If you have been to the Sunshine Tree Terrace or have walked in Adventureland, you may have noticed the Florida Orange Bird featured on the sign or in a shop.
But who is this cute little orange bird?
While not featured in any major Disney films, the Florida Orange Bird has a long history tied to Disney World and the state of Florida.
We’ll dive into how the Florida Orange Bird came into existence and how he is still being featured and remembered in the parks today.
History of the Florida Orange Bird
With the building of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Disney formed corporate sponsorships to help fund the park and cross-promote both the brand and park opening. One of these partnerships was with the Florida Citrus Commission. The FCC would sponsor what is now the Enchanted Tiki Room and Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland. At the time this was known as the Sunshine Pavilion.
In exchange for the sponsorship, the Florida Orange Bird was created in 1970.
He became a character you could take pictures within the parks and was also featured on billboards, radio and television spots, and newspapers to promote both Disney World and the Florida Citrus Commission’s aim to sell orange juice. The Florida Orange Bird was accompanied alongside singer Anita Bryant to promote his story with ads, an illustrated book, and a recorded album narrated by the singer.
One of the most popular ties to the Disney Orange Bird was the Citrus Swirl at the Sunshine Tree Terrace. This treat featured a swirl of vanilla ice cream and orange-flavored slush. While you can find it today at the location, it disappeared with the end of the partnership for many years.
The Florida Orange Bird Story
The Orange Bird is known for his cute small canary body with an orange for a head and green leaves for wings.
What makes him different from other animated bird characters is his inability to speak or make any sounds. To communicate, clouds of orange smoke would appear with text inside.
On the album, we learn that the Florida Orange Bird heads south by himself and becomes part of a family that is on vacation. He saves their lives and becomes a hero!
A catchy song about his cheery appearance and disposition became his theme song and was featured in ads throughout Florida. His home became the perch at the Sunshine Tree Pavilion in Disney World. This was the only place you could meet him and take pictures with the iconic character,
He became an icon associated with Florida citrus at the time as he was tied to all Florida Citrus Commission advertising. The Bird was a featured character in a wide variety of promotional avenues until the partnership fizzled by the end of the 1980s.
The Legacy of the Florida Orange Bird
After the partnership between Disney and the Florida Citrus Commission ended, the Florida Orange Bird began to disappear from the parks. The Sunshine Pavilion began seeing changes with new partnerships and designs in Adventureland. It was very difficult to find any traces of the Orange Bird from the 1990s to the early 2000s.
The first place to experience a revival of the Florida Orange Bird was at Tokyo Disneyland in 2004. The Florida Orange Bird became a popular character that launched a wave of merchandise and paid homage to the character of the 70s and 80s.
Throughout the past few years, there have been Orange Bird ears, Orange bird dresses, Orange Bird sippy cups, and Orange Bird pillows. There have been numerous Dooney and Burke Orange Bird Handbags as well!
Fortunately, Disney brought back the Orange Bird in 2012 to commemorate its important history to the early days of the park. While the Sunshine Tree Terrace is no longer in its original location, the sign again features the Orange Bird. His figure can be found behind the counter as you are ordering your Citrus Swirl.
Disney has made additional efforts to bring back the Florida Orange Bird as a feature of Adventureland and Walt Disney World with commemorative merchandise, detailing on signage, and reinstating the mascot as part of Disney World’s history.
Finding Disney Orange Bird
These are some of the places you can find the Florida Orange Bird in the Disney Parks:
- Sunshine Tree Terrace: Behind the counter is a figure that was featured in the original shop, Florida Orange Bird commemorative cups, the shop sign, and the delicious Citrus Swirl.
- Main Street USA: One of the vintage posters featured in the tunnels to Main Street USA shows the Sunshine Tree Terrace with the Florida Orange Bird on the poster.
- Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival: Merchandise has been featured at this festival for the 25th anniversary to commemorate the character. (Hello new Orange Bird Mickey ears!!)
- Disney World shops: You can find Orange Bird merchandise in various locations in Disney Springs and Epcot. Mouse Gear in Epcot has featured many of these cute items. They go fast, so if you see it, grab it!
- Disney Springs murals: You can find a Florida Citrus mural in Disney Springs (a great photo opportunity) featuring oranges and the Florida Orange Bird himself. There is also one inside World of Disney.
Think Orange Thoughts
It would appear that the Florida Orange Bird has found a permanent home in Adventureland. You’ll be able to see him as well as purchase related merchandise throughout the parks and online.
You can even find Orange Bird merch at Disneyland in Anaheim. Although, the park has no direct connection to the character or its history.
Many of the promotional and advertising items are also featured at museums throughout the state of Florida to commemorate the citrus industry and his cultural significance. His rebirth of popularity prompted these displays, which can be found at the Orange County Regional History Museum and in the McKay Archives at Florida Southern College.
Final Thoughts
Now that the Florida Orange Bird is back in the park, guests can enjoy another piece of the WDW history. For those that visited the parks in the 70s and 80s, he brings back a Disney World tied with nostalgia. For new visitors, they can learn about the rich history of Disney and its vintage characters.
Of course, always think orange thoughts!
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