Heigh Ho===
After the group song has ended, Jose tells guests to give the birds a standing ovation. With everyone now standing, Fritz says that they are going to do a trick, “were gonna make you all, disappear!” As guests are ushered out of the room, the entire Tiki Room sings “Heigh Ho” from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, albeit with alternate lyrics written by Wally Boag <ref name= "magic"/>.  
+
After the group song has ended, Jose tells guests to give the birds a standing ovation. With everyone now standing, Fritz says that they are going to do a trick, “we're gonna make you all, disappear!” As guests are ushered out of the room, the entire Tiki Room sings “Heigh Ho” from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, albeit with alternate lyrics written by Wally Boag <ref name= "magic"/>.  
  
 
====Song Lyrics====
 
====Song Lyrics====
Line 300: Line 300:
  
 
==Cast <Ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/the-enchanted-tiki-room.htm </ref>==
 
==Cast <Ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/the-enchanted-tiki-room.htm </ref>==
[[Image:LegendTiki.jpg|thumb|300px|A poster for Legends of the Enchanted Tiki (the Enchanted Tiki Room's working title)]]
+
[[Image:LegendTiki.jpg|thumb|275px|A poster for Legends of the Enchanted Tiki (the Enchanted Tiki Room's working title)]]
  
 
'''Thurl Ravenscroft'''-Fritz
 
'''Thurl Ravenscroft'''-Fritz
Line 318: Line 318:
 
'''[[The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room]]'''- Written by Robert and Richard Sherman and performed by the Tiki Room birds <ref name= "D23"/>.  
 
'''[[The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room]]'''- Written by Robert and Richard Sherman and performed by the Tiki Room birds <ref name= "D23"/>.  
  
'''Lets All Sing Like the Birdies Sing'''- Written by Robert Hargreaves, Stanley J. Damerell and Tolchard Evans <ref> http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Lets_All_Sing_Like_the_Birdies_Sing.htm </ref>. Performed by the Bird Mobile Chorus (the girls), Jose, Peirre, Fritz and Michael.
+
'''Lets All Sing Like the Birdies Sing'''- Written by Robert Hargreaves, Stanley J. Damerell and Tolchard Evans <ref> http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Lets_All_Sing_Like_the_Birdies_Sing.htm </ref>. Performed by the Bird Mobile Chorus (the girls), Jose, Pierre, Fritz and Michael.
  
 
'''Hawaiian War Chant'''-Composed by Prince Leleiohoku <ref> http://www.discogs.com/artist/826297-Prince-Leleiohoku </ref> and performed by the orchids and the Tiki statues.  
 
'''Hawaiian War Chant'''-Composed by Prince Leleiohoku <ref> http://www.discogs.com/artist/826297-Prince-Leleiohoku </ref> and performed by the orchids and the Tiki statues.  
Line 324: Line 324:
 
'''Finale (Farewell and Aloha)'''-Composed by unknown, performed by the Tiki Room Birds, orchids and Tiki statues
 
'''Finale (Farewell and Aloha)'''-Composed by unknown, performed by the Tiki Room Birds, orchids and Tiki statues
  
'''Heigh Ho'''- Composed by Frank Churchill and Larry Morey <ref> http://secondhandsongs.com/work/79016/all </ref> (with special lyrics for the Tiki Room). Performed by the Tiki Birds.
+
'''Heigh Ho'''- Composed by Frank Churchill and Larry Morey <ref> http://secondhandsongs.com/work/79016/all </ref> (with special lyrics for the Tiki Room written by Wally Boag). Performed by the Tiki Birds.
  
 
==Watch The Show!==
 
==Watch The Show!==

Revision as of 19:20, 8 September 2020

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
TikiRoomBuilding3.jpg
The entrance to Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Photo by Theme Park Tourist
Magic Kingdom
Land Adventureland
Attraction type Musical Revue
Theme Polynesia
Opening date October 1, 1971
Closing date September 1, 1997
Hosted by Jose, Michael, Fritz, Pierre
Ride duration 11:00 minutes
Audio-Animatronics 150
Reopened August 15, 2011
FastPass + No

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is an attraction located in Adventureland.

Attraction History

Creation for Disneyland

The genesis of what would one day become Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room began in 1950s with Walt Disney himself. At the time, Walt and his Imagineers had been working on a way to animate three dimensional figures for use in Disneyland. So far they had found minimal success however, as the technology that they developed (Audio Animatronics) was still very crude and unreliable. Although they had been able to animate some of the animals found on Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise, attempts at more complex Animatronics had proven unsuccessful. Things began to change however, when while on vacation in New Orleans, Walt came upon and bought a mechanical toy bird that could sing (as well as move its beak and wings) [1].
Walt Disney in Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room
.

