Get ready Adventurers! Today we delve into the mythos of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) that has been woven throughout almost every Disney park worldwide. In fact, there was so much to talk about that we’ve had to make it a 2-part series. Here in part 1 we will discuss the origins of S.E.A. and some of the very first attractions and backstories to become part of the rich and detailed saga of this secret society. Kungaloosh!
Get ready Adventurers! Today we delve into the mythos of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) that has been woven throughout almost every Disney park worldwide. In fact, there was so much to talk about that we’ve had to make it a 2-part series. Here in part 1 we will discuss the origins of S.E.A. and some of the very first attractions and backstories to become part of the rich and detailed saga of this secret society. Kungaloosh!
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Tokyo DisneySea, Mystic Manor, Harrison Hightower Tower of Terror, Tokyo Disneyland, Fortress Explorations, marvel tv shows, Wandavision, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disneyland, California Adventure, Theme Parks, Disney Theme Parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Drinking at Disney, Drinks with Friends, Jungle cruise, Skipper Canteen
The Society of Explorers and Adventures (S.E.A.) debuted with the opening of Tokyo DisneySea on September 4th, 2001. It was here the first remnants of the society and the crest became visible to patrons of the park. However, S.E.A. was actually inspired by the former Adventurers Club at the now extinct Pleasure Island portion of what was then called Downtown Disney. After its closure, many of the props from the club were spread across the parks. This has caused the Adventurers Club to be retconned with Pleasure Islands founder, Merriweather Adam Pleasure (M.A.P.), now being known as a member. Merriweather was an industrialist who in the early 20th century settled the colony of Pleasure Island in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Known as "The Grand Funmeister", he later disappeared off the face of the earth in the 1940s on an expedition with his family.
While Adventurers Club may have been S.E.A.s inspiration, it came to fruition within the icon of Tokyo DisneySea. Many of you have probably seen at least a few photos of Tokyo DisneySea, but let’s paint a quick picture. As you pass the majestic globe fountain just beyond the gates of the park, which appears held up entirely by the force from the water, you pass underneath the arches through a pathway underneath the ornate MiraCosta Hotel. Just ahead your eyes will catch the twinkle of the Mediterranean Harbor with a decorative ship in the distance docked in front of a rather mystical fort just below Mount Prometheus. This mountainous structure shields Mysterious Island, but I digress. It’s this fort, known as Fortress Explorations where we’ll focus our attention on first.
The Society was founded on August 12th, 1528 at this very spot in Italy named Porto Paradiso. Consisting of scientists, explorers, researchers, artists, travelers and adventurers from around the globe, S.E.A. is dedicated to the continued exploration of the world’s oceans and exotic lands.
The S.E.A.’s crest is found amongst the aged stone walls of a bridge that connects sections of Fortress Explorations and represents four guiding concepts: Adventure (a Galleon - a sailing ship in use often by Spain from the 15th through 17th centuries, originally as a warship, later for trade.), Romance (an armillary sphere), Discovery (a compass), and Innovation (artist tools). These items were selected originally as the best ways to represent the original charger and mission statement, which simply reads “We the Society of Explorers and Adventurers shall acquire knowledge through exploration”.
A much more detailed mission statement was included at the Oceaneer Lab on the Disney Cruise Line and at Mystic Manor:
“The mission of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers is to collect, conserve, and curate valuable cultural and artistic artifacts from around the world and make them available to the public in an artistically pleasing and sensitive manner. It is furthermore the mission of the organization to equip and mount socio-cultural expeditions to discover, explore, chronicle and protect the artistic achievements of human society, past and present, exalted and forgotten.”
― SEA Mission Statement
At the Fortress Explorations, one could get a map with information about the crest in more detail on the back. Here it claims their mission and purpose of the fortress:
We, the S.E.A., are dedicated to the gathering of newfound knowledge. So that you may share in our endeavors, we have created Fortress Explorations . Within this citadel and on its waterfront you can witness first-hand the progression of our explorations of Adventure, Romance, Discovery and Innovation.
Beyond a challenging scavenger hunt of sorts called The Leonardo Challenge, there’s an Explorers Hall of Fame at Fortress Explorations that also features many historical figures that are said to be “Honorary Members” per additional material available at Soaring: Fantastic Flight attraction that opened in July of 2019. The fortress itself is also said to be haunted by the ghost of Leonardo da Vinci who is also said to be the founder of the society.
