Lands of Disneyland

At the end of Main Street, the lands of Disneyland extend from the hub. Starting from the left, heading slightly southwest, Adventureland welcomes you to a tropical paradise full of lush landscapes and exotic flavors. Step under the Adventureland sign and take in the sights and sounds of tiki gods, singing birds, and enchanted adventures. Let’s take a closer look at one of the lands of Disneyland – Adventureland.

Attractions Recap

The attractions in Adventureland are a combination of enchantment and adventure with some touches of whimsy. There are four attractions in Adventureland, ranging from mellow to a wild ride through a forbidden temple.

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
The Tiki Room opened on June 23, 1963 and was the first attraction to feature Audio-Animatronics, which is a WED Enterprises patented invention. Originally sponsored by United Airlines, the company sponsor switched to Dole Foods in 1976 and remains the sponsor today. The show is approximately 12 to 15 minutes in length and is hosted by four lifelike macaws – Jose, Michael, Pierre, and Fritz. Enjoy the full-length show in this video from The DIS.

Jungle Cruise
One of Disneyland’s original attractions, the Jungle Cruise simulates a riverboat cruise down several major rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America. The tour is led by a cast member who serves as your guide and delivers a humorous, scripted narration. One of the cruise’s highlights is the “backside of water.” Experience a full point-of-view trip in this video from LMG Vids. When Indiana Jones Adventure opened in 1995, the Jungle Cruise was rethemed slightly for the 1930s time period to match the storyline in the first Indiana Jones movie.

Tarzan’s Treehouse
Originally, the treehouse at Disneyland was themed for the 1960 movie Swiss Family Robinson and opened in November 1962. Designed as a tour through an empty treehouse, the Swiss Family Treehouse remained until 1999 and the current treehouse has some tributes to this attraction. The re-themed attraction, Tarzan’s Treehouse, coincided with the release of Tarzan, Disney’s animated film, in 1999. The treehouse uses diorama figures to retell the story of the film and is narrated through pages of Jane’s journals. Enjoy a full walkthrough of Tarzan’s Treehouse in a 2019 video from Alex the Historian or a 2020 video from DIS Unplugged.

Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye
Indiana Jones Adventure is an enhanced motion vehicle dark ride attraction that officially opened to the public on March 4, 1995. On this ride, guests join archaeologist Dr. Indiana Jones on a quest through a lost temple. Inspired by the Indiana Jones movies, this motion simulator ride includes a turbulent high-speed adventure on military troop transport vehicles. Experience a full point-of-view trip in this video from SoCal Attractions 360.

These attractions are fan favorites and tend to be very popular, especially Indiana Jones Adventure. On warm days, a tropical break in the Tiki Room is a great way to get out of the sun and enjoy a Dole Whip.

“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. This is Adventureland.”

Walt Disney

History & Facts

Adventureland is a botanical oasis – complete with a tree from 1896 and other landscaping that creates a rich, tropical atmosphere. Over the years, this land has changed with updates to original attractions and new ones added. The Jungle Cruise that opened on July 17, 1955 had a more educational tone and was based on Disney’s True-Life Adventure films. In the early 1960s, Walt Disney updated the ride and introduced more drama and the humorous gags enjoyed on the ride today. In the early 1960s, a giant treehouse was added to Adventureland to coincide with the Disney live-action movie, Swiss Family Robinson. Then in 1999, the treehouse was rethemed for the animated movie, Tarzan. 

Originally planned to be a themed restaurant, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opened in 1963 and brought Audio-Animatronics to the world. At the Tiki Room’s entrance, there is a restroom that is left over from the planned restaurant. A Polynesian themed restaurant did make its way to Adventureland in the space between the Tiki Room and the Jungle Cruise. In operation from 1963 until 1993, the Tahitian Terrace served traditional Hawaiian dishes and featured a show with native dancers. 

Aladdin’s Oasis replaced the Tahitian Terrace in 1993 and served Americanized Middle Eastern cuisine. For a few years, Aladdin’s Oasis featured a dinner show that retold the story of the film, Aladdin. From the late 1990s until early 2018, this space was primarily used as a character meet-and-greet spot and seasonal storytelling. In December 2018, the Tropical Hideaway opened as a counter-service restaurant and features snacks, bao buns, desserts, and Dole Whips. In March 1995, Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye became part of Adventureland.

Color Palette

Disneyland’s Adventureland is filled with botanical textures, tropical fibers, and natural colors. This land feels like you’ve arrived in an exotic marketplace and some of the structures have thatched roofs. The earth tones of greens, browns, tans, and blues are prevalent in the landscape and on the buildings. In Pantone colors, these colors are similar to Tortilla, Deep Brown, Greenery, Pale Yellow, and Chrome. Adventureland’s color palette warm and inviting.

Architecture 

The initial vision for Adventureland was one of real-life adventure. From the site Postcard Inspirations, it was supposed to be “based on Walt Disney’s award-winning documentaries on nature in Asia and Africa.” We also have two brothers to thank for much of Adventureland’s magical landscape. Morgan “Bill” Evans and his oldest brother Jack grew up watching their father experiment with the flowering shrubs and trees that he successfully introduced to the Southern California region. 