Inspired by the technology used within the toy, Walt decided that if toy makers could animate 3D objects, his Imagineers could too. After dissecting the bird and understanding the technology that made it work, Disney Imagineers were able to produce fluid, Audio Animatronic tropical birds (including toucans and macaws) [2].

With this new technology in hand, Walt decided to revisit an old idea. Earlier in the 1950s, Disney had planned on building a Chinese restaurant (complete with an Audio Animatronic Confucius) for Disneyland's Main Street USA [2]. Also included in the show was to be a number of real and imaginary animals, including birds. Although the human Audio Animatronic proved too difficult, Walt decided to retheme the restaurant as a Polynesian musical revue, featuring singing tropical birds. The restaurant was going to be called “The Enchanted Tiki Room” (although some sources use the name "Tiki Hut") and it was to be located in Disneyland’s Adventureland [1] [3]. Although Disney announced plans for the restaurant to the public, logistical concerns eventually derailed the idea. It was determined that a full course meal would take between 45 and 60 minutes on average, and thus a very limited number of guests would be able to see the musical show [3]. On October 9, 1963, Walt decided that instead of creating a dinner show, Disney would create a full-fledged attraction [2].

In order to turn this new Tiki attraction into a reality, Walt turned to his Imagineers. Although Walt had originally told him, “This show doesn’t have to be a natural history museum. Let’s have some fun!” [2] Imagineer Rolly Crump's designs were deemed to be a bit too abstract. Disney then turned to sculptor Blaine Gibson to create the residents of the Enchanted Tiki Room. Although much more realistic then Crump's designs, Gibson still did not create an "absolutely realistic parrot" in order to give the hosts some character [2]. Assisting Gibson in creating characters was Imagineer Marc Davis who designed the totems who come to life inside the attraction, as well as some of the singing flowers and birds [2]. When it came to creating the birds themselves, Imagineer Harriet Burns was charged with designing and creating the feathering, which she often did using real feathers. When describing his vision for the birds, Walt told Burns, "I want these birds to be so real you can see them breathe." [2]

With the design of the show now in place, Walt turned to the Sherman Brothers to create a new song for the attraction [3], which had a working title of Legends of the Enchanted Tiki [4]. According to the Shermans, “we suggested that the song could be done in a calypso beat: ‘the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room.’ It had a sound you could remember. And Walt bought the idea, just like that." [2] As they were working on the attraction, the Sherman brothers suggested that a specific parrot be the emcee of the entire show. Walt liked this idea, but took it one step further. Instead of relying on a single host, the attraction would be hosted by four parrots which had French, Spanish, German, and Irish accents. Besides just providing the Tiki Room with a catchy song, the Sherman brothers also previewed what would be coming in the rest of the attraction with their opening number The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room [5].

Although the Sherman Brother's song set the stage for the rest of the attraction, The Enchanted Tiki Room's script was written by Larry Clemmons, Marty Sklar, Wally Boag, and Fulton Burley [6]. Hosting the tropical revue was four macaws named Jose, Fritz, Michael and Pierre (voiced respectively by Wally Boag, Fulton Burley, Thrul Ravenscroft, and Ernie Newton [6] .

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room finally opened to guests on June 23, 1963. In total the attraction featured a stunning 225 Audio Animatronic characters performing a 17 minute tropical revue.

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room proved to be a smash hit for Disneyland, and thus it was an obvious choice for inclusion in Walt Disney World. In the Magic Kingdom, the Enchanted Tiki Room was renamed "Tropical Serenade" and housed inside the Sunshine Pavilion sponsored by the Citrus Florida Growers [7].
In 1998 The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) opened
Opening with the rest of the park on October 1, 1971, Tropical Serenade was essentially a carbon copy of the Disneyland show. With that being said, there were major differences in the queue and attraction building. For starters, Tropical Serenade featured three separate covered lines, giving the queue more order then its Disneyland counterpart. Furthermore, while Disneyland's preshow centered on Tiki god statues, the Tropical Serenade preshow focused on two birds named Clyde and Claude having a conversation with each other[7]. Also of note is the fact that the Tropical Serenade was housed in a much lager theater then the Disneyland version of the show, and the attraction was topped with a large pagoda that drew guests to the Sunshine Pavilion [8]

The Tropical Serenade remained unchanged until 1997, when the show closed for renovations. Due to the attractions waning popularity, Disney decided they needed to seriously update the show. In order to do this, Imagineers added the popular characters Zazu (from Disney’s The Lion King) and Iago (from Disney’s Aladdin) to the attraction. Furthermore, the show was given a new plot that centered around Iago and Zazu becoming the new owners of the Tiki Room [9]. Although the show featured a brand new script and musical numbers, the original Tiki birds remained a part of the show [9]. After an extensive refurbishment, the Tropical Serenade reopened as The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management on April 5, 1998 [10].

