Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room: Before the Birds Sang Words by Ken Bruce

“I keep telling you, this isn’t a few birds! ~ Melanie Daniels, “The Birds” (1963)

If I were to choose one attraction at Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland that captures the imagination, showmanship, and storytelling genius of Walt Disney, it would be Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. This attraction is so significant in the history of Imagineering and Disney parks it bears Walt Disney’s name.

The definitive history of the Enchanted Tiki Room has been written by Ken Bruce in his book Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room: Before the Birds Sang Words. This book is not limited to just detailing the development and construction of the Tiki Room. Ken starts at the very beginning with Walt’s youthful experiences that influenced his genius.

Ken walks us through the birth of audio-animatronics and the events that led to the early concepts for a restaurant featuring audio-animatronic birds. Like everything else Walt conceived of, his creativity and natural talents for showmanship and storytelling expanded beyond the initial plans. However, only Walt knew what those plans were. Ken brilliantly paints a vivid picture of the chaos surrounding the various teams of Imagineers as they worked on their assignments for the Tiki Room project without really knowing what they were working on! Through it all, Walt was able to guide his Imagineers to creating one of the most remarkable and magical attractions that has delighted guests since 1963.

For anyone interested gaining insights into Walt’s creative process and how Imagineering operated in those early pioneering years, then Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room: Before the Birds Sang Words is a must-have for your library.

You can listen to my conversation with Ken Bruce about his book on Connecting with Walt at this link and enjoy some terrific stories about Walt Disney: Connecting with Walt: Before the Birds Sang Words.

Michael Bowling

Michael Bowling is the Disney Historian for The DIS Unlimited and host of the Connecting with Walt Podcast. He lives in Northern California. With his late wife Carol he has two adult children and one granddaughter who shares her grandfather's love of all things Disney. Michael's passion for Disney began during his first visit to Disneyland as a one-year old when some Pixie Dust got into his bloodstream during Tinker Bell's flight over Sleeping Beauty Castle. Since then he has learned all he could about the Disney magic and shares it freely with his students, family, neighbors, co-workers and pretty much anyone who will listen. Michael is a Disneyland and Walt Disney World annual passholder, D23 Gold Charter Member, DVC owner and The Walt Disney Family Museum Charter Member. With his family he has spent time at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, has traveled with Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line, and relaxed at Aulani. Michael has been been able to visit all the Disney Parks with friends he has met through The DIS Unlimited. When Michael is not at the parks or spending time with his family or in his garden, which is filled with Disney topiaries and statues, you can find him at The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco or at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary where he is a docent. Michael enjoys reading about Disney history and learning all he can about Walt Disney and those who make the magic happen for all of us.

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