Also debuting with the opening Tokyo DisneySea was a premier restaurant at Fortress Explorations called Magellions. In the mid-1500s, Magellan’s opened as the Society of Explorers and Adventurers' meeting room. It was named for the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who completed the first circumnavigation of the world. This is a truly fine-dining restaurant and is known for serving multi-course meals and having an exquisite wine collection.
S.E.A. continues to become more convoluted and complex as more discoveries are uncovered in the parks. We’ll also be talking about the other prominent members, which include Harrison Hightower III, Lord Henry Mystic, Barnabas T. Bullion, Mary Oceaneer, Dr. Albert Falls, and President Jason Chandler. This list continues to grow as Disney works to build the Society’s lore to this day with just recently hinting at the addition of S.E.A. characters at the stateside Jungle Cruise attractions in a future enhancement project.
We would see the next “installment” of S.E.A. on September 22, 2006 with the opening of the Hightower Hotel in the American Waterfront area at DisneySea.
Hightower Hotel
So much to discuss, where do we begin. I'll provide the cliffnotes version, but what’s difficult with all of these attractions is there is such a rich and detailed backstory that it almost feels like it’s a disservice to not go into each one.
Nevertheless, The Hightower Hotel, aka Tower of Terror, is Japan’s take on the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Being that this version would be in the New York Harbor portion of the port of call, and since Japan doesn’t have the connection The Twilight Zone like the American audience, the Imagineers opted for entirely original story. This tower would focus on a rich tycoon that still loved his collections, but didn’t respect them like other members of S.E.A. This would be none other than Harrison Hightower III.
Before I get into this character, keep in mind that his looks are heavily based on now former imagineer, Joe Rohde. Spitting image actually, which is actually quite comical since there are so many paintings and photos of Harrison Hightower throughout the building.
Harrison Hightower III was born in 1835 and was a member of the wealthy Hightower family.
He would be known as "The Dragon of Park Palace", Harrison Hightower was rather unscrupulous in his artifact collecting, hoarding art and antiquities from across the world in his private collection at Hotel Hightower. This would prove to be his downfall when on New Year's Eve, 1899, he vanished in an elevator accident after obtaining the cursed idol Shiriki Utundu. The hotel was abandoned and became known as the "Tower of Terror" by locals.
Note - I’m going into this much detail just to exaggerate my point about how detailed all these stories are about these Society members. You can really see how much this expanded theme park universe can amount to.
ANYWAY, we move on to December 31st, 1899. Harrison Hightower III was back in New York.
Afterward the hotel was closed. People in New York dubbed it the “Tower of Terror”. It was closed for 13 years before the New York City Preservation Society, led by its president and founder, Miss Beatrice Rose Endicott, reopened the Hightower Hotel for public tours to appreciate the architectural beauty and cultural value of the treasures inside.
Harrison Hightower III references can also be found at:
Raging Spirits
Aunty's Beach House, Aulani
At this kid's activity area, a portrait that was once seen in the Adventurers Club is displayed on the wall alongside a letter from Adventurers Club president Pamelia Perkins. She describes the painting as being of the Pillagers Brigade, a less ethical predecessor to the Adventurers Club that a young Harrison Hightower belonged to and that it was during one one of their expeditions, that Hightower first heard tales of Shiriki Utundu.
This portrait originates from the Adventurers Club where it was originally described as portraying Harrison's fellow S.E.A. member Merriweather Adam Pleasure.
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar
In this bar is a letter sent from Director Vanessa Capshaw of the New York Preservation Society to Trader Sam about one of Hightower's associates. This associate being Billamongawonga, or, "Trader Bill" who is described as having been Hightower's right-hand man. According to the letter, Trader Bill might be the grandfather of Trader Sam.
Tropical Hideaway
Hightower left an expedition paddle from a trip down the Yangtze River in 1872.
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There was a clearly a large push to expand S.E.A. internationally with the opening of Mystic Manor at Hong Disneyland in 2013 and many other Society members that quickly followed. But first, let’st recap the timeline so far.
TIMELINE
1970s Discovery Bay
Steampunk land being developed for Disneyland in the Big Thunder Ranch/Galaxys Edge area- Connected Jason Chandler (the president of the Society in late 1800s with Big Thunder Mountain. Of course this was a Tony Baxters concept.
1989 - Pleasure Island Opened
Adventurer’s Club New Years Eve 1937 - Grandfathered in
2001 - DisneySea Fortress Explorers and Mangellans
2006 - Tower of Terror
2006 - An update to WDW Mansion attic scene
2013 Mystic Manor
2013 - WDW Thunder Mountain