IIn 1963, a new form of life emerged from the jungles of Adventureland: audio-animatronic. The Enchanted Tiki Room opened, with 150 Polynesian plants, birds, and Tiki figures all performing to delight the audience. Previously, the animals seen in the attractions like The Jungle Cruise and Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland were limited to simple, mechanical movement loops. The birds of The Tiki Room could not only sing, but also turn their heads and look around, and even puff up their chests as they took a deep breath to hit a high note. The Enchanted Tiki Room represents a very unusual arrangement between Walt Disney and Disneyland. Initially, the Tiki Room was owned by Disney through WED Enterprises and his personal management company, RETLAW (Walter spelled backwards). He funded the project independently through WED (whenever Disney’s ideas grew too fast to go through the normal studio red tape, he simply did it himself). For the first several years, a separate ticket had to be purchased directly from the Tiki Room ticket booth which repaid the WED investment. WED in turn, actually rented space within Disneyland to operate the attraction. The Tiki Room was an immediate hit, and commanded its own 75¢ admission ticket at a time when the adult Main Entrance ticket cost just $1.60.
334. ORIGINAL ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM ATTRACTION POSTER. (Disneyland, 1963) A stunning and very rare original hand-silkscreened color poster for the Disneyland Enchanted Tiki Room attraction. Measuring 36 x 54 in. with bright and vivid colors and striking imagery. In vintage fine condition. Unexamined out of frame. $10,000-$12,000
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