Before I comment on some news I found out today, I would like to give some back story…
I have always been a fan of The Enchanted Tiki Room at The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World ever since I went there with my parents when I was little. I must admit, when they redid the show back in 1998, adding at that time Iago & Zazu from popular films Aladdin and The Lion King, respectively, I lost some respect for the show. Iago is very annoying, and the show was less of a fun musical revue with animatronic birds and flowers and more of a rant of Iago. Still, I enjoy the show a lot. Others, unfortunately, were angered about the change, and attendance at the attraction declined. When we went to Disney back in 2010, I never got to see the show, and made it a point of seeing it a couple of weeks ago when I was down there. I am glad I did.
Last Wednesday, a fire broke out in the attic of the show. It was a small fire, and put out quickly. However, there was damage done to the attraction, particularly to the animatronic versions of Iago and Zazu.
Both Iago (Dubbed Iago 1, being that there are two Iagos used in the show) and Zazu need to be worked on/replaced before the show can reopen, according to insider reports. Iago 1 needs replacement, as he got the brunt of the fire damage. Zazu needs to be fixed up, mainly from water damage.
One of the blogs I read, Progress City, USA, brings up some good options. Of course, money will need to be spent in fixing the attraction. With this being the 40th anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World, why not spend the money and bring back the original attraction, one that Walt Disney himself dreamed up?
Regardless, I am happy I was able to see the show before the fire happened. I hope something is done about the issue, because the worst option is to not do anything and let the attraction just sit there. That would not be cool.
RIP Iago 1.
