Orange Bird is back!

[DoctorDalek 7]

The beloved Orange Bird from the Sunshine Tree Terrace has made his official re-debut today... The citrus swirl has made its come back along with the plastic sippy orange bird cups.... There are also a lot of other orange bird themed merch available including the ever needed set or orange ears...

I know I am looking forward to rediscovering this blast from the past... we had those sippy cups for years growing up...

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

Oh yum, I always loved those!!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Cool!!! Anyone got any photos?

[Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo..Karla 77]

Here's a couple links about the return or Orange Bird and they show some of the new Orange Bird merchandise...

http://disneyparks.d...y-world-resort/

http://disneyparks.d...c-kingdom-park/

and here's the citrus swirl...

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/04/citrus-swirl-is-back-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Some more info...

New Orange Bird merchandise has been created for WDW, including t-shirts and pins. More is planned for later this year.

The new t-shirts will be available only from Agrabah Bazaar and Emporium.

Pins will be available from Sunshine Tree Terrace, Agrabah Bazaar, and other pin locations.

A new Orange Bird sipper can be purchased at Sunshine Tree Terrace, filled with the beverage of your choice.

As of now there will not be an Orange Bird character in the parks.

If you are looking for a recording of "The Orange Bird Song" one is available in "D23 Presents Armchair Archivist: The Orange Bird.".

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

More from Orlando Attractions Magazine...

The Orange Bird makes his return at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Apr 172012 Filed under: Disney, Magic Kingdom, Merchandise Posted by: Matt Roseboom

At a Disney D23 fan club event this morning, Disney brought back a long-gone character known as Orange Bird. Here are photos and video from the event.

Orange Bird was created for the Florida Citrus Growers, original sponsors of the Sunshine Tree Terrace and the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction at the Magic Kingdom. Once that sponsorship ended, the Orange Bird “flew away”. But fans haven’t forgotten him.

At this morning’s D23 presentation, Disney imagineers and artists showed off the new sign featuring Orange Bird, new merchandise and the original Orange Bird figure, which has returned after a touch-up.

You can get the whole story in the video of the presentation. Stay tuned to the end to hear the newly rerecorded Orange Bird song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CH7Dw2Lb60

Disney also used to have a walk-around Orange Bird character that met guests in Adventureland, but there are no plans for his to return.

Guests at the park will first encounter Orange Bird in the train station tunnel as they enter.

These sippy cups are now available at the Sunshine Tree Terrace. You can get them filled with orange juice if you’d like. Also returning is a delicious dessert which combines orange and vanilla flavored soft-serve ice cream – the Citrus Swirl.

More new Orange Bird merchandise. The shirts are only available for a limited time.

Disney artist Casey Jones shows off an Orange Bird ear hat. It will be available starting the first week of June.

Here’s more about the Orange Bird on D23′s Armchair Archivist show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv_CGF2kDy0

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I like it!!

[J&J Adventuring..Julia 22]

Love the Orange Bird stuff!!

[ImDownWithDisney 342]

I used to covet my orange bird sippy cup.

[parrothead7368 aka Norm 101]

I have a picture with me and Orange Bird back in 1973 when I was 5. I have to scan it and put it up.

Best Regards,

Norm

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Some cool old Orange Bird stuff from Imagineering Disney. Love the stuff they dig up!!

Part 1 -

Florida Orange Bird

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 2:32PM Posted by Fritz

Take a look some never-before-posted photos of the Florida Orange Bird. Join us in our hunt for additional photos. We know they’re out there!

We’ve had a blast looking at all the great photos people have sent in as part of our Photo Hunt. We were thrilled to receive the following three photos of the Orange Bird costumed character in Adventureland. Notice the two different costumes. One with a smooth head and one with a fur-covered head.

An air vent?

Jennifer Jones submitted this wonderful shot from 1979. And look at that old “Exit Only” Tropical Serenade sign in the background.

When was the costume changed? Or were there always two? Or more? I am led to believe the first lasted until some point between 1974 and 1977, based on the few photographs that exist on the web. It was probably replaced at that point with the second costume– the one with the fur-covered head and the shiny yellow feat. This second version very well could have been a modified version of the original costume.

Meanwhile, the Florida Orange Bird spread his wings in places other than Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland. An additional Orange Bird costume, which most-likely never set foot in Walt Disney World, attended special citrus-related events.

Miss Florida Citrus 1984, Lori Schirard Grubb, was kind enough to send us the following two fantastic photos of herself with the Orange Bird.

Here Lori poses with an inflatable Orange Bird.

Miss Florida Citrus 1986, Rosemarie Payne, sent us this great photo of herself with the same Orange Bird costumed character. Was this taken at a county fair perhaps? Maybe some sort of citrus fair?

Back in Adventureland the Orange Bird and Florida Citrus Queen 1977, Lisa Maile, enjoy the Sunshine Pavilion. Look at that cool Orange Bird lapel pin. "Disney World Plans Citrus Celebration". Do we know anything about that??

Lisa poses with... wait, is that the same inflatable Orange Bird? 7 years earlier?

A big thanks to LuAnn Mims, College Archivist, Florida Souther College and Brenda Eubanks Burnette, Executive Director, Florida Citrus Hall of Fame and everyone who shared photos.

For a comprehensive history of the Florida Orange Bird at Walt Disney World read the Sunshine Tree Terrace page over at the unparalleled Widen Your World.