In the 1930s, the brothers owned a nursery that specialized in exotic plants and offered design services. Disney hired the Evans brothers to design and create the landscape for his dream home on Carolwood in Holmby Hills. A few years later, Disney persuaded them to help him build a “little park” in Anaheim. The design of Adventureland’s buildings complements the natural landscape. Open archways and welcoming doorways allow for the trees and plants to take center stage. 

Disney Details

Unnoticed by some yet enjoyed by many, Disney weaves delightful details into its lands. Adventureland has several notable examples of Disney details. The first one is the Canary Island Date palm tree from 1896 that is original to the property. At the base of another tree outside Indiana Jones is another example – the Little Man of Disneyland’s House. You’ll have to look carefully for this one since it’s tucked away in the queue area for Indiana Jones on the right side. 

After you go inside the Indiana Jones temple, there are two more Disney details inside the queue. Be sure to check out the strange bamboo, pull the rope, and decipher the code. If you are really observant, you’ll notice a tribute to the Eyeore section of the old parking lot that used to be in the space occupied by this ride. 

Another Disney detail in Adventureland is a repurposed decorative item from Main Street. The jade elephant that used to be a centerpiece decorative item inside the Gibson Girl ice cream shop on Main Street is now peeking out of a crate above the Jungle Cruise queue.

Like other lands, Adventureland has its own unique design of Disneyland trash cans. To match the land’s theme, the trash cans match the earth tones and include some of the exotic and tropical designs.

Movie Tie-ins

Adventureland has several movie tie-ins, some of them dating back to 1960. The Swiss Family Robinson movie debuted in 1960 and was the theme for the original tree house that opened in 1962. The Tarzan animated movie 1999 was another movie tie-in and prompted the updated tree house. 

The Indiana Jones movie series, that started in 1981, was the inspiration behind the Indiana Jones Adventure ride. An upcoming movie for 2021 that is directly connected to Adventureland is a live action Jungle Cruise starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.

Hidden Mickeys

Like in other parts of Disneyland, looking for Hidden Mickeys in Adventureland is a highlight for many guests. What apparently started as an inside joke amongst Disney Imagineers while designing attractions, Hidden Mickeys now have books and websites dedicated to helping guests find them. Check out this short video highlighting some of Adventureland’s Hidden Mickeys (some of these may be different since Aladdin’s Oasis was changed to Tropical Hideaway).

Disneyland Food – Adventureland Recipes

For many guests, Disneyland food is the best part of their visits. Adventureland has three eateries that are all quick service locations with nearby seating. When you cannot get to the park, here’s an opportunity to make some of the Disneyland recipes at home.

• Dole Whip – Tiki Room
• Chicken Skewers – Bengal Barbecue
• Veggie Skewers – Bengal Barbecue

Music

Exploring Adventureland is not the same without the music. There is area background music that is upbeat, rhythmic, and makes you feel like dancing. Many of Adventureland’s attractions also have their own soundtracks for the queue areas. The garden area outside the Tiki Room has tranquil tropical music that gets you in the mood for going inside Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room where the “birds sing the words and the flowers croon”. 

The Jungle Cruise queue soundtrack is a 1930s radio station with music and other announcements. The Duchess of Disneyland site shares that the Jungle Cruise took on a 1930s time period like the rest of Adventureland did in 1995 when Indiana Jones Adventure opened. In the Indiana Jones Adventure queue, the soundtrack is known as “Radio & Generator”.  

Through the Seasons

Adventureland retains its tropical décor throughout the seasons, and not too many seasonal decorations are added for Halloween or Christmas. For a few years starting in 2013, the Jungle Cruise got a seasonal overlay and was called “Jingle Cruise”. At Disneyland, the Jingle Cruise did not return after 2016 and became a Magic Kingdom (Walt Disney World) exclusive. Check out this SoCal Attractions 360 video of the 2016 Jingle Cruise, including the decorations and gifts spread across the jungle after a cargo plane accidentally dropped them.

Bring the Magic Home

Looking for ways to bring the magic of Disneyland home? The first place to check is DisneyStore.com for the many items that can be brought home from Disneyland and other items inspired by adventure. 

Another way to bring the magic home are Disney-inspired candles from Dearly Loved on Etsy by Lyn Maszk. The Tiki Room (pineapple with a hint of coconut), Jungle Cruise (fresh bamboo and earthy foliage), and Tarzan (leather, musk, and amber notes) candles are great ways to bring the scents of Adventureland home.

Or consider Disneybounding some of your favorite Adventureland looks. Disneybounding is not just for park visits. Some popular Disneybounding ideas for Adventureland are Tiki Room, Dole Whip, Jungle Cruise, and Tarzan & Jane.

Whether you’ve explored Adventureland countless times or have not visited yet, hopefully this closer look at Disneyland’s Adventureland has given you a better appreciation for this land.

What are your favorite parts of Disneyland’s Adventureland? Are you a Dole Whip fan? Looking forward to hearing from you in the comments! Like & Follow my Facebook page for mini posts.

Closer Look – Lands of Disneyland series:

Main Street, U.S.A.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”