The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World Part 6 – The Dedication of The Polynesian Village Resort.

“In the islands there seem to be many occasions for joy. One of them is the luau. On the beach in front of the Polynesian Village in Disney World, there's one taking place right now.”

These are the words we hear from Julie Andrews as she introduces the Polynesian Luau at the Polynesian Village. It's a short clip that then cuts to scenes from the Electrical Water Pageant and what appears to be a fireworks show over the Seven Seas lagoon. All in all the clips last for about two minutes. But what all did we see? Well let's dig in.

Anyone who has been to the Polynesian knows that on the western end of the resort is an area called Luau Cove. A partially covered area where the current version of the Luau dinner show is held. But this Luau is on the beach and it's on a pretty grand scale you may? That's because it's not just any Luau. It's part of the Dedication Ceremony of the Polynesian Resort. Back in part 3 of this series we learned about the Contemporary Resorts Dedication, well after the cocktail party on bay lake ended the guest had a few hours to freshen up then they would gather once more at the Polynesian for its dedication. Below are the pages from the Master Script that show how this event was staged. Let us look at the highlights now.

Opening of the Polynesian Village Hotel (yeah that's what they called it)

6:00 pm – A cocktail party in the patio and pool area.

7:00 pm – Guest are escorted to Luau tables on the beach when they hear the calling of the conch shell.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...THE CONCH SHELL IS CALLING YOU TO THE LUAU...SO BRING YOUR FAVORITE WAHINE OR KANE AND COME TO THE LUAU...JUST FOLLOW THE PROCESSION...THE FEAST IS READY TO BEGIN!”

7:30 pm – The Luau begins. Let's see what's for dinner.

Aloha Bowls - Mai Tai

Spring Egg Roll - Fried Shrimp – Rumaki

Hawaiian Poi - Hawaiian Salt

Opihi in Fresh Coconut

Luau Pig

Chicken with Almonds

Lichee Duck Mandarin Style

Snow Peas and Water chestnuts

Barbecued Pork Fried Rice

Jasmine Tea

8:30 pm – The Torchlight Ceremony

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ... ALOHA! WALT DISNEY WORLD WELCOMES YOU TO THE POLYNESIAN LUAU AND TORCHLIGHT CEREMONY AS A GRAND DEDICATION AND OPENING OF THE FABULOUS, EXOTIC POLYNESIAN VILLAGE HOTEL. FROM THE ISLANDS OF TAHITI, A TIKI RAFT IS BRINGING A FEAST FOR YOUR EYES AND A SPECIAL SURPRISE."

A fun fact is if you read the rundown of the performance you see that they bring in King Leonidas from Bedknobs and Broomsticks as a special guest (who can be seen in the video) but they keep calling him King Lion. Is this cause he was a character in production still and didn't have a permanent name or is this a classic moment of one part of the company not communicating with the other? I think its the second because the film was already released in the U.K. And was set to release in the U.S. In less than two months in December.

9:05 pm – Luau ends and Electrical Water Pageant begins

"AS WE BID FAREWELL TO OUR FRIENDS FROM THE ISLANDS WHO SO COLORFULLY ENTERTAINED US IN CELEBRATION OF THE GRAND OPENING OF THE POLYNESIAN VILLAGE HOTEL, WE DIRECT~YOUR ATTENTION NOW TO THE .. SEVEN SEAS LAGOON...AND WALT DISNEY WORLD'S EXCITING ELECTRICAL WATER PAGEANT - AN IMAGINARY DELIGHT OF FANCIFUL CREATURES AND SERPENTS OF THE DEEP...ON PARADE."

A few fun notes. We see that the Goodyear blimp was used for this show and had lights on it that animated in conjunction with the pageant. On page B-21 we also get to see the unit order, and we see that it hasn't changed that much over the years. And finally we see that after the show ends each float “explodes in a magical pyrotechnic display”. This means that Water Pageant had the first fireworks barges at Disney World 11 years before Carnival de Lumiere would debut at EPCOT. This event would lead to the next part of the show … Fantasy in the Sky.

9:15 pm – Fantasy in the Sky Spectacular

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS, AND GIRLS. WHEREVER YOU MAY BE AT THIS MOMENT, WE INVITE YOU TO LOOK TO THE SKY IN THE CENTER OF THE MAGIC KINGDOM AS THE WALT DISNEY WORLD BAND ANNOUNCES A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF OUR NIGHTLY 'SKY SPECTACULAR'”.

"TONIGHT...WALT DISNEY WORLD PRESENTS A DAZZLING DISPLAY OF SPECTACULAR SIGHTS. SETTING THE SKY A GLOW WITH AN ARRAY OF

FLASHING FANTASIES, IMPORTED FROM THE FAR-OFF CORNERS OF THE WORLD. FOR YOUR.ENJOYMENT...THIS IS WALT DISNEY WORLD'S 'FANTASY IN THE

SKY'!"

9:20 pm – Conclusion - At this time all the performers and staff of the event would form two rows on either side of the path back to the lobby holding sparklers for the guest to walk between.