Despite Disney's efforts to make the new show appeal to a wider audience, Under New Management quickly proved to be unpopular with guests and attendance problems once again plagued the attraction [3]. In 2011 a small fire broke out in the attic of the Tiki Room theater, causing the sprinkler system to be activated [9]. Although no one was injured in the fire, it has been heavily speculated that the Audio Animatronic Iago was badly damaged and that the attraction suffered some water damage [11]. The damage from the fire combined with the fact that a refurbished Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland had regained its popularity, convinced Disney that the time was right to bring back the Tropical Serenade [3]. To this end, on August 15, 2011 [12] the original show reopened as Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Opening in time for the Magic Kingdom's 40th anniversary [9], Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room follows the same script as the original show, however it is six minutes shorter. This brevity was caused by the removal of the "Barcarolle" number from Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffman” opera [6] and some of the attraction's dialogue [13] [3].

Attraction Plot

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is a Polynesian Revue, featuring 150 singing Audio Animatronics.

Preshow

The Enchanted Tiki Room's preshow begins as guests wait outside of the Sunshine Pavilion. When the show is close to beginning, a waterfall found in the middle of the queue opens up to reveal two toucans, Claude (voiced by Sebastian Cabot) and Clyde (voiced by Dallas McKennon). After introducing themselves, Claude and Clyde tell the humerus tale of how they found the Enchanted Tiki Room before telling the audience that they hope that (guests) have a real "Tropical Serenade".

The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room

Jose, one of the hosts of the Enchanted Tiki Room

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room begins with guests entering the Enchanted Tiki Room, only to find all of the birds inside sleeping. A cast member then “wakes up” Jose (The red, white and green macaw located in the middle of the room) by either taping him with a stick or having the audience cheer loudly. After Jose is awake, the macaw wakes up the attractions three other hosts: Michael (a white and green macaw), Pierre (a white and blue macaw) and Fritz (a red, black, and white macaw). With the four hosts now ready to put on the show, Michael says they need to “wake up the glee club”, which he does with a loud whistle. As all of the birds throughout the room begin to chirp, the cast sings the attraction's first song The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room

Song Lyrics

Jose: Ole, ole it's 'cho time.

All: In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room, In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room

Jose: All the birds sing words

Michael: And the flowers croon

All: In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room.

Michael: Welcome to our tropical hideaway, you lucky people you, if we weren't in the show starting right away, we'd be in the audience too.

All: Altogether! In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room, in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room

Jose: All the birds sing words

Michael: And the flowers croon

All: In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room.

The inside of the Enchanted Tiki Room

Fritz: I sing so beautiful, I should sing solo.

Jose: Si, so low we can't HEAR you.

Pierre: My voice may not be so marvelous, but my profile is out of this world.

Michael: Jawohl, but the trouble is - it's not FAR enough out of this world. Isn't that right Herr Schmidt? Whoo hoo! I see Schmidt has no hair!

Jose: Mi amigos stop the clucking, you sound like a bunch of old hens. There's a lot of birds waiting to go on. For instance:

Michael: The boys in the back are called macaws.

Jose: Because of their claws?

Michael: No because they're macaws! And our fine feathered friend is a jolly toucan, and two can sound better than one toucan can.

(toucan hooting)

Michael: The bird of paradise is an elegant bird, it likes to be seen, and it loves to be heard. Most little birdies will fly away, but the Tiki Room birds are here everyday.

All: In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room, in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room

Jose: All the birds sing words

Michael: And the flowers croon

All: In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room.

Pierre: Our magnificent production is yet to come,

The "Bird Mobile" girls performing "Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing"

So strum the guitar, and beat the drum. We've been a hit, and we know you adore us, so come on and join us in another chorus!

Everyone: In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room, in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room

Michael: A little softer...

Everyone: All the birds sing words and the flowers croon, in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room.

Michael: A little louder...

