Today In Disney History ~ April 17th
The Sunshine Tree Terrace is a counter-service refreshment bar located in Adventureland at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, serving snacks, beverages and frozen treats, such as the Citrus Swirl. It is also the home of the Orange Bird.
On March 12, 2015, Aloha Isle Refreshments relocated from the current Sunshine Tree Terrace location to its former location of 44 years.
The Orange Bird is a character created by Disney for the Florida Citrus Commission as a mascot and has been a prominently featured character in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland at the Sunshine Tree Terrace located near Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
The Orange Bird was created in 1970 as a mascot for the Florida Citrus Commission in exchange for them sponsoring the Tiki Room attraction at Magic Kingdom. Accompanied by singer Anita Bryant, the two appeared in ads for Florida oranges and Bryant narrated a record album telling the character’s story. After the Anita Bryant ad campaign was dropped in the late 70s, the Orange Bird had a solo career and appeared in a few educational shorts in the 1980s such as Foods and Fun: A Nutrition Adventure and The Orange Bird and the Nutrition Bandwagon. Eventually, the bird would fade into obscurity when Disney and the FCC severed their ties in 1987.
Years later, at Tokyo Disneyland in 2004, the Orange Bird would experience a revival as the Japanese became infatuated with the character and the character received a lot of merchandising to coincide with Japan’s annual Orange Day on April 14th of that year. The Orange Bird soon returned to appearing regularly on merchandise in the US as well.
Eventually, on April 17, 2012, the Orange Bird made a proper return to the Sunshine Tree Terrace.
TMSM Today in Graphic by Sherry Rinaldi DeHart; Wiki
Michele also contributes theme park news for Fox 35 Orlando 11pm news and on the radio on WDBO.
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