So now you’ve heard the stories (Read Part 1 and Part 2!), now learn where to visit the places!
It all started at Tokyo DisneySea at the Fortress Explorations, which serves as the official S.E.A. Headquarters and new member inductions. A plaque on the wall reads “We the Society of Explorers and Adventurers shall acquire knowledge through exploration.” Here you will also be able to read the four S.E.A. Ideals: Discovery, Adventure, Romance, and Innovation. Here, guests can see a working Foucault pendulum, view warped murals, discover past S.E.A. members in the Explorers’ Hall, and more.
In 1899, Harrison Hightower III held an infamous New Year’s Eve party, where the Shiriki Utundu idol, which he didn’t believe in, cursed him and he disappeared. In 1912, the New York Preservation Society reopened the hotel and they give tours to the public. But beware: Shiriki Utundu is still mad and the elevator at the hotel can get quite bumpy at times.
Over at Soaring: Fantastic Flight, an attraction that has a queue that is an attraction in and of itself, you will find Camellia Falco. The attraction is themed after her Museum of Fantastic Flight, and it is haunted by her. Her portrait, along with other S.E.A. members’ portraits, are found in the line queue. If you look on Falco’s membership certificate, you will find Jason Chandler’s name.
Other notable locations featuring S.E.A.: Raging Spirits and Magellan’s, which has a private wine cellar for S.E.A. members.
If you find yourself in Hong Kong Disneyland, visit Mystic Point, where you will find Mystic Manor. Lord Henry Mystic built this home as a meeting place for S.E.A. members in the remote rainforest in 1880. He opened parts to the public in 1896. You will find a photo of S.E.A. members in the line queue. While touring the mansion, Albert, Lord Mystic’s pet monkey, opens up a Balinese music box that has the ability to bring inanimate objects to life, which leads to all kinds of trouble. Also, in the Explorer’s Club Restaurant, you will find notes from Mystic that explains all the artifacts you will find in his mansion.
Walt Disney World Resort by FAR has the most references to S.E.A. Let’s start at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness. Owner Barnabus T. Bulion is first identified as a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers in letters in the line queue, corresponding with Jason Chandler. Chandler and Madam Zarkov, a colleague from the Museum of the Weird, have both advised Bulion not to mine the mountain, because it is haunted. Despite weird things happening, like earthquakes and runaway mine cars, Bulion doesn’t listen and continues to mine.
At the Jungle Cruise, you’ll, of course, pass through Schweitzer Falls, named after Albert Falls. Look around the queue for other S.E.A. references. Then, take a trip to Skipper Canteen, where all the Skippers hang out when they’re not leading cruises. This is BY FAR the biggest treasure trove of S.E.A. references. This used to be the house of Albert Falls, and there is a hidden room in the library that served as a meeting room for the S.E.A. Display cases hold member fezes of Falls, Mystic, Albert, Oceaneer, and, of course, Merriweather Adam Pleasure. You can also find a map of legendary creatures that was drawn by Mary Oceaneer and Jason Chandler, including creatures from World of Motion and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and a map of the Hyperion Airship charting legendary flying beasts in the Mekong River, by Jason Chandler and Captain Brieux. You can also have the Perkins Thai Noodles, named after Pamelia Perkins. It is said that these were her favorite.
Famous books you can find in the library:
- The Voice of the Jungle by Albert Awol and Captain Nemo
- A Manor of Fact, Primates as Shipmates, and Treasures of the Manor by Lord Henry Mystic
- Parrots as Pets by Mary Oceaneer
- Mine! Treasurers of Animal Kingdom and Everest Expedition: Search for the Yeti by Harrison Hightower III (homage to Joe Rohde, who is the inspiration for Hightower and creator of Animal Kingdom and Expedition Everest)
- A Small Village with a Large Heart and Rockefeller, Hippo, Pet, Family by Albert Falls
- Lost and Unfound by Jock Lindsay
Over at Typhoon Lagoon, you can take a ride on Miss Adventure Falls, a family-style raft attraction. This is, of course, where Mary Oceaneer and her parrot, Duncan, were stranded. In the UK Pavilion, if you stop by the KidCot station, you’ll find The Library of the Royal Adventurer’s Society. Walk around and look at the books. Look close enough, and you’ll find “Society of Explorers and Adventurers Handbook.” You can also find artwork from Atlantis: Lost Empire.
Head over to the Boardwalk. There, you will find an amazing place to grab a magical concoction, known as Abracadabar. This bar used to be a lounge for some of the world’s most famous magicians and illusionists. On Friday 13, 1940, every magician inside disappeared without a trace, and has never been seen again. You can find a S.E.A. fez here, indicating that at least one of these missing people was a S.E.A. member.
You can also visit Trader Sam’s, over at the Polynesian, and see the tiki connections to the Jungle Cruise. Give em a KUNGALOOSH! Club greeting!
Disney Springs is home to Jock Lindsay’s Hanger Bar. Jock has photos in his bar of him and his friends, who are also members of the Adventurer’s Club: Hathaway Browne, Otis T. Wren, and the passport of Samantha Sterling is located in the lost and found.
And the last place to visit in the Magic Kingdom, the Haunted Mansion, where you can visit the murderous bride Constance, who’s last husband, George Hightower, was the brother of Harrison Hightower III.
On Disney Cruise Line, Mary Oceaneer and her pet parrot, Salty, had a fondness for pirates. In addition to finding pirate treasure on Castaway Cay, it is said that they held Pirate nights on the Lab. In honor of this, Disney Cruise Line has Pirate Nights. At Aulani, a visit to Aunty’s Beach House will show you a photo of Pamelia Perkins, from the Adventurer’s Club.
Disneyland is just now getting S.E.A. worked into it’s stories. At Big Thunder Mountain, you will find a portrait of Barnabus T. Bulion if you look through the windows of the Panhandle Hotel. There is also cargo addressed to Jason Chandler on the Big Thunder Trail.
The Tropical Hideaway, a restaurant just off the Enchanted Tiki Room, has a collection of oars hanging on the wall. They commemorate voyages made by S.E.A. members. The voyages are:
- C. Falco, Zambezi River, 1831
- B.T. Bullion, Colorado River, 1870
- J. Chandler, Elaho River, 1882
- H. Mystic, Ganges River, 1874
- S. Shio, Amazon River, 1910
- H. Hightower, Yangtze River, 1872
- Dr. J. L. Baterista, Congo River, 1906
- Dr. A. Falls, Mbei River, 1903
- Prof. R. Blauerhimmel, Ucayali River, 1904
- M. Oceaneer, Orinoco River, 1899
- M.A. Pleasure, Kissimmee River, 1900
- Chef Tandaji, Irawaddy River, 1913
The Bengal Barbecue features a club photo from 1899, and appears to have been an outpost for S.E.A.
I hope you have enjoyed this rich story as much as I have. Have you ever looked for S.E.A. references in Disney Parks? Have you ever planned a S.E.A. Themed Day? Leave a note in the comments and tell me if I missed anything!
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