The Enchanted Tiki Room - Orlando
Date: Unknown
I know we must have seen the Enchanted Tiki Room in 1972 when I was a little kid and we first visited Disney World, but my first memory of it was when I went as an adult in 1990... we went in on a whim, basically because there wasn't much of a line, and I had little expectation, but then, oh Lord did it take my breath away. Like so many of us, I believe the Enchanted Tiki Room was my first "Tiki" experience, and I've now been to the one in Disneyland many times. It never fails to fill me with wonder and delight.
Tiki Bar
The Enchanted Tiki Room - Orlando
Orlando, Florida, United States
When the Enchanted Tiki Room opened at Walt Disney World in 1971, it was a duplicate of the original Enchanted Tiki Room found at Disneyland.
In 1998 it was updated to be more "modern" with a show called "Under New Management". The new show featured the '90s-era Disney animated bird characters Iago and Zazu. The now loud, unsettling and money-focused show featured disco balls, flashing lights, and in place of the beloved water fountain, a shouting, angry tiki goddess named "Polynesia." However, even in this darkest hour, the building itself was still worth a visit, with classic Exotica tunes (such as Martin Denny) often heard playing in the lovely lanai area. The transporting paradise was not entirely lost.
Then, in January 2011, the Tiki gods had finally had enough. A fire struck the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the show room was damaged enough to shut it down. It was restored and reopened as a slightly edited version of the original Enchanted Tiki Room attraction in August 2011, and is now back to the grand, historic, relaxing escape we all love.