Where Did the Orange Bird Come From?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- The Orange Bird. What a cute little character. If you keep an eye open you can usually spot this bird over in Adventureland, and these days you can definitely spot the Orange Bird on countless pieces of Disney merchandise, from key-chains to magic bands to even dresses. That said many guests, especially younger ones, might be wondering “Just who is the Orange Bird, and where did he come from?”
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To find out we have to go back to 1969, just two years before the opening of Walt Disney World. Like much of the park, and like most of Disneyland over in California, Disney planned to use corporate sponsorships to help pay for the construction and upkeep of attractions.
One organization that was eager and willing to work with Disney was the Florida Citrus Commision, a board of appointed representatives of the state’s citrus growers, processors and packers. However they couldn’t really figure out what, exactly, to sponsor. There weren’t any rides or attractions that felt like a perfect fit. So at Disney’s suggestion they sponsored the closest fit which was the tropical themed Enchanted Tiki Room.
For $3 million dollars and a ten year commitment, the Florida Citrus Commision would sponsor the attraction, along with a connected juice bar that would sell orange juice and other snacks. As part of the sponsorship the attraction, which was named “Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room” over in Disneyland would be renamed to the “Tropical Serenade” in the Magic Kingdom. This name would stick around until 1997 when it was eventually replaced with the “Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management”. The juice bar would be named the Sunshine Tree Terrace, and it’d would operate there for 44 years before switching locations with Aloha Isle Refreshments which was also in Adventureland.
The sponsorship would also call for one more thing. The Citrus Commission wanted some kind of character identifier with Disney that they could use for not only the park and juice bar, but also at events outside of The Magic Kingdom. Disney, however, was not about to let any of their iconic characters be used for that representation. They were very protective of that kind of thing. So instead Disney, opted to design a new character and mascot from scratch, and so the Orange Bird was born.
The character wasn’t wildly popular or anything, but the Orange Bird did well for himself all things considered. He could be found as a walk-around character in Adventureland near the Sunshine Tree Terrace. A cartoon version of the Orange Bird was also featured in commercials and two educational films, one called “Foods and Fun: A Nutrition Adventure” and the other being “The Orange Bird and the Nutrition Bandwagon.” There was even a record put out with songs written by the famous Sherman Brothers and performed by Anita Bryant that told the story of the Orange Bird.
Everything was just peachy, but it also turned out to be pricey for the Florida Citrus Commision. Since Disney owned the rights to the Orange Bird, they had to pay a fee for every appearance the bird made. On top of that when the sponsorship was renewed after the initial ten years, the rate for the sponsorship went up from $150,000 a year to $190,000 a year. Additionally they paid another $135,000 for a second juice bar in Fantasyland.
Ultimately the two bars wouldn’t end up selling enough snacks to make up the costs of the sponsorship.
So in 1987 when the sponsorship extension reached its end, the Florida Citrus Commision decided not to renew, and with the loss of the sponsorship came a loss of the Orange Bird. For 17 years the mascot wasn’t much but a memory for those who visited in the 70s and 80s. Then in 2004, in Japan of all places, the Orange Bird made a comeback.
Merchandise for the character was made for Tokyo Disneyland and guests loved it. They took to the cuteness of the character. The Orange Bird merch also made for a great gift for Orange Day, which took place on April 14th in Japan. Similar to Valentine’s Day, it was a holiday in which couples exchanged gifts, usually orange in color or in some cases literal oranges.
The character eventually found its way back to the states and by 2012 the Orange Bird was once again a featured character of the Sunshine Tree Terrace. Since then, his popularity has only grown, with all sorts of Orange Bird merch being introduced. The Orange Bird even made a cameo appearance in the 2016 comic book series “Disney Kingdoms: Enchanted Tiki Room”.
My mom loves that he's back, as a child she always wanted one of the cups shaped like the orange bird's head but her mom would never buy her one. First chance she got after his return she fulfilled a childhood desire and got one. I'm happy for that.
