Tropical Serenade

Aloha! Welcome to the Enchanted Tiki Room. At least, that's the name that the "New Management" has given the place. It's a tribute, of sorts, to the original show at Disneyland, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Since the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, however, the Florida version of the attraction had always gone by the title Tropical Serenade.

Of course, in those days (before the 1973 addition of Caribbean Plaza and Pirates of the Caribbean) the towering Sunshine Pavilion stood at the far end of Adventureland, beckoning daring explorers to trek through the jungle and seek out its wonders.

The main presentation of Tropical Serenade (and today's Enchanted Tiki Room show) took place in the large ceremonial meeting house adjacent to the pavilion. The support columns of the building are carved into tiki totems, and the faces of the structure are adorned with examples of Polynesian seafarer art, creating an appropriately South Seas atmosphere.

A bit of creative license was taken, though, with the design applied to the peaks of the roof on the ceremonial house. The building's height had to be able to accommodate the large "bird mobile" which lowers during part of the show, but that meant the top of the building would also be visible from nearby Frontierland. To solve the problem, Imagineering designers chose figureheads of water buffalo. From Adventureland, they work for a South Pacific/Southeast Asian setting. On the Frontierland side, they resemble longhorn cattle.

Waiting for the show to begin, we enter a covered garden beneath the Sunshine Pavilion and stand before an enchanted waterfall. In the original Tropical Serenade, very little happened here. The waterfall would part, and two small birds named Clyde and Claude appeared to give the audience a brief preview of the show to come.

Moving beyond the garden, the beautifully carved AutoMagic doors of the ceremonial house open to allow us in for the show. It's clear that birds are highly revered here. After all, magical things happen inside. Birds sing words. Flowers croon. And for a long time anyway, lovely young ladies were the exclusive human inhabitants.

At a time (pre-1995) when attractions like Jungle Cruise, Liberty Square Riverboat and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea were staffed by men only, female Cast Members were assigned roles on the Plaza Swan Boats, Hall of Presidents and Tropical Serenade. Interestingly, long after guys started working at the Tiki Room, Jose continued to wake from his slumber with an enthusiastic "Buenos dias, Seniorita!"... even if it was a senor who tapped his perch.

In the early years of Walt Disney World, when there were far fewer attractions and audience expectations were considerably more low-key, the Tropical Serenade commanded a D Ticket and was a fairly popular stop for Guests visiting Adventureland. As time went on, however, audience tastes started to change, and Guests were less willing to sit through a lengthy, albeit pleasant bird and flower show.

Audience walk-outs started to increase. Many never even made it into the main theater, leaving after seeing nothing more than the pre-show. Others would push through the doors to get on with their day as soon as the first number came to a close. Often times, once one family decided to bolt, a stream of others would follow them out.

For the Disney faithful (likely most of you reading this blog), this seemed like blasphemy. How could anyone have such disrespect for one of Walt Disney's original creations? The reality, though, is that the audience in Florida is quite different from that in Southern California, who had grown up with a special attachment to the Enchanted Tiki Room. In much larger Walt Disney World, the show was rapidly dropping on the Guests' list of must-visit priorities.

An initial attempt to stem the walkouts involved removing the Offenbach number, shortening the show by a few minutes and eliminating the less-than-enthralling enchanted fountain. When this had little effect, the decision was ultimately made to update the entire show.

There was a trend in Disney entertainment during the mid to late-90s for the company to poke fun at itself in a wink-wink sort of fashion. It's a brand of humor that worked successfully in films like The Lion King (Zazu singing "It's a Small World") and Aladdin (Genie throws out several Disney in jokes) and came to life in the park with the 1998 opening of The Enchanted Tiki Room - Under New Management.

Clyde and Claude were given the new monikers William and Morris, wisecracking talent agents representing the Tiki Room's new owners, Iago and Zazu. The names are derived from an organization today known as William Morris Endeavor, a major talent agency with a long history in Hollywood. Their humorous pre-show tends to hold the audience's attention and does more to tease the show to come, helping to build anticipation.

Inside, everything starts traditionally enough, before being interrupted by Iago's insistence on jazzing up the proceedings. In spite of the protests of the original hosts (Pierre: "But monsieur, we've done the same show..." Fritz: "Yah, since 1963!"), things get hopping in the ceremonial house. Before you know it, the high-energy show has come to a close, and Iago has learned a bit of a lesson about messing with Polynesia (courtesy of Uhoa, the Tiki Goddess of Disaster).

