FROM: Wandering the World with Wally Published Mondays

The Enchanted Tiki Room

Wally wishes to be first in line for the reopening of the Enchanted Tiki Room in Disney World, featuring the return of the original script and stars, and the conspicuous absence of the so-called New Management. The birds all sing! And so does Wally.

- by Walter Octavius March, August 15, 2011

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KUNGALOOSH!

And welcome, my friend! I'm all a twitter today, ho-ho, pardon my play on words. I'm on my way to the Magic Kingdom, because the Enchanted Tiki Room is reopening after a seven month closure due to a fire in the attic.

I'm really excited about it. They have not only refurbished the attraction, but also restored the original show from Disneyland that started in 1964. It has been renamed, too. No longer is it the Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management. Now it is now Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.

I think this is a wonderful thing. The Tiki Room was one of the first attractions in which Walt Disney used audio animatronics. All of the other big rides using audio animatronics figures were a result of this little show, which was supposed to be a dinner show. I can't wait to see the original show again! I saw it when it first debuted in Disneyland, and again here when it first opened in the Magic Kingdom.

Let's get going!

Of Monorails and Mayors

I love riding the monorail first thing in the morning, though anytime I ride it I enjoy it. I like hearing, "Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!" What a magnificent way to start the day!

Come along now, we must be at the front of the line when the rope drops, I want to say hello to my friend, Mayor Weaver, before we go see the show. The last time I saw him, he helped me with a stalker, who wasn't really a stalker but rather a private eye looking for some answers about the Adventurers Club. The Disney P.I., as I call her, told me that we'd keep in touch through Hizzoner, and I want to leave a message for her about my plans to travel away from Disney World for a few weeks.

There's the Mayor now. Allow me a few minutes, my friend. I shall be with you momentarily.

Thank you for waiting - now off we go to Adventureland. Have you ever seen this version of the Tiki Birds? No? Well, then you are in for a treat. It isn't high tech, as they say, but it is fun and light, the way a show starring birds should be!

I did see a show once with live birds that reminds me of this one. It was in France, and the man's name was Mark Steiger. I especially liked his cockatoo, Pompon - not only was it a beautiful bird, but also very intelligent. I wondered as I watched that show if Walt Disney saw something similar before he created the Enchanted Tiki Room.

Welcome to the New Old Show

What luck! The next show is seating now. "Here we go, wake up Jose!" I love the Glee Club! In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room...

Oh, sorry my friend, that was a little loud in your ear, wasn't it. I'll try to keep it down. Ah, here comes my favorite part: the drums! Doesn't it make you think of the Hawaiian Islands? Here is the best joke of the show: "Now that you are all standing, we are going to do a wonderful magic trick. We're going to make you all disappear." How grand! Make us disappear! Oh, I like this show, much better than the other version!

Now, how about a Dole whip? And I'll tell you my adventures as a lion trainer for the King of Siam. I was a little younger then, and I ... hey, where are you heading? The Dole Whips are this way!

Now where was I? Oh, yes, a Dole Whip. You there! Have you ever been to Siam?

Until next time, KUNGALOOSH! And keep your eyes open for Adventure!

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