Shoulderpads-mcgee my mom is the reason i love the orange bird as well! We buy every new piece of metch that comes out
My sister and me danced with the Orange Bird in the early-mid 70s (we were 12ish), the bird then walked us over to the Sunshine Tree Terrace counter and gave us an Orange Slush drink! To this day (45+ years later) I NEVER go to WDW without getting an orange Slush in Adventureland! Wonderful memories!!
Huh, I have vague childhood memories of the bird in ads for Floridana juices in the mid 90's when the deal with disney was long finished. Granted, the ads were in Iceland so maybe it's just remnants of the disney deal. There's no floridana bird in iceland now sadly. I really liked him as a mascot.
I think the sponsorship was a success. Just watching this video I am being strongly pulled to get orange juice.
The Orange Bird is one of best character designs ever.
He's just so cute! How could anyone not love him?
My little orange bird pal. When I was a kid the Orange Bird would come out and greet the kids at the Sunshine Tree Terrace. It's very unique to Florida and for WDW. Great vid Rob!
I love him i have 4 pins
My sister and me danced with the Orange Bird in the early-mid 70s (we were 12ish), the bird then walked us over to the Sunshine Tree Terrace counter and gave us an Orange Slush drink! To this day (45+ years later) I NEVER go to WDW without getting an orange Slush in Adventureland! Wonderful memories!!
When I got a pin lot I had an orange bird and never really thought much of it, but I'm so glad I know the history now! Great video.
Wotso Videos me two never thought they were so rare until I saw the sign at the park
They recently made a FunkoPop! Figure of him recently but that was how I learned about him
Not a huge fan of Funko Pop but as they character kind of already looks like one I guess it works lol.
the orange bird is adorable!!! i'm glad he's making a comeback!
So Disney wouldn't let the Florida Citrus Commission use their iconic characters to represent their juice but let the Florida Citrus Canners Cooperative use Donald Duck for their juice? That must have been an awkward meeting.
Shake The Box My thoughts exactly
😂
love this! I did the Keys to the Kingdom tour in Magic Kingdom a few years ago and they mentioned this but I didn't really know who the orange bird was at the time. Glad to have the full story :)
How do you not have a million subscribers?! Your videos are so well researched and informative! Very well done, as always!
Thanks for the kind words!
That orange bird is soooo cute 🍊🍊🍊
Everything was just peachy, smh good one 😂😂😂
Also, I hadn't actually realized that the Dole Whip and Citrus Swirl stands switched places (I never made a point of visiting either until after the change), but now that you mention it, it makes sense--I'd always vaguely associated the Orange Bird with the spot where Aloha Isle is now.
I wasn't very familiar with the Orange Bird. Great video! Do you know if the Orange Bird ever shows up in parades or shows?
Nope. Not to my knowledge. As far as walk-around characters it seemed like he was more or less contained within Adventureland and today he's basically just in cartoon form. I wasn't able to find anything about him being used in parades.
Totally remember this little guy as a kid - I noticed that the large figurine over the Sunshine Terrace came back a few years ago... it's funny how he had helped liven up that little corner of the park. Oh, I wish you'd also made mention of the wonderful orange-and-vanilla ice cream swirl dessert they serve at that shop! Unlike the Dole Whip, it appeared to me that they made it with actual oranges (well, in the past they sure did).
Orange Bird also had at least one comic book in the 80's, I know because I remember reading it over and over and over when I was a kid.
Not just a Disney icon...a FLORIDA icon! And, it should be noted, little OB made appearances in the Miami Orange Bowl Parade; whether as a costumed character, or a parade float motif. Either way, just the sight of the little guy makes me crave all things orange: slices, juice, gumdrops, Tic-Tac candies, popsicles, etc. The Disneyland Records story & songs album was one of the first my parents bought for me as a 5-year-old kid. I even got a plushie of him perched in the middle branches of our living room Christmas tree. So to me, OB ranks right up there with Winnie the Pooh. (Hmm, would honey with oranges? Think-think-think...)
He's now a funko pop, exclusive to Disney World which was released on September 8th. Sold out fast. Woke up at 5am to get him in Disney Springs at 10am. Luckily I was on vacation so I was staying close to Disney Springs and I'm so glad to have him in my collection.