While the new management's version of The Enchanted Tiki Room may not be popular with everyone, the more-lively show has all but eliminated walkouts and has found quite a few fans, especially among younger Guests.

A final note: There are several Hidden Disney references heard in the script of the Enchanted Tiki Room show. William and Morris mention the Mighty Ducks, an Anaheim hockey franchise once owned by Disney and named for a series of live action comedies from the Studio. As mentioned above, Pierre and Fritz refer to 1963, the original opening date of the first Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland. And for one more bit of fun, hang around the theater after everyone else has left. Iago continues to make comments from his perch above the door, the final one being, "I'm tired. I think I'll go over to the Hall of Presidents and take a nap." Again, Disney poking a little fun at Disney (although with the reception the new Hall of Presidents show is receiving, Iago's nap is likely to be interrupted by all the applause).

The Pirates' Loot

The strongholds of the Pirates League in the Magic Kingdom are chock full of treasure and loot gathered from the Black Pearl's ventures to the four corners of the earth. The close observer may also discover that hidden amongst these artifacts are items from the production of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean film series.

The shelf in the photo above, located in the main office of the East India Company, holds many things, including the arrest warrant for Will Turner from Dead Man's Chest. Also in the main office is the unit seen below:

Resting on the top shelf of this unit is the branding staff used by Cutler Beckett to mark the "P" on Captain Jack Sparrow's wrist:

Inside the Muster Station, the old East India Co. warehouse, are even more Hidden Disney treasures. Peer beyond this chair and candelabra, and you may set eyes upon the chest which held the heart of Davy Jones. This was one of several prop chests used in the second and third films. Another has been incorporated into a scene in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland.

The red you see peeking out in this next view is the "Map to the Land of the Dead" used in At World's End to lead the crew to Davy Jones' Locker to rescue Jack:

Also from At World's End (and more easily seen than the last two props) are this flag and cannon from the Empress, the ship captained by Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat):

There are other treasures to be found in the Pirates League, but pirates like to keep secrets. Should you decide to join the crew and take the solemn Pirate Oath, perhaps you'll be granted access to some of these secrets... such as the hidden location of Davy Jones' smoking pipe... or this hidden gem, a mark perhaps left by a certain fairy acquaintance of a pirate crew:

The Pirates League for Me

Ahoy, mates! The Black Pearl has dropped anchor, and Captain Jack Sparrow is in search of recruits to join the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main. He and his band have established The Pirates League, the newest Guest experience in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom Park.

Tucked away in the bustling marketplace of Caribbean Plaza is the former headquarters of the infamous East India Trading Company, but their shipping office and warehouse have been shanghaied by pirates and turned into a veritable recruitment center. Evidence of the East India Co. can still be seen, but the facility has been completely ransacked and turned into the terrestrial base for Capt. Jack and his crew, the place where they hang their hats when not sailing the seven seas aboard the Pearl.

The adventure for new recruits begins when they step up to enlist in the crew. One of Capt. Jack's trusted mates walks them to a table near a massive map charting the shipping lanes used by the East India Co. and invites them to spin a box containing a pair of dice. The roll of the dice is checked against a leather-bound conscription log, and the recruit's new pirate identity is determined.

It's then on to the Muster Station to be physically transformed into a sculdugger worthy of crewing the Pearl. The pirates have blown a hole in the back wall of the East India Co. office, taking out a stronghold gate and revealing the cargo storage warehouse beyond.

The warehouse is buried in plundered booty, everything from marble statues and oil paintings to other priceless works of art (and some Hidden Disney). There are bejeweled thrones from royal courts, naval officers' chairs and ornate mirrors pilfered from the finest homes in the Caribbean.

It is here that the transformation begins. Recruits may select from several different looks (pricing and other detailed information about the Pirates League experience is available at www.disneyworld.com). Among them are styles inspired by characters and scenes in Disney's successful Pirates of the Caribbean film series. My boys opted for the "six eye" look from Dead Man's Chest and the "skeletal pirate" look from Curse of the Black Pearl. Of course, at three years old, neither of them has seen the movies. They just thought these looked the most fun.

Throughout the entire experience, the Pirate Masters of Pirates League enhance the story of the location with pirate banter and action. They're also great with the kids and completely flexible if there's any aspect of their chosen look they would rather avoid (such as the painted eyelids, which my son was unusually game for).

