Adventureland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Disneyland-style theme parks run by the Walt Disney Company around the world. It is themed to resemble the remote jungles in Africa, Asia, South America, Oceania and the Caribbean. "To create a land that would make this dream reality", said Walt Disney, "We pictured ourselves far from civilization, in the remote jungles of Asia and Africa."
Adventureland provides a 1950s view of exotic adventure, capitalizing on the post-war Tiki craze. Lush vegetation resembles jungles while elements of the "other" surround the visitor. Tribal performance masks, conga drums, non-American totem poles, exotic animal statues, and architecture of Pacific influence make for a confined area wherein industry and technology take a back seat to uncharted nature.[1] Noted art historian David T. Doris explains Adventureland as, "a pastiche of imaginary colonial spaces, conflated within the green and foliate milieu of "the Jungle."[2]
Here is adventure. Here is romance. Here is mystery. Tropical rivers - silently flowing into the unknown. The unbelievable splendor of exotic flowers...the eerie sound of the jungle...with eyes that are always watching.
Walt Disney had no time in making this dedication speech as the live broadcast of the opening day was about to conclude.
Disneyland's Adventureland was originally envisioned as True-Life Adventureland, and was to be based on Walt Disney's award-winning nature documentaries on Africa and Asia. The land was originally supposed to have real animals from Africa to inhabit a jungle river, but after zoologists told Walt Disney the real animals would lie around or hide, the Imagineers built mechanical animals instead. Adventureland opened with the Jungle Cruise as its sole attraction, until the Swiss Family Treehouse was added in 1962. With the technology of audio animatronics Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room was added in 1963 nearby the land's entry bridge. Oceanic Arts also created the series of tribal masks that now line the entry bridge.[3]
The Adventureland at Walt Disney World is divided into two main sub-areas, one being the Arabian Village and the other one being Caribbean Plaza, which is home to Pirates of the Caribbean. The original Polynesian motif is still visible with the prominence of jungle surrounding the Swiss Family Treehouse and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. The 1930s adventurer/explorer ambiance is noted with the background music heard over loud projecting speakers recently installed throughout Adventureland with a different vibe than that of Disneyland's, but with similar Big Band music and witty announcements. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction was unique to this version of Adventureland before the opening of Tokyo DisneySea and Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris.
Attractions and entertainment
Note: ▲ = Genie Plus / Lightning Lane available
Table-Service Restaurants
Jungle Skipper Canteen - themed after the Jungle Cruise.
Tortuga Tavern - after Pirates of the Caribbean themed (2011–2024; Reopening in 2025)
Pirates of the Caribbean-Themed Tavern lounge (Opening in late 2025)
Quick-Service Food
Sunshine Tree Terrace
Aloha Isle - serves various flavors of dole-whip, sponsored by Dole Foods.
A Pirates Adventure -Treasures of the Seven Seas - an interactive scavenger hunt where you can join Captain Jack on a series of missions throughout Adventureland.
Merchandise
Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar - the Pirates of the Caribbean exit gift shop, specializing in Pirate-themed merchandise. The shop also includes a leather engraving station.
Bwana Bobs - named after Bob Hope, an outdoor merchandise location.
Sunglass Hut - a third-party vendor that sells sunglasses and accessories.
Crystal Arts - a second smaller location of Crystal Arts, the main location being on Main Street.
Points Of Interest
Club 33 - an exclusive members-only club located in the Adventureland Veranda.
The Pirates League, a pirate-themed version of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
Former restaurants and refreshments
Adventureland Veranda (1971–1994)
Former shops
Tiki Tropic Shop (1971–2000)
The Magic Carpet (1971–1987)
Traders of Timbuktu (1971–2000)
Oriental Imports (1971–1987)
Tropic Toppers (1971–1988)
The House of Treasure (located in Caribbean Plaza, 1973–2001)
The Golden Galleon and La Princesa de Cristal (also located in Caribbean Plaza, 1974–1992)
The Pirate's Arcade (Caribbean Plaza, 1974–1980)
Tortuga Treasures (Caribbean Plaza, 2024) - a new temporary gift shop was taking place on the main Pirates of the Caribbean Gift shop in the Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar, some of the merchandise has now been relocated.
Elephant Tales
Zanzibar Trading Co.
Agrabah Bazaar
While the House of Treasure opened originally when the Pirates premiered in December 1973, it started fully operating in February 1974 according to a March 1974 issue of "Eyes and Ears", a cast member newsletter for Walt Disney World.[5]
Tokyo Disneyland's Adventureland is a mish-mash of the various Adventureland interpretations. It features a unique ride - the Western River Railroad - and a Lilo & Stitch-themed version of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. It features a pair of sub-lands: The Typhoon Lagoon inspired Coral Landing near the Swiss Family Treehouse and another one based on New Orleans Square at Disneyland, which features Pirates of the Caribbean. World Bazaar's buildings fade into New Orleans.