Got two figures of this cutie in a little baggie of vintage toys I bought from an antique shop, thank you for the video it's nice to find out who he is!
Hah! Great video. Was in the process of researching this topic for a video. Great stuff as always!
My boyfriend's mom had like a plastic cup of this character with a straw and I had never heard of this bird so thank you
That was from the flower and garden festival of 2018
No guys the orange bird looks kind of like Pablo from The Backyardigans but except he's Orange
tbh I didn't know about the orange bird until about two months ago when I moved to Florida from Southern California .. its weird but I think its really cute and it makes sense to me mostly because wdw is in Orange County and dlr is also in Orange County and both states are known for oranges
As a Californian, I was never aware of the Orange Bird in Orlando. Thank you for this, I really enjoyed it. But, can you explain why Duffy the Bear is so big in CA now? I've tried to figure it out, maybe I'm just not researching enough
johnnygrrl I believe that it Duffy is Mickey Mouse's teddy bear, also became really huge in Japan and now is being introduced stateside I guess, very similar to the Orange Bird
You never saw the NATIONALLY broadcast ads or had the album?
I went to Not So Scary as Orange Bird the week before last!
my grandma had a lot of items with the orange bird on it from the 70's and early 80's. Living in Florida we saw it all over "outside Disney" A local orange farm in Clearwater Florida had shirts ,cups and shot glasses for tourist . Most items had a type of Disney logo on them. My school in 2nd grade had a Orange day and someone came dressed up as the Orange bird from a orange juice company. I really forgot it about until I saw this video. I guess I grew up with the bird being a part of Florida orange juice/farmers companies so it never really seem like that big of deal. My sister ended up with all my grandma's collections . So today would this items be rare Disney things or more part of Florida OJ ? LOL
ahhh! 😍 omggg, orange bird is so dang cute! every time i see him i just wanna squeeze him, no pun intended! haha. he really did spark my interest into all things related to disney parks' past, plenty of which i've learned from you Rob :) now really is orange bird's time to shine and i'm so happy he's finally getting the respect & adoration he deserves! lol 🧡
Agreed...At Calif.,I was able to see the 1971 TV ads.
I love that little orange bird. Fell in love with him when that set of pins came out and think he's freaking adorable. I wish they had MORE merch with him on it, but the fact that they have as much as they do is kind of amazing.
I went to Disney world back in 2014 and I got a Orange bird magnet. I didn’t know who he was , but I thought he was cute . He has a Mickey Mouse hate on and says squeeze me! It says Disney and Florida to me . Now I know who is thanks you. My family and I are going back to Disney World in January I’ll be on the lookout for him .
Thanks for this one I really enjoyed watching it ... I always wondered about that little bird.
I'm from Peru and started going to Disney World 3 years ago. As oranges seemed to be the symbol of the state, I assumed that the bird was like a Disney mascot for Florida XD
Does anyone know where I can find the Orange Bird and the Nutrition Bandwagon educational short?
Excellent video Rob! I notice you sidestepped the Anita Bryant controversy. I like the song a lot but would love to have a new version from a different singer.
Agreed on the new song and yeah, I was a bit torn on whether or not to write about it. I ultimately figured since it was more about Orange Bird specifically than the sponsorship as a whole I'd leave it out to keep the video more to the point.
yea it really sucks that the Orange Bird is associated with her :-/ makes talking about his history a little awkward. Good choice to just acknowledge but not elaborate on her too much. Great video, the Orange Bird is my favorite
I freaking love orange bird
Does anyone else have weird suggestions on this video? Half of the suggested videos are toy videos... I mainly watch gaming and vlog type sfuff
Alex Kring its because of what he titled the video and what the youtube algorithm suggests due to it
Alex Kring same
Everything was PEACHY? I thought it was an _ORANGE_ Bird!
I had no idea what the Orange Bird even was.
ok... this video keeps popping up in my feed... tell me about the orange bloody bird.
Never underestimate Japan's obsession with cute characters.