Once they've passed muster, the recruits are asked to recite the sacred Pirate's Oath and made official members of the crew. Being consigned to the Black Pearl, the new shipmates are entrusted with one of the Captain's greatest secrets... the location of a hidden treasure cache, where the members of the Brethren Court gather whenever they're in port. It is in that room that pirate portraits are taken and other secrets revealed, but there be no spoilers here (besides, the crew asked me not to use my "lightning box" inside).

Through another secret portal, we find ourselves back in the former East India Co. offices where we receive papers solidifying our new identities and have an opportunity to plunder some loot of our own.

A grand time was had by all, and our band of newly-christened pirates was set loose on an unsuspecting Adventureland.

Pirates League is recommended for ages 3 and up. While my 3-year-olds did just fine, others might get squeamish in the chairs or frightened by the raucous nature of the Muster Station. In addition, since my boys can't seem to avoid touching their faces, their make-up jobs were soon smeared. They didn't seem to notice, though. They loved becoming pirates and continued to play "pirate" all day long.

Which leads to one more note. Unlike the makeovers at Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique, which can last a couple of days by just not washing your hair, the pirate styles are pure make-up and would need to be removed so they don't end up coming off on pillowcases. Among the very impressive set of take-aways from Pirates League (top quality stuff, especially with the photos and papers) is also a handy make-up removal wipe. If you or your child selects the cursed skeleton look, ask for extras (that's a lot of make-up to remove).

Final assessment: The Pirates League is a fantastic experience for the young and young at heart, perhaps one of the most story-rich, interactive experiences in all of Walt Disney World.

Liki Tikis

It's just a hop, skip and a jump from Arabia, across the Indian Ocean and into the Pacific for a visit to Polynesia, where these Tiki totems hold court. These fellows have been part of Adventureland since the beginning, but they haven't always had a playful knack for squirting unsuspecting Guests.

In the late-90s, the Tikis were in need of refurbishment. Rather than bring them back just as they were -- wood statues that easily rot in the Florida weather -- Disney's Imagineers hit upon the idea of recreating the Tikis in Fiberglas... with a twist. Each Tiki was outfitted with a squirting water system, and the surface around them was replaced with absorbent Safe Deck.

Today, the Tikis have become a key element of the Adventureland experience and a must-do on sweltering summer days. Oh yeah... and they still produce those great jungle drum sounds.

Yo Rug Man, Slip Me Some Tassel

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, added in 2001, bring a degree of kinetic energy to the heart of Adventureland. The colorful carpets with their "pillow cushion" seats soar and swoop above the landscape, encircling an enormous jeweled vessel recently unearthed, perhaps through the magic of a certain Genie. The vessel is adorned in beautiful purple and gold tones, along with images of the scarab (which opened the Cave of Wonders), Abu (turning somersaults as the vessel spins), and the Genie himself (showing off his incredible range of expressions). Close observers will even notice the puffs and swirls of the Genie's magic, reaching out from the vessel to lift the carpets and their passengers into the air.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin has been criticized by some as "just another spinner ride," but for the intended audience it's much more than that. At its core, the attraction is of course very similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the Astro Orbiter. For children (of all ages) escaping into the fantasy realms of the Magic Kingdom, though, it's a dream-come-true adventure. It's a chance to be Aladdin or Jasmine for a short time and feel what it must be like to soar on a magical, flying carpet, just as those other attractions offer the experience of being an astronaut in training or flying off (literally) to join the circus.

There also happens to be a bit of Hidden Disney here at The Magic Carpets of Aladdin in the form of the pair of golden camels. These camels started their Disney career "spitting" at Guests along the parade route of Disney's Hollywood Studios as part of Aladdin's Royal Caravan, which ran from 1992 to 1995. After that, they were placed in front of the Soundstage Restaurant at the Studios (the building now home to Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage). There, they heralded the entrance to an Aladdin Character dining experience. The Soundstage Restaurant closed in 1998 to become a live entertainment venue, but the camels were brought out of retirement a few years later to take up permanent residence in Adventureland.

A Whole New World

When the Magic Carpets of Aladdin were added to Adventureland in 2002, some adjustments had to be made to both open up the area and enhance the story to make the new attraction feel right at home. Along the northern edge of the land, a couple of shops were removed, including Elephant Tales and Traders of Timbuktu. The facades of the Agrabah Bazaar took their place, creating an open-air marketplace where one could easily imagine a certain "street rate" scampering across the rooftops, eluding the Palace Guard.

