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Enchanted Tiki Room to re-open August 15 E-mail
Written by Emmett   
Tuesday, 02 August 2011 05:15

Seizing the opportunity presented by a minor fire in January, Disney has restored the classic animatronic attraction to a state which recalls its glory days.

Read the official press release:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Sunshine Pavilion, featuring a show variously known as “Tropical Serenade” and “The Enchanted Tiki Birds,” debuted on Oct. 1, 1971, in Magic Kingdom.

In 1998, following substantial refurbishment, it re-launched as The Enchanted Tiki Room-Under New Management, with two famous Disney birds – Iago from Aladdin and Zazu from The Lion King – taking control and trying to spruce up the show.

Now the "new management" has been let go and the future of the Adventureland landmark is in the wings and wit of José, Fritz, Michael and Pierre – four crooning parrot hosts who have been entertaining guests at California’s Disneyland since 1963 in The Enchanted Tiki Room. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, as the Magic Kingdom attraction now will be called, is being prepared for the premiere (tentatively on Aug. 15, 2011) of a show that will pay tribute to the Disneyland original - notable in theme park history for ushering in sophisticated Audio-Animatronics technology.

Prior to 1963, Walt Disneys creative team had produced movable figures, but none had the sophistication of the bird-brained cast of the Tiki Room. José, Fritz, Michael and Pierre produce movements when solenoid coils hidden inside receive signals recorded onto magnetic tape and are regarded as the first “true” Audio-Animatronics figures.

They introduce a musical presentation by more than 200 birds, flowers and tikis. Even the audience gets into the act, joining in during the musical ditty “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing.”

While the show is steeped in tradition and maintains the original intent created by Walt Disney and his original team of Imagineers, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room will feature the latest in technology – a state of the art show-control system, remastered audio, and a new versatile and energy efficient lighting system.

The attraction has shows throughout Magic Kingdom operating hours.

EMMETT'S COMMENTARY: The Enchanted Tiki Room holds a special place in the hearts of Disney Park fans. As a watershed in the history of animatronics, the original Disneyland attraction's classic status is pretty much undisputed. Despite that esteem, The Enchanted Tiki Room was not a highly popular attraction during the 80s and 90s, which is what led to its update at Magic Kingdom in 1998. Not surprisingly, that "Under New Management" version was not well-received among either Disney aficionados or the general public.

The Tiki Room is one of those attractions which, regardless of its attendance, would attract a massive protest if it were ever to shut down completely, which is perhaps why, in the wake of the January fire, Disney felt a return to an approximation of the original show was a good idea. Had a restoration already been in the works? Who knows? It is pretty telling that Team Disney Orlando was able to get the wheels moving on the retrofit in such a short time.

I predict that the attraction will see a bump in attendance for a couple of years. Even if it falls to pre-Under New Management numbers, it's unlikely another major change to the show will happen for at least a decade. And that should make classic WDW fans very happy.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 August 2011 14:25
 

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