As indicated above, go find your old Orange Bird photos and send them our way. We promise to make great use of them and share them with lots of fans like yourself. If you find photos of the animatronic version of the Orange Bird you get extra special props. Only one photo of the little robotic bird has ever surfaced on the internet. Read about it on the Widen Your World link above. It's from Ed Barlow who happens to be a fan of this blog too. Hi Ed!

And remember to stop by the Sunshine Tree Terrace and enjoy the recent return of the delicious Citus Swirl.

http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2012/3/20/florida-orange-bird.html

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Part 2 -

Florida Orange Bird [Part 2]

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 9:36PM Posted by Mitch

Just under a month ago we posted some

never-before-shared images

of the fan-favorite Florida Orange Bird. It was said that we doubled the number of Orange Bird photos on the web. Even if that were true, today all of that changed. Not only has Disney been generous enough to share

lots of un-seen history

... they returned the original Orange Bird figure to its home in Magic Kingdom's Sunshine Tree Terrace!

Photo courtesy of Chief and Fresh Roasted Corn.

A D23 mini-event was held this morning and fans were not disappointed. Disney could have released a plastic Orange Bird button and we fans would have been pleased. But they went much further. SADLY none of us here were able to attend. We invited friend of the blog Chief to go in our place. Great images and details from Chief are found over at Fresh Roasted Corn. Something to note: The word "Florida" doesn't seem to be used anymore as part of the "Orange Bird" title.

To add to the killer merchandise and beautiful new Sunshine Tree Terrace decor, a great video was released about how the return of all this orange goodness came about. From this "D23 Presents Armchair Archivists: The Orange Bird" video (watch below), we bring you the following images.

Video of the costumed Orange Bird interacting with guest... EATING CITRUS SWIRL.

Look in the background!! A shot of the animatronic bird. Until hours ago only one other photo existed online.

How wonderful is this old photo of a Sunshine Tree Terrace cast member. Check out the Orange Bird cups and those great old cash registers. Is that a Florida Orange Juice logo on his shirt?? The same one seen on the sticker above? Fun.

Oh those wonderful yellow and orange umbrellas, tables, and chairs. Hey Baloo. Who's that on the far left? King Louie? Check out the "Traders of Timbuktu" sign on the right.

The animatronic Orange Bird!!! In speaking with my pal Hoot Gibson a number of times in the last couple of days I learned a many things about this. Apparently the original 1971 figure was static but stood on a moving swing. This is the same figure restored and reinstalled as part of today's event. Shortly after, a robotic version on a "perch" (below) replaced the swinging bird. This version moved his little leaf wings and his head. Soooo... could there be another Orange Bird out there collecting dust?? Let's hope Hoot shares more on the subject. (Did you know Hoot is largely responsible for increased Orange Bird awareness in recent years? Along with Mike Lee of Widen Your World).

Our Twitter pal Jason Grandt played a huge part in the whole project. Here he shares a little about the restoration of that cute little 1971 original Orange Bird figure which was discovered in a drawer at WDI Glendale!

I believe Kevin Kidney found these shots of the original sculpt. How great is this??

And some behind-the-scenes scenic work. Looks like the scenic shop at the Hollywood Studios backlot.

Even legend Robert Sherman joined in on the action, helping the "MeloD23 Singers" sing a couple of Orange Bird songs that he and his late brother wrote. He also shares some history.

Thanks Melody Dale for hosting. Thanks Steven Vagnini for the history lessons.

Hooray for Becky Cline (Walt Disney Archives Director).

Special contributors the the video include: Richard Sherman, Kevin Kidney, Walt Disney Imagineering, Diego Parras, Jason Grant, Dave Hoffman, the MeloD23 Singers, Jim Wilber, Marshall Bowen, and others. Thanks gang.

Sticker image from Sam Howzit.

Video footage of today's event by Lou Mongello can be found here.

http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2012/4/17/florida-orange-bird-part-2.html

[MinnieMom 4]

I love orange bird! I remember having that sippy cup when I was little.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Excerpted from Da Mouse. Follow the link at the end for more photos...

The Sunshine Tree Terrace Now A Refreshing Experience At The Magic Kingdom – Part 2

Posted by Raphael De Varona on May 10, 2012

With so many things to see and do at the Magic Kingdom, you’d normally think almost nothing of a visit to what at its core is nothing more than a food and beverage station. But the magic of Disney isn’t just for pirates and princesses or found only in attractions that thrill us into awe by sheer force and excitement. For the secret of Disney magic is that it is unique to the person who is creating the memories that will last forever. And sometimes that happens in the last place you’d ever think it would. The Sunshine Tree Terrace is now just that place where character and charm unite with simple edible delight and refreshment for what could turn a simple moment in your Disney day into something quite more, something unforgettable.

Suddenly, the sight of the unexplainably contagious smile of the Orange Bird, has caused a smile to appear on your face. You can’t help but wonder how an inanimate character could do this but you feel too much joy to question it. Before long you are awaiting your very own Citrus Swirl indulgence and the sight of others experiencing the same moment you are about to only heightens the anticipation. The first glance of the neatly overflowing swirl brings out the best in us, because we are always our best when we feel joy. And simple Disney fun is the magic of Disney and pure joy is the soul of it all. It is the kind of soul you will find at what otherwise would be known as a food and beverage station but through the magic of Disney is something much greater. It is the Sunshine Tree Terrace and it is great to have it back.

http://damouse.com/2012/05/10/the-sunshine-tree-terrace-now-a-refreshing-experience-at-the-magic-kingdom-part-2/

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Citrus Swirl too! Yeeee-hawwww!