The former Elephant Tales shop had included in its design some elaborate Indian-inspired tile work. The shop may be gone, but bits of the tile remain. Look down as you walk through the Bazaar, and you'll find them scattered about, along with random jewels and other trinkets dropped by the passing citizens of Agrabah.

The Four Corners of the Globe

The setting for Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom is not meant to replicate a specific place. Rather, it's more of a living embodiment of the "spirit of adventure." Elements of exotic, fascinating places from around the world have been brought together to create an environment that invites exploration.

Within the land, though, there are a few attempts to bridge seemingly disparate aspects of the design. Passing from the area of the Jungle Cruise and Swiss Family Treehouse toward the Agrabah Bazaar, stories shift from Africa and Southeast Asia to the Middle East, but there is a connection in the form of the Zanzibar Trading Company.

Located on the corner near the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Zanzibar Trading Company is named for the Zanzibar region of Tanzania. Historically, Zanzibar was an important base port for Arab traders bartering for spices and other goods along the coasts of Africa and India. So... Zanzibar was the place where Africa and Arabia came together, just as they do here.

An Island of Supplies

Take another turn on your journey through Adventureland, and you'll come across Island Supply, the one stop shop for all your expedition needs. In addition to necessities, the proprietors of Island Supply are also well-known for their elaborate woven tapestries, carpets and apparel.

Take a look up before you enter. You'll notice spindles of freshly-dyed yarn, placed in the sun to dry before being incorporated into their next work of art.

On the way in, examples of the rugs "for sale" can be found rolled in the corners and stored in the rafters.

Looking up and around is a great practice, especially when visiting shops and restaurants in the Disney Parks. Shelves, ledges and rafters are prime locations for the placement of props and other details that help flesh out the story being told. Take a look, and see how these elements work to bring the Island Supply story to life.

Editor's Note:

I had planned to focus solely on Adventureland stories and details this week, leading up to the June 29 opening of The Pirates League in the Magic Kingdom Park. Today, however, Luxo Jr. made his surprise debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios. So let's take a side trip to the Studios to have a look. I'll have more Adventureland for you tomorrow...

An Illuminated Personality

The Pixar Studios district at Disney's Hollywood Studios opened last summer with the debut of Toy Story Midway Mania. The entire area is full of many exquisite details (such as the multi-colored brick pattern duplicated from Pixar's campus in Emeryville, California) and fun surprises (like the Green Army Men playing Scrabble). Although the main focus is on characters from the Toy Story films, a certain little lamp can also be found here. His name is Luxo Jr., and he has become the unofficial mascot of Pixar Animation Studios, appearing at the start of every Pixar film.

Luxo Jr. was the title character of Pixar's first computer animated short film (image below ©Pixar). The film grew out of John Lasseter's desire to learn how to model an object on the computer. He chose as his subject the Luxo brand lamp on his desk. Further inspired by a coworker's young son, John wondered what a child lamp would look and act like. Luxo Jr. was born. "Luxo Jr." had its public debut at SIGGRAPH in 1986 and was met with rapturous applause. Never before had such personality and life been seen from a computer-generated image. It was the beginning of a journey that would culminate in Toy Story, the first full-length computer animated feature, and lead to a successful run of wonderful stories and characters.

Now, Luxo Jr. has been given new life in the form of an incredible new Audio-Animatronics figure on Pixar Place at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Throughout the day, just outside the facade for the Luxo Jr. Lighting Department, the little lamp hops out to have a little fun. Music starts playing in the area, and Luxo Jr. can't help but dance along. The music changes, and he responds accordingly. At night, Luxo Jr. discovers a connection with the trees around him, each shimmering with hundreds of twinkling lights. As Luxo Jr. calls to them, the lights in the trees react, dancing and changing color with him.

Luxo Jr. appears intermittently (approx. every 15-20 minutes), weather permitting. Of the two vignettes, "dancing" runs during the day. "Dancing" and "conducting" alternate with one another after dark. Additional vignettes may be added in the future, so stay tuned!

UPDATE: The Luxo Jr. figure was retired in Spring 2010 after proving to be too difficult to operate reliably in this environment. Hopefully, we'll see him return at some point.