The “Ugly Baby” in New Orleans Square

Yesterday, my most faithful reader brought to my attention a YouTube video that mentioned my website as “invaluable.” My first question was…why does my bank account not reflect that? Putting that aside, I took a look at the ReviewTyme YouTube channel. The title of the video that mentioned my site was “The Mystery of Disneyland’s Ugly Baby.” Intrigued, I watched the entire 21 minute video which details a statue that resided in New Orleans Square. The first photo from my collection shows the original models for that land which opened in July of 1966. On the right of the model you see the corner of Café Orleans and a low fence; this is the area where the statue was placed originally (although not part of the model). The earliest shot in my collection that shows the actual statue is a rear view. Literally. From July 1967:



The statue that Dom from ReviewTyme refers to as “The Ugly Baby” appears to have originally been a young maiden who faced towards the guests dining at Café Orleans.



This image from October 1967…



confirms that theory:



How about a genuine FauxD© shot from July 1968?



Grainy, but still there.



December 1968:





And then, as Dom pointed out, my collection goes dark until March 2010:



At some point during that large gap of time, the statue was replaced and also turned outward. The young maiden was transformed into a cherub:



The only closeup in my collection is from February 2011:



February 2012:



A year later, the statue seems to have begun a quick descent into obliteration; the erosion on the face is especially noticeable.



Flash forward to the last time I captured this statue in May 2015:



The face has begun to look grotesque with a misshapen mouth:



What happened after 2015? You’ll have to watch all of ReviewTyme’s video to find out!



See more photos at my main website.

60th Anniversary Trip, Pt. 12

It's time for New Orleans Square at Night! The Magnolia Park area is one of the most beautiful quiet spots in the park; a lovely place to sit, relax, and watch the peeps going by.

A few interior shots of Cafe Orleans after the doors have closed.





Let's get a closer look at that copper coffee urn, shall we?



Quite a history!



I am a nut for signage, but even more so at night when it is all lit up!





An interior shot of the Blue Bayou Restaurant lobby:



Time to shift over to Adventureland for more nighttime magic.



Hopefully you've all experienced the joy of Shrunken Ned in the Adventureland Bazaar:







This underused area was once the vibrant Tahitian Terrace:



I spent some time in the Tiki Room courtyard getting these gems of the animated Tiki statues, starting with Koro:



Pele:



Pele mad:



and Maui:



Tomorrow, we'll spend some time in Fantasyland!



More Disneyland night (and day) photos at my main website.

Thanksgiving Feeding Frenzy: Eating Your Way Through Disneyland

As I slave over a hot stove preparing my Thanksgiving Feast, I thought I'd share a few food photos to get YOUR appetites started. I take no responsibility for the hunger that this post might induce or the fact that some of these items might not be available any more.

Nothing could be finer that breakfast with Aunt Jemima (If you pronounce it the right way, I am sure you could make that last sentence rhyme!).

Since Aunt J's is long gone, you can get your pancake fix taken care of over at The Disneyland Hotel's Steakhouse 55:



Mickey Waffles are available over at the Storyteller Cafe:



Beignets from Cafe Orleans would also make a nice start to the day:



Just make sure you wash them down with a nice wholesome paper cup of milk:



Shifting away from breakfast towards lunch, perhaps a bag of Frito's would make a nice transition snack?



If you feel guilty about eating turkey...



then Silver Banjo BBQ might be your "thang"...



Oh, that's right. That place closed YEARS ago. The Celebration BBQ meal at Big Thunder Ranch would make a fine substitution.



Or perhaps Pork Loin & Coca-Cola BBQ sauce from Flo's:



If seafood is your "dish," you can't go wrong with Walt's personal recommendation of a Tuna Boat Salad:



Served by these lovely cast members (I wonder if they get time-and-a-half for Thanksgiving?):



If fried food is your weakness, then The Plaza Inn might be your choice, as they serve the best fried chicken:



For the ultimate in splurging, a deep-fried Monte Cristo at the Blue Bayou is about as good as it gets.



For dessert, how about a tasty blueberry pie at the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country?



Or perhaps a cupcake?



Jolly Holiday also carries cupcakes:



Caramel Apple Pie from Plaza Inn is always a Daveland fave:



The Golden Horseshoe holds its own when it comes to apple pie:



If paper plates aren't your thing, then go over to the Napa Rose for both taste and presentation:



If variety is what you need, you can stop by Marceline's for a sweet treat on your way to the tram:



Dole Whip might help calm your tummy a bit after all the indulging:



By the time you've done all your eating, you might need a cocktail to calm your nerves! Make sure it has the perfect ice cube from 1901:



I hope your Thanksgiving is also filled with friends, family, and blessings that can be shared with those that you care about!

See more vintage and current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web pages.