Adventureland Theme and Design
Using gradual changes in architecture, music, and landscaping, the transition from Main Street to Adventureland is so well done, that most guests won’t even notice it.
The transition begins at the Crystal Palace Restaurant. The building’s deign is right at home on turn of the century Main Street, but it also resembles the architecture of the English Colonization period of Africa and Asia.
Did you know? Adventureland represents parts of Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa.
Bridges and arches are commonly used throughout the Walt Disney World to make theme transitions. Can you find the others? Hint: Look for them in Pirates of the Caribbean and it's a small world.
Trees and plants gradually begin to change from typical North American foliage on Main Street USA to thick, broad leaf jungle plants for Adventureland. The transition is seamless and goes unnoticed to most guests.
Swiss Family Treehouse Tour the Robinson's treehouse home
- Here you’ll find only Magic Kingdom attraction that flies a non-American flag - The Swiss Flag is flown here of course.
- The tree is modeled after the tropical Banyan tree, famous for growing long vertical limbs to support its large branches.
- Made of concrete and steel, the Swiss Family Treehouse is 60 ft. tall and 90 ft. in diameter. There are 116 steps and 300,000 vinyl leaves. Each leaf was handmade at a cost $1 each.
Magic Carpets of Aladdin Fly over Agrabah in a flying carpet
- Watch for the spitting camels who like to catch unsuspecting guests off guard. The camels used to be located in MGM studios until Aladdin was added to the Magic Kingdom in 2001.
- Look for the pieces of tile embedded into the pavement around the Aladdin attraction. They are from a building that was taken down to make room for Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Disney Imagineers often leave behind small reminders of prior attractions.
Jungle Cruise Humorous safari boat tour
- Water for the Jungle Cruise comes from a canal behind the Magic Kingdom that empties out near Cinderella Castle. The water is dyed green to hide the track work and control systems but the dye is natural and biodegradable.
- Jungle Cruise boats follow a track and are powered by compressed natural gas.
- A radio broadcast can be heard in the queue area that sets the stage for guests. Listen carefully for the numerous jokes and a reference to “Mickey Mouse” during the song “You’re the Top.”
- Walt had so much success with his True-Life Adventure films, he wanted to use real animals in the Jungle Cruise attraction.
- The original boats had pristine paint jobs, but this was later thought to be unrealistic for a true jungle environment.
Pirates of the Caribbean Sail with the wildes crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main
- The Pirates of the Caribbean attraction did not exist on opening day in 1971 because Imagineers felt Florida's proximity to the Caribbean would be of disinterest to the guests.
- The Disneyland version, completed in 1967, was the last attraction Walt supervised before his passing.
- Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean was originally designed as a walk-through attraction with pirates made of wax. When Walt Disney created attractions for the 1964 World’s Fair, a new ride system was developed that used boats. This technology was then used on Pirates.
- As you enter the building, choose the line to the right. You’ll pass two imprisoned pirates playing chess. Look closely at the chess board. Either player's turn would result in a never ending series of moves. Show designer Marc Davis, and avid chess player, personally designed the board this way. Guests might infer that these two have been playing this game for some time, given their present condition.
- Soon after sailing off on adventure, you’ll come to a gentle waterfall. While it’s all part of the fun, the purpose for this drop is to get the boats under the Walt Disney World Railroad tracks. Pirates of the Caribbean is located in a massive ride building located on the other side of the tracks.
The Enchanted Tiki Room Audio-Animatronic Stage Show
- Originally, the Enchanted Tiki Room was was drawn to be a restaurant for a Chinatown section on Main St., USA. The Audio-animatronics birds would entertain guests while they dined.
- Notice the rooftop of the Enchanted Tiki Room. The animals on the roof can be seen from both, Adventureland and Frontierland. On the Adventureland side the animals appear as Asian water buffalo but from Frontierland they are recognized as western longhorn cows. The same animal fits in both lands without interrupting their setting.
- The original Enchanted Tiki Room was one of Walt Disney's favorite attractions. He got the idea on a trip to New Orleans when he saw a mechanical bird in a cage. From that, the very first Disney Audio-Animatronics were born.
- A decline in show attendance caused Imagineers to revise the attraction in 1998 becoming the Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management. However, in August 2011, Walt Disney Imagineering brought back the original show.
