Lunch at the Bayou

When my friend Stacy invited me to join her and the family at Disneyland to take photos of her dad's 65th birthday celebration, she sealed the deal with lunch invitations at the Blue Bayou. It was the equivalent of waving catnip in front of a feline; I was powerless to say "no."



There's something about this restaurant's nighttime-during-the-day atmosphere that weaves a magic spell over me. I lose track of time and find myself gawking over the plastic lanterns above. Wouldn't you love to sneak up these stairs and take photos from the balcony? These are the thoughts that go through my head.



If the lights were up, I am sure the faux plantation façade and phony wisteria would lose much of their luster to me.



Instead, I feel like I'm back in the south at an outdoor restaurant with the sounds of frogs and crickets fading into the background.



A set table awaiting the next group of guests.



My one gripe with the Blue Bayou is about what the food has become. The sourdough-style rolls that had a delicious crunchy crust have been replaced with a selection of breads that taste like they came from the grocery store…and not a good one. My favorite wedge salad with the yummy vinaigrette, blue cheese, and bits of andouille sausage has been replaced with a mess of shredded…who knows what. The once southern-style menu has been Andrew Sutton-fied.



The recipe for the Tesoro Island Chicken Breast seems to have also undergone a metamorphosis: "Pan-seared with Boursin Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Spinach, and Fennel Confit with Roasted Shallot Reduction." Fancy-fancy sounding, but again, on the plate, it just looks a little bit like a mess. It tasted ok, but nothing that would make me rush back.



I reached over to take a shot of Stacy's Monte Cristo Sandwich. What was once my favorite item at the Bayou has been changed beyond recognition.



I get it; eating food that is deep fried is not good for you. However, I can eat healthy at home; no need to spend $27 for this somewhat bland version of what I used to love. Compare with what it used to look like in 2005; oh that golden deep-fried crust. My arteries are clogging just thinking about it. And for those who are crying tears for the health of children and adults everywhere, take care of it in your own kitchen. Nothing wrong with moderation and a little cheat every now and then. But then again, this is Disney. They have to be middle-of-the-road and not offend the moral minority.



After your meal, don't forget to use the restroom; it is probably the nicest one in the park!



See more Daveland vintage & current Disneyland Blue Bayou Restaurant photos at my main website.

Casey Junior's Circus Special

As I mentioned before, I was unable to ride the Storybook Land canal boats due to them being closed, BUT I was able to hop onto Casey Junior's Circus Train instead! Always good to have alternatives. I took the opportunity to snap a recent shot of what was once this attraction's ticket booth.

Interesting to note that while the chimney now has a whimsical bend to it, the roof tiles have taken a turn towards dullsville.



A closer look at the ticket window for you:



Back to present day, as I waited (somewhat) patiently in the queue, I photographed Casey making his journey back towards the station.





Here he comes…I wonder which car I'll get?



Turning around I shot these beautiful topiary arches, which look even better at night when the lights are twinkling.



All aboard!



See more Daveland vintage & current Disneyland Casey Jr. photos at my main website.

Rock Hudson Swings

We have all heard that Rock Hudson was a swinger; now Daveland provides photographic evidence.



See more Daveland Rock Hudson photos at my main website.

2 Snow Whites for the Price of 1

This vintage September 1961 shot is something you just don't see at Disneyland: two of the same characters in one photo! You can clearly see Snow White herself waltzing into the frame from the right-hand side, accompanied by the Seven Dwarfs.

Zooming in a bit, we see something near and dear to my heart: the original Snow White attraction queue mural:



Zooming in even closer, you can see a SECOND costumed Snow White, hanging out in the queue.



I can only imagine the kind of trauma this would have caused for the wee ones.

See more Daveland Disneyland Snow White's Scary Adventures photos at my main website.

Early Morning on Sunset Pt. 3: Hollywood High

My only previous shots of Hollywood High School were of the Mural that was being painted back in 2002 by Eloy Torrez. Built in 1910, this Art Moderne classic was right on my way home as I was dashing down Sunset with my camera early one morning last month.



Who would ever think that a high school could be a work of art?



The lettering style is a favorite of mine, very much like that used in Burbank at the Disney Studio.



The clouds added to the beauty of this quiet morning.



Oh the beautiful round corners of Art Moderne. If only life were this smooth!



The designs in the concrete blocks are reminiscent of what Frank Lloyd Wright used in many of his buildings.



To think that Judy Garland, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mickey Rooney, Carol Burnett, and Lana Turner actually got their diplomas here!



See more Daveland Hollywood High School photos at my main website.

Darth Vader takes a selfie

Last weekend was the first Star Wars Half Marathon at the Disneyland Resort. The day before the big race, the little ones were able to have their own competition with a variety of kid races designed for just about every age. I didn't stay long enough for the Diaper Dash. Seriously.



Appropriately costumed cast members cheered the tiny tots on.





Some needed assistance from mom:



while some just enjoyed parading their costumes through the course:



My favorite was catching a proud Darth Vader taking a selfie. You just don't see that every day.



See more Daveland vintage & current Disneyland photos at my main website.

Frozen comes to Storybook Land

This will probably come as a shock to those who read this blog for its Disney content, but I have yet to see the movie "Frozen." Still, I was anxious to see how the village of Arendelle would fit into Disneyland's classic Storybook Land attraction. Just like the state it resides in, there is only so much real estate available at Disneyland, so to make room for Arendelle, something would have to be sacrificed. In this case, the Windmills (shown above) would have to go. I am sure there are many diehards like me who are sad to see this representation from the innovative 1937 animated Disney short "The Old Mill" bite the dust, but I can totally understand. How many of today's generation have even heard of "The Old Mill"?



In my first photo, note the shadow of Casey Junior. Storybook Land was closed last weekend, but I didn't let that deter me from getting my photos. I simply headed over to Casey and bumped up the shutter speed on my camera!



Arendelle fits in fairly well, but at the same time, because of the size of its castle, it is a bit overwhelming.



The mountains behind Arendelle are a nice match with those behind Gepetto's village as well as the peak of the Matterhorn that looms over all.



The details are great, too, including this little cabin:





The back side of Arendelle:



Overall, I would say that the newest addition/change to Storybook Land is a positive one.

See more Daveland vintage & current Storybook Land photos at my main website.

The Not-so-Royal Court

Once again, 21 Royal Street (aka the Royal Court) at Disneyland is open again to guests.



Rumors swirled around the forums that it was closed to either be a private event space for Club 33 or a special Club 33 annex available to regular guests like you and me willing to pay for an Andrew Sutton meal. So far, nothing has been officially announced.



When I was at the Park, it was interesting to see guests buzz in and out of the Royal Court with their cameras. I heard a few mention the closing, look around, and then leave. Very few photos were taken, and you could almost see the disappointment on people's faces at what they saw. It might be called the Royal Court, but it doesn't look very royal.



The current color scheme is a bit garish and most of the interesting decor has been removed. It looks like this space is in transition.



It is certainly no substitute for the former Court of Angels that has now been sealed off.



How it looked before the remodel, when at least sported some plants and props:



And a genuine ©FauxD image from July 17, 1968:



If you're not happy with what you see, take it up with Fortune Red.



See more Daveland Royal Court photos at my main website.