Magic Kingdom was full of khaki and tropical patterns with Adventureland Day, on March 2nd, 2025, a fun fan-operated dress-up event that takes place in the park each year. The outing proved to be an absolute triumph, drawing an unprecedented crowd of nearly 300 adventurers!
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Stewart Marshall.
Adventureland Day 2025 at Walt Disney World
Despite Central Florida’s tiki community being considerably smaller than its West Coast counterpart, this year’s turnout shattered previous attendance records for the Walt Disney World event.
Adventure Calls
Excitement built up well before the big day, with a special video newsreel released over social media a week ahead of time. Themed to the Indiana Jones Adventure’s “Eye on the Globe,” the preshow set the stage for the grand adventure.
The storyline followed the villainous Colonel Wayne Percival McSwagger, a notorious figure from the now-defunct “Adventureland Challenge,” which was hosted by Jungle Cruise skippers throughout the 5 years leading up to the millennium. This time, McSwagger had hatched a devious plot — he had stolen the deeds and land leases for all corners of Adventureland!
With area reductions looming for Frontierland, the villain’s goal was to force out the people of Adventureland and convert the land into an extension of the American Frontier, selling it off to eager Frontierland Citizens in a reckless “Southwestward Expansion.” Original character and event host Charles Thatcher, Adventurer Extraordinaire, called upon the Adventurelanders to help recover the stolen deeds and thwart McSwagger’s scheme, ensuring a brighter future for both lands.
Taking to the Tropics
Attendees showed up in style, embracing the theme with inspired outfits ranging from Jungle Cruise skipper attire to tiki ensembles and even personalized personas as members of the legendary Society of Explorers and Adventurers. The dedication to the immersive experience was on full display, making for a visually stunning and thematically rich gathering, which produced smiles from onlooking guests and Cast Members alike.
Even the World Famous Jungle Cruise crew got in on the fun! Skippers working throughout the day were treated to a bit of period-accurate flair, as fellow Cast Members with an eye for 1930s aesthetics volunteered their time and skills to give them historically inspired hair and makeup. This extra touch of authenticity further elevated the event’s ambiance, creating a truly transportive experience.
“Adventureland is special to me,” said Chris White, a tiki prop artist who traveled down from Jacksonville, Florida, “it’s one of the original areas of the park, it was one of Walt’s original visions that came to life on the west dock and we get to enjoy it on the east dock. It’s fun putting together our outfits, seeing our friends we’ve made over the years, and meeting new ones. Really, it’s about being able to slow down, escape everyday life with them, and immerse ourselves in having fun!”
Marching Along
During the hunt for the stolen deeds, the Adventurelanders were sorted into three separate groups to rendezvous following the activity’s conclusion. These “Expedition Groups” would then rotate between enjoying the World Famous Jungle Cruise, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, and having Dole Whip and Citrus Swirls for a “Sweet Swirl Social.”
Before each group’s photo, their group leaders welcomed the attendees to the community by teaching them the all-purpose greeting of “Kungaloosh” from Disney’s late Adventurers Club of Pleasure Island infamy. In the spirit of the original themed nightclub, these new member induction ceremonies were complete with reciting the Club Creed and the “Adventurers Club All-Purpose Theme Song” as those participating were both certified and recertified as true “AdventureLanders.”
“This event seems tailor-made for Adventure/Tiki nerds like us,” remarked vacation planner Michael Capps of Dapper Travels. “We attended previous years, and realized that this was so much more than just a ‘dress-up day’ at the Disney Parks. It is about finding your community!”
East or West, An Adventurer’s Life Is Best
Over in Anaheim, Disneyland saw an equally passionate crowd of Adventurelanders, where the storyline took a different twist — this time involving a daring mission to recover another elusive treasure, the “Golden Snake Idol.”
Just like in Florida, California attendees arrived in their best tiki, Jungle Cruise, and Society of Explorers and Adventurers-inspired ensembles, fully immersing themselves in the spirit of adventure. From a thrilling group expedition through the Indiana Jones Adventure to lively sing-alongs with the birds in the Enchanted Tiki Room, the Disneyland event proved once again that the Adventurelander community is thriving coast to coast!
Sipping to Success
The Walt Disney World festivities wrapped up in grand style at Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. With high spirits and even higher adventure, attendees swapped stories over expertly crafted tropical cocktails, celebrating a day filled with camaraderie, creativity, and immersive fun.
“I love a theme!” shared Alletta Cooper, a newly-local producer. “…I think the parks are always more fun when people are dressed up. The activities are also always fun! And on a more serious note, as a neurodivergent person who loves Disney and dressing up, events like this make my heart happy. It’s often hard to start conversations or feel welcome, but when you can easily identify everyone who shares your interest and they are all friendly and want to chat, it just brings me so much joy.”
“The truth is, Adventureland Day isn’t just for adults—” added local fashionista Nikki Sama, “I saw plenty of families with kids, and I used to bring my own child to events like this too. The magic of these meetups is that they remind us all that fun doesn’t have an expiration date.”
Sama continued, “Growing up doesn’t mean giving up on joy. We’re setting an example for the next generation that you can keep embracing adventure at 18, 20, 30, and beyond.”
With such a phenomenal turnout and an ever-growing community of adventurers, this year’s Magic Kingdom outing has set a new bar for Adventurelanders in Florida.
To take part in Adventureland Day when it emerges from the jungle again next year, follow @AdventurelandDayWDW (Walt Disney World) or @AdventurelandDay (Disneyland) on Instagram. Their WDW team also hosts a secondary event at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in September called the Lost Safari Party. More details will be posted to their Instagram and Facebook accounts as the date approaches.
Stewart Marshall is an Orlando-native vintage fashionista, amateur artist, and head organizer of Adventureland Day WDW. Catch more of his adventures and themed storytelling through Tales of Adventure with Charles Thatcher on Instagram and Facebook.
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