Once again, thanks for the informative and entertaining video, Rob Plays. You tend to find the corners of my love for Disney that I didn't know about and bring them forward. Can't wait to get me some Orange Bird merch!
Thanks for this. I thought the little guy was from Alice in Wonderland for some reason.
I bought an orange bird Creamsicle in the Canada pavilion at the Epcot international flower and Garden Festival. Is this the same orange bird?
Thanks. A couple years I went to Disney, I kept seeing the dress with the orange bird. I was wondering what's up with the cute bird. Thanks Rob.
The orange bird is super cute!
i had that record as a kid, the first record i ever owned. thanks for the history lesson!
I have always wondered where he came from. All I knew is that he was to represent Florida Citrus stuff, but I had no idea about the deals and the birds' citrus-themed snack bar. These videos just keep on coming and I am blown away every time; I always learn something new.
Thank you for this. He's so adorable but I never knew his story.
I love the Orange Bird- unfortunately it's bittersweet because the character and partnership were a sign of how healthy and robust the citrus industry in Florida (especially around Orlando) was back when Disney World was built. Now the citrus industry is floundering as most of the trees in the state are dying of greening disease. The groves that used to be around Orlando (and surrounded WDW in its early days) are all but completely gone thanks to severe freezes in the 1980's which killed many trees and drove farmers out of business. And today, any remaining groves that survived the freezes are being finished off by the greening disease. It has opened the land up to greedy developers who have built wall to wall houses and business on the once beautiful land. Now any remaining citrus groves, farms, or any rural land for that matter near Orlando is being paved over as more hordes of people move to the area each year.
It's actually amazing at how long the land on the west and north side of WDW remained undeveloped. Only just recently, most of that remaining land which was once citrus groves is finally being developed. On the west side, they are making it into a huge residential community called "Horizon West." While WDW still has a lot of green belt that they own, they are quickly becoming completely surrounded by development.
I was laughing the entire video because I still have no idea what orange bird is and after seeing it in magic kingdom I just give up and accepted the new character. This is a neat little tidbit on that small part of Disney and it's products on shelves now!
Thank you Rob! My first Disney World trip is this Saturday (9/23/17) and I am very grateful for this video! Adventureland is my favorite part of Disneyland yet Orange Bird was always a mystery to me... but now I'll be prepared when I visit Florida in a few days!
Nice! Have a fantastic trip!
For years, I knew nothing about him. I remember the Enchanted Tiki Room as a kid, but not the Orange Bird. Then a year and a half ago, I started working for Disney's Epcot. When Flower & Garden Festival came rolling around, I discovered the Orange Bird. I fell in love immediately. He's just so absolutely adorable and warms my heart. 💓🍊🐦
I just bought the Funko Orange Bird because I'm a big Disney fan and he is fantastic. Seeing this video brought back a lot of memories of him. Thanks
Back in the mid 70s the Orange Bird danced with my sister and I (we were around 12) then walked us over to the counter at the Sunshine Tree Terrace and gave us an Orange Slush drink! To this day (45+ years later) I NEVER go to WDW without getting an OrangeSlush at Adventureland! I recall back in the 70s once we also saw Anita Bryant film an OJ commercial at the Sunshine Tree Terrace..
I never heard about the orange bird before I watch this video but I have heard of an other bird Disney made the aracuan bird😁
I have never been out of California let alone to Walt Disney World but have an annual pass to Disneyland and lately the Orange Bird is everywhere! I never knew why
My niece ask me where it came from I just said because Florida goes oranges 🍊, and he became the character of the Florida parks, LOL 😂 if your ever at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival get the orange bird sipper drink it’s so good!
Thanks Rob always an enjoyable video vlog
Thanks!
UH Donald Duck Orange Juice was prior to orange bird and still going strong. And the contract forbade use of Disney Chars. There for Orange Bird.
Could you do something about Donald Duck orange juice please?
How did Donald Duck Orange juice come about?
From the thumbnail, I thought it was a new Backyardigans character.
Oh yeah, I saw an Orange Bird pin
Love to here a history of Duffy and why he's suddenly everywhere at some parks.
