A MATCH MADE IN FLORIDA Back in the late 1960s , a group called the Florida Citrus Growers were looking to grow a lucrative and mutually beneficial relationship with Walt Disney World . From these seeds sprouted the idea of creating an all-new mascot who combined the cuteness of a Disney character with , well , citrus fruit . And thus , Orange Bird was hatched .
Orange Bird was a star fresh out of the nest , appearing in national advertisements for Florida orange juice . He was even the subject of his own song , which featured lyrics penned by Richard and Robert Sherman , released on a record that came with an illustrated book .
“ The Orange Bird Song ” told the story of Orange Bird and all the things that make him unique .
Once you hear this catchy little tune , you ’ ll be hard-pressed ( like fresh orange juice , perhaps ) to get it out of your head .
Unburdened ( or un-bird-ened , as it were ) by his " child star " fame , Orange Bird spread his wings and flew forth with a starring turn in a pair of educational shorts : Foods and Fun : A Nutrition Adventure and The Orange Bird and the Nutrition Bandwagon . He also appeared in his own comic book called The Orange Bird in Nutrition Adventures . But his real calling was pressing the feathered fruit flesh with the people at Walt Disney World Resort .
ORANGE BIRD FLIES HIGH AT WALT DISNEY WORLD It ’ d be fair to say that O . B . is an O . G . of Walt Disney World . From the grand opening of Magic Kingdom on Oct . 1 , 1971 , Orange Bird was one of the park ’ s featured faces . If you visited Sunshine Tree Terrace in
Adventureland during the early 1970s , you were bound to run beak-first into him greeting families and silently spreading the good word about Florida citrus products .
Orange Bird ’ s main gig was using his cute mug to lure guests of the Sunshine Pavilion in to see the Tiki Birds ’ Tropical Serenade at what ’ s now the Enchanted Tiki Room . And the sponsor of that show ? Why , none other than the Florida Citrus Growers .
Orange Bird even got his own signature snack : the Citrus Swirl . A tasty tornado of frozen orange juice
This mural is a recent addition to Sunshine Tree Terrace . PHOTO BY LAURIE SAPP