The Back Side of Chicken

While the above image may look like the interior of the Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square (shown below), it’s actually the Chicken Plantation Restaurant EXTERIOR.



Here’s a daytime vintage image of the long-gone Chicken Plantation that once resided along the Rivers of America:



The front of this restaurant, which was removed in 1962 to make way for New Orleans Square, definitely inspired the Blue Bayou. The back…that’s an entirely different story! The corporate sponsor, Swift’s Premium Meats, did not give positive reviews for the Mexican Adobe styling of the backside. Swift Company reps thought it looked like a mud hovel and not very enticing to potential guests viewing it from the nearby Frontierland Depot. I can just hear this couple now, looking at the structure: “George, I wouldn’t eat at that dump if you paid me!”





Shortly after opening, the shutters were added to make it seem a bit fancier.



Another backside view with a cast member carrying a food tray. I love the rustic log fountain!



A previously posted shot of the backside of the restaurant:



…and a shot from the edge of the Rivers of America to give you an idea of where it was located:



See more Disneyland Chicken Plantation photos at my main website.

New Orleans vs. New Orleans Square, Pt. 2

I had to cover food; anyone that knows me is aware that the restaurants have a heavy bearing on whether or not I like a city. Antoine’s in New Orleans was one of my favorites, but I had noticed the quality had definitely deteriorated on my last visit. The front of the restaurant could have been part of the inspiration for Disneyland’s Blue Bayou. Below is a shot of a delicious steak I enjoyed at Galatoire’s; probably one of the best I have ever eaten.

And dessert...the cheesecake was incredible. When I travel and dine, I do not count calories. That's what the daily routine is for.

New Orleans is known for its beignets and coffee that you would get at the world famous Café du Monde:

At Disneyland’s New Orleans Square, I once enjoyed these Mickey Mouse shaped beignets at the Café Orleans. Good...but not quite as good as their New Orleans cousin.

The exterior of the Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland, one of my favorite places to dine at Disneyland. While the food may not necessarily be out of this world, the experience and atmosphere help make up for that.

Their Monte Cristo sandwich was a staple for me until they changed the recipe and made it a bit more healthy. The fried cheesecake was also a casualty of that trend.

The nearby Mint Julep “bar” offers a refreshing non-alcoholic version of the southern beverage.

When Walt wanted a VIP supper club at Disneyland, it’s not surprising that he picked New Orleans Square as the location. While the city of New Orleans may be known for its decadence and partying, many of the restaurants have a very strict dress code not found out here in Southern California.

A lamb chop from my dinner at Club 33.

Speaking of partying, here is one of the most famous tourist traps in New Orleans, Pat O”Brien’s. It is known for its radioactive red Hurricane drink.

Club 33 added a jazz lounge/bar of its own back in 2014. Very few watering holes in New Orleans are this refined and sedate.

Still, it’s a fun place to sip and savor a beverage while at Disneyland.

Overall review of the food comparison is very similar to that of the architecture and atmosphere; if you want the deliciously decadent artery clogging experience, go to Louisiana. If you prefer your food sanitized and a little less greasy with drinks that are less potent, go to Disneyland.

Will there be a third post in this series? Of course!

See more New Orleans photos at my main website.

Vintage Blue Bayou

This vintage 1966 photo shows the recently opened Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland's New Orleans Square. Here is the accompanying publicity blurb:

DINING BY CANDLELIGHT AND MOONLIGHT - - In Disneyland's new Blue Bayou Restaurant, authentic Southern cuisine and Dixieland music mingle on the romantic veranda of an old southern mansion overlooking the moonlit bayou. Out across the blue waters is an old trapper's boat, mighty oaks trailing Spanish moss and the sounds of bayou animals. Diners here are seated beneath the legendary Dueling Oak.

Zooming in, I have to ask what the heck is going on with this poor cast member's hat? It looks like something you'd put over a roll of toilet paper in the guest bathroom.



A closer look at the painted backdrop and trapper's boat.



The Bayou is still an amazing dining option when you visit Disneyland; just make sure you get a reservation ahead of time!



The Old Southern Mansion:



How the Bayou looks today:



More tasty Blue Bayou morsels at my main website.

Panic on POTC!

It began like most journeys through the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland. Except this time we had a VIP Tour Guide. And we entered through the exit. And we immediately got onto the attraction. Other than that it was the same. We got in our boat and sailed through the Blue Bayou, passing the Restaurant at the beginning of their lunch rush.



Everyone sang "Yo Ho" as we viewed the vignettes of the grotto.



Worst case of heartburn. He must have eaten at Goofy's Kitchen.



The Wicked Wench:



How many of you notice these heads popping up with the canon fire?



Poor Carlos. It's bad enough that he has a wife badly in need of dental work, but now he wishes he had paid attention in swim class.



Plenty of characters along the way to see, such as this Jack Sparrow animatronic at the Costurera:



and the onlookers for the wench auction.



Sorry, no Red Headed Wench shots this time; I was on the wrong side of the boat for that.



Always great to see this guy. "Here kitty, kitty…"



sounds like my next door neighbors at 3am. For realz.



Once known as the Hairy Legged Pirate, this guy has obviously fell victim to manscaping by Imaginears.



The attraction was coming to a close as we approached the jail. A skeleton…



3 nasty dudes…



another three trying to get out…



The chair and rafters overhead should have warned me that there was trouble up ahead.



When I saw the lady in the boat ahead of me stand up, I assumed she was a cast member. Then I saw what she was wearing and knew that she wasn't. Then I figured she was looking for a quick photo opportunity as she perilously straddled the boat and the "shore."



Wrong on all counts. She was having a panic attack, as she told everyone in the boats who cared to listen as they passed her by. Why she would choose to exit the boat just as it was about to take her to dry land is beyond my comprehension.



You won't find her on the map at the end, but she should be on there.



Hard to tell what you might find at the Park these days.

Get your Disneyland photo fix 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.