I actually worked at Sunshine Tree Terrace and the bird was gone. Back then I didn't know what it was but when cleaning I found the pneumatic lines for him in the tree and the control box in the kitchen.
Wow! I ave never heard of this lil bird! Cool vid! Ive never seen him here at Disneyland. I may have to do some research! Thanks!
Isn't the orange bird also used in the Disney singalong
Wow! I, too, wondered who that darn Orange Bird was when I started seeing him on merchandise at WDW several years ago. Paul, your thoroughly researched vlog on the Orange Bird makes me not only a fan of the O.B., but a fan of you! Now to watch all your videos.
Hey, have you ever thought about doing a vlog on Kenny Ortega? I find his directorial history with Disney fascinating. He directed both "Newsies" and "Hocus Pocus", released in 1992 and 1993 respectively, and both bombed at the box office. He then went on to direct the monster Disney Channel smash "High School Musical." And his two early 'failures'? Well "Newsies" and "Hocus Pocus" have such strong cult followings that Disney finally brought "Newsies" to Broadway to great box office success and "Hocus Pocus" is now a Halloween staple and celebrated at the Magic Kingdom during MNSSHP. I would love you to delve into this story! Pleeeeze???
4:20 yeah no wonder
My favorite character! Well, top 5
interesting I always thought it was just a thing in disney world
How have a never heard of this character. They're right up my alley.
Someone's been reading Realityland again.
I wouldn't called the orange bird a "cult character. "
Probably the cutest Disney chars
what is that song in the background on this video?
He's so super duper cute!!!
Thanks for clearing things up!
Man didn't touch on any of the lgbtqphobia
Lol the disneyland sponsorship (which is dole) sells one of the best things probably being sold in a disney park. DOLE WHIP. ITS SO GOOD
WDW sells Dole Whips too... Ironically it switched places with Florida Citrus from Aloha Isle which was a smaller stand because Dole sold more...
I love the Orange Bird!!
Florida Orange Commission...Orange Bird...AH, now I get why I've never seen him in all my visits to Disneyland (native Californian, never been to WDW). Surprised he didn't make any appearances in Disneyland back then. Y'know, they grow oranges in California too (then again, Dole had the Tiki Room tied up there).
Although oranges and orange juice give me migraines, I have fond memories of the Orange Bird from visiting WDW as a child. His cuteness leaves me conflicted. 😀
So the orange bird that people obsess over was born out of...orange juice...huh. (also the furry character version of him is TERRIFYING)
orange bird is so stinkin cute
Great video, I am a Funko Pop collector and they just released this character I'm a huge Disney fan but wasn't sure where the Orange Bird came from. This helped filling me in thanks
he's outrageously cute!
This solved so many questions 😂
First! Love when these come out!
They have a Funko pop of him now
Interesting Disney writer in this-Orange Bird in Nutrition Adventures (1980) is a 32-page comic book with three separate stories written by Diana Gabaldon and drawn by Tony Strobl. Diana Gabaldon is the writer of the Outlander series-definitely a not for Disney series.
Rob Plays, Why has Disney not introduced Oswald the Lucky rabbit in to any of its parks?
They have. There's a growing representations of Oswald via merch throughout the parks and he's a meet and greet character at Disney's California Adventure.
Having now learned about the Orange Bird I want to know the history of the other Disney bird associated with Florida Orange Juice. Can you do an episode on Donald Duck Orange Juice?
With no context, I fell in love with this fantastic little bird as soon as I saw him. I hunted down the Orange Bird Bigfeet Plush online after failing miserably to find it in the parks. I have him now and his name is Juice and I love him.
Me: (sees someone with an orange bird dress) I like your orange bird dress
Dad: who the hell is the orange bird
How about doing something on the airstrip just outside the Magic Kingdom parking lot that is now used as a parking lot itself?
Does anyone know who the artist is who first drew/created the Orange Bird?
I found it: Don McLaughlin 1970
I love orange bird and was sad not to be able to see him on my trip to Disney world,in august. Sunshine terrace was closed for Reno and yet it just went through one to reintroduce orange bird. I hope he is not disappearing again.
Sub 1k club lol