Meet the Florida Orange Bird was created by Disney animators in 1970 for the Florida Citrus Commission. You can now find him all over the parks, mostly in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom and in EPCOT during the Flower and Garden festival. He has a lot of history that we are gonna dive into today. The Florida Orange Bird is bright, cheery and my all time favorite!!
Orange Bird’s Beginnings
In 1970, as Disney was preparing for the opening of Walt Disney World the Florida Citrus Commission agreed to sponsor the Enchanted Tiki Room. Back then it was called the Sunshine Pavilion. The Orange Bird was created to be a host of sorts that greeted guests as they came into the show. The Florida Orange Bird didn’t speak or tweet, he had little orange smoke clouds pop up when he “thought Orange thoughts”. He was portrayed as shy but always looking for new friends. Disney animators created this little gem and the Florida Orange Commission used him for all kinds of things. He was even friends with a former Miss America contestant!
The Orange Bird Song
Anita Bryant was the spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission at the time. Bryant was also Miss Oklahoma in 1958. She caused division and controversy when she became very outspoken against gay rights in the late 70’s. This would ultimately lead to the termination of her contract with the Florida Orange Commission and Disney cutting all ties with her. Bryant recorded The Orange Bird song in 1971 that was later somewhat buried to not show any connection to her. While it is hard to find, you can see and listen to it on YouTube now. The song was written by the famous Sherman Brothers! You could see the Orange Bird in some Disney cartoon shorts, commercials for the Florida Citrus Commission, billboards and signs across Florida. In 1980 Orange Bird starred in Food and Fun: A Nutritional Adventure, this told the story of the Orange Bird!
Orange Bird Meet and Greet
You could even meet Orange Bird in Adventureland as a costume character until the mid 80’s, wish they would bring this back!! I even have a poster signed by the Orange Bird from when I went to Disney when I was about 3-4 years old! It would be so cool to see this return now. I had hoped maybe he was going to make a reappearance during the 50th anniversary but alas, it came and went without my dream coming true. If you’re listening Disney, Flower and Garden Festival is a perfect opportunity to bring Orange Bird back for a meet and greet! Maybe someday, for now I’ll just have to accept that I met him at some point as a child even if I can’t remember it….I have his autograph!
Orange Bird Leaves The Nest
Sadly, in 1987 Disney and the Florida Citrus Commission dissolved their partnership and the Florida Orange Bird vanished from the parks. You really didn’t see him anywhere for decades. He made a reappearance in 2004 in Tokyo Disneyland. All the merchandise featuring the Florida Orange Bird went along with Japan’s annual Orange Day. Orange Bird became very popular in Tokyo and Disney started creating more merchandise featuring Orange Bird overseas. Finally in 2012 the Florida Orange Bird came home to Walt Disney World and was reinstated at the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland! Since then he has only become more popular and more prominent in the parks. The funny thing is, I always wanted Orange Bird stuff as a kid when my parents would have been paying for it and there was nothing. Now there’s tons but I have to pay for it myself! Hahaha!
Orange Bird Today
Thankfully, you can find the Florida Orange Bird back in Adventureland at the Sunshine Tree Terrace. This is where you can grab a Dole Whip! You can also find him around Disney Springs and at EPCOT during the Flower & Garden festival. Throughout the year you can find special Orange Bird treats. In the summer Flavors of Florida happens in Disney Springs and they have the cutest Orange Bird Dole Whip sundae! There is also Orange Bird merchandise all year long in the parks now. So cute but not so cute for my bank account. Flower and Garden Festival is where you can really find the cutest Orange Bird merch. Part of why it’s my favorite festival!
Conclusion
You all know I am a nerd for some Disney history and I love the Orange Bird! I remember only being able to get the little orange juice slushy thing in the plastic orange shaped cup with his face on it as a kid. I vaguely remember there being a sticker they would give you too. But I would have died for an Orange Bird stuffed animal back then! Now I have like 3 as an adult, don’t judge. There is even a Little Golden Book about the Orange Bird now. Little Lyndsay would have read that over and over.
I am so glad he is so well loved now. Orange Bird is a just pure joy, sweetness and fun! I can’t wait to go do some shopping at Flower and Garden festival this year. You can see and buy some of the merchandise on ShopDisney right now if you won’t be making it to the festival! Well, I hope you think orange thoughts and have a magical day!!