The Walt Disney Archives shared three newly digitized photos of the Orange Bird greeting guests, marking 55 years of Walt Disney World’s citrus mascot from the Sunshine Tree Terrace.
The Walt Disney Archives is celebrating the Orange Bird’s 55th birthday with a few rare snapshots, according to WDW News Today and Fantasy Land News. The Archives posted three recently digitized photos of the little citrus mascot on Instagram this week.
The photos come from Walt Disney World’s photography collections, which WDWNT says were recently digitized by partners who manage them. They show the walkaround Orange Bird greeting guests over the years, including early character greetings at Magic Kingdom.
What do the new Orange Bird photos show?
Fantasy Land News describes three poses. He puts his hands behind his head, covers his beak and spreads his green wings wide.
The costume has a round orange head, big eyes, a yellow beak, green wing sleeves, a yellow belly and a leaf on top.
WDWNT points out that these poses match the designs on a shirt sold at the 2026 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.
What did the Walt Disney Archives say about the Orange Bird?
The Archives opened its post with his slogan, “Think orange!” It called him “the sun-shiniest resident of the Sunshine Tree Terrace,” according to Fantasy Land News.
Per WDWNT, the post says he was “created especially for the new Walt Disney World Resort in 1971.” It credits veteran publicity artist and Disney Legend Bob Moore with the design.
The Archives also noted his best quirk. He doesn’t sing, chirp or whistle. He talks through pictures that pop up in orange clouds over his head. It’s a solid way to skip small talk.
Who created the Orange Bird and why?
Disney created the Orange Bird in 1969 for the Florida Citrus Commission, according to a 2022 D23 history by the Walt Disney Archives. D23 credits Bob Moore and publicity art designer Don MacLaughlin.
The deal was simple. The bird became the commission’s mascot, and the commission sponsored the Sunshine Tree Terrace and the Enchanted Tiki Room at Magic Kingdom, according to WDWNT and D23.
D23 says the Orange Bird made his first appearance on Wednesday, March 3, 1971, at a press event in Lakeland, Florida. That’s about seven months before Walt Disney World opened on Oct. 1, 1971.
What is the Sunshine Tree Terrace?
The Sunshine Tree Terrace is the Orange Bird’s home base in Adventureland. D23 says it greeted guests leaving the Tropical Serenade, now known as Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
The original menu leaned hard into citrus, according to D23:
Orange juice
Orange slushes
The O.J. Hot Sipper
Citrus swirl soft serve
The stand still serves orange treats. WDWNT reviewed the new Orange Bird Sunshine Twist there on Oct. 7, pairing orange and vanilla DOLE Whip with orange crispy pearls and an Orange Bird sugar cookie for $8.49.
Did the Orange Bird ever have his own music?
The Sherman Brothers wrote the songs for a 1971 album called “The Orange Bird,” according to D23. Robie Lester, Sam Edwards and a young Ron Howard provided voices.
D23 credits Disney Legend Bill Justice with the strolling character you see in the new photos. WDWNT says the bird roamed Magic Kingdom as a walkaround character in the 1970s and 1980s.
Why did the Orange Bird disappear and come back?
The Florida Citrus Commission partnership ran from 1971 until the contract expired in 1987, according to D23. After that, the bird mostly faded from the park.
Fans never forgot him, and neither did Japan. Fantasy Land News reports Tokyo Disneyland featured the Orange Bird in 2004, and he became a fan favorite there.
In April 2012, the Orange Bird returned to a restored Sunshine Tree Terrace, according to Fantasy Land News and WDWNT. D23 says the original 1971 Orange Bird figure went back to the stand after that refurbishment.
He also got his own Little Golden Book, “The Orange Bird,” which D23 dates to 2022. Fantasy Land News says Imagineer Jason Grandt wrote it and Scott Tilley illustrated it.
Where can you find Orange Bird merchandise now?
WDWNT has tracked a steady stream of 2026 drops:
May: A full Orange Bird collection at Disney’s Old Key West Resort
August: A limited-edition Orange Bird Swarovski figure
October: Retro Orange Bird Muppets and holiday sweatshirts
Not bad for a bird who can’t say a word. Fifty-five years in, he’s still thinking orange.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
WDW News Today (Oct. 29), Archives post, photo source, caption quotes, shirt match, Sunshine Twist, 2026 merchandise
Fantasy Land News (Oct. 28), photo descriptions, caption quote, Tokyo Disneyland, 2012 return, Little Golden Book
D23, creation, debut press event, Sunshine Tree Terrace menu, album, Bill Justice, partnership end, figure’s return
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