Everyone: in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room, in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room, all the birds sing words and the flowers croon, in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room!

Let’s All Sing Like The Birdies Sing

Following “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” Jose directs guests' attention to the center of the room. Here a “Bird Mobile” full of female birds descends from the ceiling (although effect has ceased working recently). Pierre then introduces the girls by name as: Colette, Suzette, Mimi, Gigi, Fifi and Josephine, before he is interrupted by Jose who wonders aloud "I wonder what ever happened to Rosita". The girls then start singing the attraction's second song, "Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing"

Song Lyrics

Girls: Let's all sing like the birdies sing, Tweet, tweet tweet, tweet tweet, Let's all sing like the birdies sing, Sweet, sweet swee-ee-eet, sweet, Let's all warble like nightingales, Give your throat a treat, Take your time from the birds, Now you all know the words, Tweet, tweet tweet, tweet tweet.

Jose (Impersonating Bing Crosby): Let's all sing like the birdies sing. Bubbaboo, ba bubbaboo, baboo...

Michael (Impersonating Louis Armstrong): Let's all sing like the birdies sing, Tweet tweet tweet, my that bird sings sweetly.

Pierre (Impersonating Maurice Chevauliver): Let's all warble like nightingales, Ah, qui qui, est magnifique, Take your time from ze birds, Now you all know ze words.

Girls: Tweet, tweet tweet, tweet tweet.

Hawaiian War Chant

After the girls finish their song, Pierre introduces the next act as a “musical luau!” On this cue, the flowers located throughout the Tiki Room begin to sing. They are soon joined by the totem poles.

Song Lyrics

One of the performing Tikis

The lyrics for the Hawaiian War Chant are difficult to find, and tough to understand. To the best of our knowledge the lyrics are:

Flowers: Tahuwai la a tahuwai wai la

Ehu hene la a pili koo lua la

Pututui lu a ite toe la

Hanu lipo ita paalai

Au we ta huala

Au we ta huala

Tahuwai la a tahuwai wai la

Ehu hene la a pili koo lua la

Pututui lu a ite toe la

Hanu lipo ita paalai (eo-eo-eo)

Tahuwai la a tahuwai wai la

Ehu hene la a pili koo lua la

Pututui lu a ite toe la

Hanu lipo ita paalai (eo-eo-eo)

Au we ta, huala huala,

Au we ta, huala huala, huala huala, huu-aaa-laa

(drums, chanting, and a soloist begin)

Tikis drumming in the Enchanted Tiki Room

Totem Poles: Tahuwai la a tahuwai wai la

Ehu hene la a pili koo lua la

Pututui lua ite toe la

Hanu lipo ita paalai

Hupto da ha ta he um

Oh ah hahey ah ah, Oh ha hahey ah ah

Entire Tiki Room: Tahuwai la a tahuwai wai la

Ta hua oh oh oh Ta hua

Awahahawy Awahahahay hua awayah away hua huuua huuua awayaa.

Ohh huhu ohh huhu aahhhhhhaaa

Ohh huhu ohh huhu aahhhhhhaaa

Awway hua Awway hua

ohoohuhuhu ohuhuhuhu ohhhhuhuhu

ohhhhuhuhu ohhhhhuhuhuuuuuuu

Awwayyyyyy

Finale (Farewell and Aloha)

At the conclusion of the Hawaiian War Chant, a storm begins to brew outside of the Tiki Room and the lights briefly go out. After Pierre and Jose make jokes about the situation, Fritz warns them that all of the celebrating has angered the gods. Michael then tells guests that he hopes they will remember the amazing things they have seen in the Enchanted Tiki Room. The birds, Tikis and flowers then briefly recap what has happened.

Song Lyrics

A WED designer painting Jose

Birds: The birdies had their fling (birds chirp and sing on cue)

You heard the flowers sing.

Flowers: Tahu tahu uhu wai la...

Birds: Tikis play the drums (the tiki drums play on cue) Hear them do the chant (totem poles chant on cue)

Totem Poles Tahuwai la a tahuwai wai la

Ehu hene la a pili koo lua la

Pututui lua ite toe la

Hanu lipo ita paalai

Hupto da ha ta he um

Everyone Farewell, and Aloha to youuu...

Heigh Ho

After the group song has ended, Jose tells guests to give the birds a standing ovation. With everyone now standing, Fritz says that they are going to do a trick, “we're gonna make you all, disappear!” As guests are ushered out of the room, the entire Tiki Room sings “Heigh Ho” from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, albeit with alternate lyrics written by Wally Boag [6].

