Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room has been an Adventureland staple since opening day at the Magic Kingdom. It’s colorful, singing birds and playful nature ring true to Walt’s original idea for the experience, even all these decades later! Today we’re sharing five musical facts about Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.

First To Use Audio-Animatronics
Audio-animatronics are found on countless Disney attractions across the globe today, but did you know that this attraction is where they got their start? Although animatronics were used before this attraction, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room was the first to use the “audio” aspect. This attraction took the animatronics technology to a new level, creating models who could sync to the soundtrack of the attraction and perform a long series of complex movements rather than simple movements like those before.

A Dinner Show
The original idea for this attraction was a dinner show. The birds were to sing and entertain the guests while the dined! Once the realization was made that this complex show may be tough to operate while also creating a great dining service, the idea was changed to a show attraction instead. Although Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room didn’t become a dinner show, guests are still welcome to grab a Dole Whip from Aloha Isle before the attraction and bring it in with them to enjoy!

Sherman Brothers’ Song
The Sherman Brothers created musical hits for many iconic Disney attractions, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room is one of them! The attraction’s main tune was one that the brothers worked directly with Walt Disney on for the original attraction in Disneyland. Other Sherman Brothers’ songs can be found on Carousel of Progress, Journey into Imagination with Figment, and it’s a small world!

Under New Management
When this attraction opened along with the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971, it had the name Tropical Serenade. Almost three decades later in 1998, the attraction reopened as The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management. This version starred Iago from Aladdin and Zazu from The Lion King who have taken over as managers of the attraction. Iago is trying to make changes, which Zazu is worried about angering the gods. There were mixed reviews from guests on this second version of the attraction, but after a fire during the show in January 2011 this version was closed. When the attraction reopened later in the year, it reemerged as Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room!

Oodles of Animatronics
Did you know this attraction is home to over 150 different animatronics? With so many tropical birds, Disney’s Imagineers had to create audio-animatronics that varied in colors, sizes, and breeds! Some birds feature their own movements and are completely synced to the attraction soundtrack. Other animatronics are tiki gods, drummers, and flowers. With all of these small parts, they were able to create the Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room that we enjoy today!

Magic Kingdom is home to many iconic attractions, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room is no exception. So next time you trek to Adventureland, be sure to grab a Dole Whip and experience the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room for yourself!