The History Of The Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room At Magic Kingdom

One of my all-time favorite shows at Disney is the Enchanted Tiki Room in Magic Kingdom. The brightly colored birds and flowers come to life as they entertain you with Hawaiian themed music and dancing. It’s a tradition in my family to visit this Disney staple right after the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and enjoy with a Dole Whip in hand. Yes, this is the perfect combination! The last time I was in Disney and enjoying the bird ensemble, I got to wondering about the history of the Tiki room. I dove in and found out some interesting things I didn’t know, so grab a Dole Whip and let’s learn the history behind the Enchanted Tiki Room!

Audio-Animatronics Development

Without even knowing it, when you enjoy the Tiki Room show you are in the presence of some groundbreaking technology of its time! The audio-animatronic technology that powers the show was introduced to the world through this show which debuted in Disneyland Park in the summer of 1963. The technology allowed the animators to synchronize the movements of the animatronic birds to the music using audio and visual effects. This paved the way for future attractions such as It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Carribean, and The Haunted Mansion.

The Unforgettable Theme Song

The official song of the Enchanted Tiki Room is “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room,” recorded by the Mellomen. This infamous song was written by none other than Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman, better known as the Sherman brothers. Wondering who they are? Well, they are Disney legends! They are also known for writing Supercalifragilisticexpealidocous, It’s a Small World, and Winnie the Pooh. The song was written for the attraction, and it can still be heard in The Enachanted Tiki Room in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. In addition, you can hear this infamous song during Disneyland’s Remember…Dreams Come True fireworks show.

The Floridian Version

The Enchanted Tiki Room in Disney World Magic Kingdom was identical to that of Disneyland’s, except for a different pre-show known as the Tropical Serenade. In 1998 the pre-show was then replaced with a new one known as; The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management.) This pre-show featured some of our favorite Disney feathered friends such as Aladin’s Lago and Lion King’s Zazu. This show played until a fire in 2011 damaged it which led them to shorten the pre-show to accommodate.

A Dole Whip Sponsor

Remember when I said I love to enjoy this show with a Dole Whip? Well, it sounds like that is the way it is intended! In 1976 the sponsorship for this attraction was taken over by Dole Food Company (the previous sponsorship was with United Airlines) which is still the present sponsor. Dole provides the special ever so amazing soft-serve Dole Whip frozen dessert, which is available at a snack bar near the entrance.

The Tiki Room has been a fan favorite and a staple for over 60 years! Through those 60 years it has proven to have some rich history from being the first for groundbreaking technology, famous song writers, a dole whip sponsorship and more. Knowing these interesting facts can make the show even more enjoyable! So, grab your Dole Whip and enjoy the Hawaiian theme musical show known as our beloved Enchanted Tiki Room!