The European Adventureland is geographically switched with Frontierland, compared to the American parks. It contains more heavy Indian and Moroccan influences. It features four themed areas:
The first, known as Adventureland Bazar, is a recreation of an oriental city from the 1001 Arabian Nights. While most people believe this reflects Agrabah from the movie Aladdin, this is a common mistake. The movie Aladdin was still in production when Euro Disney was designed. And the Imagineers working on Adventureland, did not work together with the people creating the movie. In 1993, the attraction Le Passage Enchanté d'Aladdin opened in this area and is the only feature of the land actually based on the movie. The concept of this city eventually reached overseas resorts.
The second part of Adventureland has a more African appearance, and is mainly composed of shops and restaurants (like the Hakuna Matata Restaurant).
A third themed area represents Asian mysterious jungles, themed to explorers and featuring the Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril roller coaster.
This Adventureland presented some construction problems, mainly due to the unsuitable local climate. Growing exotic jungles in a place where winters could be harsh was a tough task. This is also the reason why there is no Jungle Cruise ride, since most animatronics animals would have been exposed to this weather. However, abandoned ideas intended to build an adequate ride under a glass roof, but that never came true.
There is no Tiki Room attraction either, although the Explorers Club Restaurant (now Colonel Hathi's Outpost) features animatronics birds that used to sing.
Hong Kong Disneyland's Adventureland is the biggest among all Disney parks and features a large island area home to Tarzan's Treehouse, which is circled by the Jungle River Cruise, not much like the Rivers of America in most Magic Kingdom–style parks' Adventureland area. It is also home to the "Festival of the Lion King" show.
The outer edge of the land was under construction from early May to September 2008, adjacent to Festival of The Lion King. A temporary structure was built for Demon Jungle, an exclusive attraction for the 2008–2010 Halloween seasons, and transformed to The Revenge of the Headless Horseman for the 2011–2014 Halloween seasons; it is now home to introduced its all-new “Black Box” space" known as "The Pavilion", a flexible event venue. Unlike the other parks, there is still no Pirates of the Caribbean at this location yet.
On September 1, 2017, the area around the bridge that near the entrance of the theme land and in front of Tahitian Terence has surround by fences hiding the works starting recently for "Moana: A Homecoming Celebration" opening on 2018, as part of its multiyear expansion plan for the Park since November 22, 2016.[6][7][8][9][10]
Korean Squid, Turkey Leg, Refreshing Drinks, & Frozen Lollipop Cart
Korean Squid & Turkey Leg Cart
River View Cafe
Moana's Tahitian Terrace
Shops
Professor Porter's Trading Post
Shanghai Disneyland Park
Shanghai Disneyland Park features an area similar to the "Adventurelands" found at other Disney parks, named Adventure Isle. Just like "Adventureland" at Disneyland Paris, "Adventure Isle" does not include a Jungle Cruise attraction, and instead features a ropes course called "Camp Discovery", a dinosaur-themed rapids attraction named "Roaring Rapids and Soaring Over the Horizon. This version is also different in the fact that it is on the right side of the main hub instead of being on the left.
The land's story focuses around a group called the League of Adventurers, who came upon the island after their airship was driven off course in the 1930s. Befriending the native Arbori tribe, they have been engaged in studying their culture and the island ever since.[11] Each attraction is tied to a Guardian Animal in the Arbori mythology: Roaring Rapids is the realm of Q'aráq; a giant crocodilian Guardian of Water, Soaring Over the Horizon is located in a celestial temple to Q'otar; a condor spirit of the air, and Camp Discovery lies in the realm of Q'ai; the fanged cat guardian of the earth.
Chip 'n Dale's Trading Post (formerly Laughing Monkey Traders)
Rainbow Frog Trinkets
In popular culture
In the Epic Mickey series, Wasteland's version of Adventureland is Ventureland. Its main elements is the movie Peter Pan and the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
References
^Minnick, Nathaniel. "Disney's Lands in the History of Colonial Displays of the Exotic" (University of Michigan, 2006)
"Family Portraits, 1957". Gorillas Don't Blog. Retrieved 22 July 2022. In this first image, they're in Adventureland, with "Tiki's Tropical Traders" in the background.
Van Eaton Galleries (February 2015). The Story of Disneyland. Issuu. p. 98. Retrieved 22 July 2022. For the first several years of Disneyland's operation, the shop was owned by Eli Hedley, the original Beachcomber. In exchange for carving early Adventureland tikis and offering general scenic decor, Hedley was given the shop space rent free. Walt negotiated the lucrative arrangement with Hedley personally. (auction catalog of circa 900 documents, artifacts, images)
"Remembering Disneyland". Van Eaton Galleries. December 16, 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2022. Van Eaton Galleries is proud to present "Remembering Disneyland", an exhibition and auction of nearly 800 props, souvenirs, and artifacts from the park's 60-year history. "Remembering Disneyland" tells the story of Disneyland through the memories and experiences of former Cast Members, performers, and individuals who have had a role in the legacy of the park...With items including original wardrobe, concept art, props, vintage souvenirs, and more,...The auction is scheduled for December 16, 2017 and there will be a free exhibition of the items at Van Eaton Galleries November 21, 2017 through December 15, 2017.
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