It’s Springtime at Walt Disney World! With Spring comes the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival and pops of color throughout the parks. New merchandise with favorite characters dressed in springy fashions and old favorites return. One of those favorites is Orange Bird! He’s a sunny little fellow with an orange for a head and green leaves for wings. Unable to utter a sound, the Orange Bird makes his cheery thoughts appear above his head in puffs of orange smoke. But where did this iconic character come from? Let’s turn the character spotlight on Orange Bird.
History
Development
Orange Bird was an original character created for the Magic Kingdom park in 1971. The animated orange canary was first created in 1969 and debuted in 1970 as a mascot for the Florida Citrus Commission. This was in exchange for them sponsoring the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction and Sunshine Tree Terrace at the 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. 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 returned home to the Sunshine Tree Terrace where his beaming smile can be seen today.
Background
The Orange Bird is a small bird resembling an orange, or possibly an orange with the features of a bird. Regardless, the Orange Bird used to live up north in the United States before deciding to migrate to Florida for its high quantity of citrus to eat. It would come to live in the Sunshine Tree of Adventureland. Unlike other birds, the Orange Bird is incapable of singing or speaking and instead communicates with orange-colored thought bubbles. He is mocked by other birds as a result of this and Orange Bird generally looks for friends wherever he goes.
Appearances
Disney Parks
Meet ‘n’ Greet
The Orange Bird appeared at Magic Kingdom as a walk-around character during that park’s first decade. He would often be found roaming Adventureland, outside the Enchanted Tiki Room.
Sunshine Tree Terrace
A figure of the character is perched in a spot behind the counters of the Sunshine Tree Terrace, which has since been restored to the location after having spent years in the Disney Archives. In honor of the return of Orange Bird, the Citrus Swirl was added to the menu. This tasty treat is a swirl of frozen orange juice slushy and vanilla soft-serve ice cream. It’s like sipping on sunshine with a bit of a punch! Much like the Dole Whip, the Citrus Swirl can be ordered a couple of ways: the traditional Citrus Swirl in a cup or a float with Orange Soda.
Skipper Canteen
In the Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen there is a book called Native Orange Birds of the Southeastern United States by Dr. Sid Truss. This is an allusion to the Orange Bird with Dr. Sid Truss being a play on the word, “Citrus” to reference the Florida Citrus Commission.
Trader Sam’s
A figure of the Orange Bird appears in Trader Sam’s Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel.
Magic of Disney Animation
The Minnie Mouse meet ‘n’ greet area in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is decorated with posters of Minnie’s filmography. One poster is called “Mouse Pacific” with is holding the likeness of the Enchanted Tiki Room. Also featured on this poster is the Orange Bird flying over the film logo while also being listed as a cast-member.
Merchandise
Orange Bird merchandise can be found in retail locations at both Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort, despite the fact that the character otherwise never appeared at the latter. The Orange Bird has a known presence in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom, but has also played a prominent figure in festivals at EPCOT in recent years. The character will once again get its own sipper cup at the Taste of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival beginning Wednesday, March 3. The popular sipper can be found at the the Citrus Blossom food kitchen in Showcase Plaza. He is also featured on the newest spirit jersey, tees, hats, pins and even the collectible Funko Pop! series.
Murals
Orange Bird inspired wall at Disney Springs: you’ve probably noticed Disney Springs has a mural dedicated to our favorite Orange Bird and it’s my new favorite photo opp. While this wall mural is fairly new, Orange Bird is no stranger to Disney Springs. In the 1970s, he had his own pavilion at Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village (at what is now Disney’s Pin Traders) displaying Florida fresh citrus. You’ll spot this mural located just around the corner from Erin McKenna’s Bakery. If you get the chance to visit, make sure to get your selfie and photos with your main squeeze!
Magic Kingdom mural: Walt Disney World debuted a new mural to its famous character, the Orange Bird, on March 2, 2021. The new artwork was painted onto the side of the Sunshine Tree Terrace. This is the home of the famous character as well as the delicious citrus dole whip floats. Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley said on Instagram (@thezachriddley) that the mural was designed in Florida by Sr. Concept Designer Chris Gardner, and painted by artist Abdul Delgado. It now joins the ranks of the famous “Instagram walls” throughout the parks.
Animated Shorts
- Foods and Fun: A Nutrition Adventure
- The Orange Bird and the Nutrition Bandwagon
Printed Material
“The Story of the Orange Bird” book and record
This Disneyland Records album was released around the time of the Orange Bird’s creation. The record was accompanied by an illustrated book. The record and book tell the character’s story, with Anita Bryant narrating.
Bing Bong Book
Orange Bird appeared on a page in the Inside Out book, The Bing Bong Book.
Disney Kingdoms
The Orange Bird appears in [Disney Kingdoms: Enchanted Tiki Room]]. Initially a cameo as a stuffed animal in the first issue, the Orange Bird appears in the flesh in the second issue, where he offers to fill in for Jose after he decided to quit. His inability to actually sing results in him being turned down, but the macaws are thankful for his offer anyways. In issue three, Wally meets the Orange Bird while strolling through the island and sees him as a Guardian Angel to help him with his troubles. However, he is not very good at interpreting the Orange Bird’s picture bubbles, leading him to make bad decisions. In the final issue, the Orange Bird offers Saoirse the simple wordless advice of actually talking to her father and creates tickets for a stay on the Enchanted Tiki Room island for her and her father to help bond.
Thoughts
Now that you know everything you need to about Orange Bird, can you imagine a Disney without him? He is a celebrity in our eyes and we love everything about him. Orange Bird is the first of many “character spotlight on” to come. Next month, in keeping with the Springtime spirit, we will turn the spotlight on Spike the Bee. Let us know what you think of this post series. Do you like learning the history of Disney characters and icons? Is there a specific one you would like us to feature? Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.