Song Lyrics

Entire Tiki Room: Heigh Ho, heigh ho, it's out the door you go,

We hope you've all enjoyed the show heigh ho, heigh ho,

Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, keep marching in a row,

Don't stop to look or read a book heigh ho, heigh ho,

Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, just lift your feet and go,

You sing this song, you march along, heigh ho, heigh ho,

Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, step lively not so slow,

Come back again we'll see you then, heigh ho, heigh ho,

Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, make room for our next show,

There's boats outside go take a ride heigh ho, heigh ho,

Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, it's out the door you go,

We hope you've all enjoyed the show, heigh ho, heigh ho!

Cast [14]

A poster for Legends of the Enchanted Tiki (the Enchanted Tiki Room's working title)

Thurl Ravenscroft-Fritz

Wally Boag-Jose

Fulton Burley-Michael

Ernie Newton-Pierre (Tropical Serenade) [3]

Jerry Orbach- Pierre (Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room)

Puruis Pullen (aka Dr. Horatio D. Birdbath)- Background birds

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room Songs

The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room- Written by Robert and Richard Sherman and performed by the Tiki Room birds [2].

Lets All Sing Like the Birdies Sing- Written by Robert Hargreaves, Stanley J. Damerell and Tolchard Evans [15]. Performed by the Bird Mobile Chorus (the girls), Jose, Pierre, Fritz and Michael.

Hawaiian War Chant-Composed by Prince Leleiohoku [16] and performed by the orchids and the Tiki statues.

Finale (Farewell and Aloha)-Composed by unknown, performed by the Tiki Room Birds, orchids and Tiki statues

Heigh Ho- Composed by Frank Churchill and Larry Morey [17] (with special lyrics for the Tiki Room written by Wally Boag). Performed by the Tiki Birds.

Watch The Show!

The show starts about 57 seconds into the video

Fun Facts and Trivia

  • There are over 200 birds, flowers and Tikis inside Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room [18].
  • The Barker Bird (a toucan) used to sit outside the attraction and invite guests into the Tiki Room. A video of the toucan can be seen Here.
  • Muzzy Marcellino performed many of the bird noises heard in Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room [19].
  • A professional bird caller who could imitate 900 different birds performed the Offenbach number featured in the Tropical Serenade [6].
  • When the Enchanted Tiki room was first constructed in Walt Disney World, Imagineers decided to use real water for the rainstorm effect as opposed to the way the effect was done in Disneyland using Mylar. The real water ended up looking terrible and it was eventually taken out and replaced with Mylar [20].
  • The top of the Sunshine Pavilion features a carving of an Asian water buffalo. This animal was chosen due to the fact that the rooftop can be seen from Frontierland, where the animals could be seen as Western longhorn, thus not interfering with the theming of the land [21].

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 http://www.waltdisney.org/blog/disneyland-classics-walt-disneys-enchanted-tiki-room
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 https://d23.com/tiki-room-50th-anniversary-archives/
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/magic_kingdom/adventureland/the_enchanted_tiki_room/
  4. https://d23.com/tiki-room-50th-anniversary-archives/
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trtJMX90Etw
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 http://www.wdwmagic.com/articles/10aug2016-let's-all-sing-like-the-birdies-sing---part-ii.htm
  7. 7.0 7.1 http://waltdatedworld.com/id47.htm
  8. http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/stt.htm
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 http://www.yesterland.com/newmanagement.html
  10. http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/the-enchanted-tiki-room-under-new-management.htm
  11. http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/01/16/update-on-tiki-room-fire/
  12. http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/08/walt_disneys_enchanted_tiki_ro_1.html
  13. http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/walt_disney_world's_magic_kingdom/enchanted_tiki_room/
  14. http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/the-enchanted-tiki-room.htm
  15. http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Lets_All_Sing_Like_the_Birdies_Sing.htm
  16. http://www.discogs.com/artist/826297-Prince-Leleiohoku
  17. http://secondhandsongs.com/work/79016/all
  18. http://www.insidethemagic.net/2011/08/enchanted-tiki-room-to-reopen-on-aug-15-at-walt-disney-world-minus-new-management/
  19. http://articles.latimes.com/1997-06-21/news/mn-5584_1_whistler
  20. Crump, Rolly, and Jeff Heimbuch. It's Kind of a Cute Story. N.p.: Bamboo Forest, 2012. Print.
  21. The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World: an Imagineer's-Eye Tour Alex Wright - Disney Editions - 2005