People tend to think of Disneyland and a static place tied to their childhood memories of magic, joy, and laughter. The reality is Disneyland is always changing, shifting, and updating to meet the needs of the park and its guests (the cynical would insert profits here as well). Two rather large changes are happening this week that will provide new experiences next time you visit.
First, the Carnation Cafe is getting back its indoor seating. That means the Main Street Blue Ribbon Bakery had to go. But the park still needs a place to pick up some quick breakfast and lunch food. The answer? Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, a Mary Poppins themed restaurant which will take over the old Plaza Pavilion. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the first time the Mary Poppins theme has been used in the park outside a parade or meet and greet?
The Jolly Holiday Bakery Café features a menu of sandwiches, salads, bakery items and specialty beverages. The café is decorated with whimsical touches from the film throughout the building and outdoor seating area, including the above stained-glass image on an entry window. The menu at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café includes an Angus roast beef salad with blue cheese; a Caprese sandwich with tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella, basil, butter lettuce and garlic aioli on toasted focaccia bread; and a selection of soups. Bakery items include a cupcake of the day, flourless chocolate cake, fruit tarts and Mickey-shaped desserts.
The other large change involves one attraction going down for refurbishment for up to half the year. Yes, the Matterhorn Bobsleds is getting some major work done once again. This time they’ll also be returning the seating to individual seats (as it was at opening and as Space Mountain is in Orlando). That means no more lap seating but will also reduce the capacity from a max of 8 bobsledders per run down to 6. So expect lines to lengthen accordingly after the fix. The last day to sit all snug and hold on to your loved one is Sunday the 8th of January. Someone take some pictures for me.
What do you think of these changes to the park?
(Photo courtesy Paul Hiffmeyer / Disneyland)
I love that I’ll be able to experience the Matterhorn Bobsleds as they were originally designed when I finally make it out to Disneyland!
Awesome. It does my heart good to finally see that beautiful building being used once again and the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe is a perfect way to bring it back to life. AND I am even happier that the Carnation Cafe is getting the respect it deserves by being restored to it’s former glory. I remember being able to sit inside and enjoy a meal when it was a bit chilly outside. I am hoping that the end result of this renovation/restoration is wonderful! Now about those bobsleds. AWESOME!
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No Lap Seating? They are taking all the romance out of the park. The Matterhorn was THE ride to take your date!
So was Adventure Thru Inner Space. :)
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I would guess that “Order what you will/There’ll be no bill/It’s comp-li-men-tary…” won’t be a part of the cast member script at the Jolly Holiday Bakery….
:)
I find this humorous.
The former Plaza Pavilion building is some high-quality real-estate in Disneyland. I’ve been viewing some pictures of the atmosphere and food in the restaurant which has its grand opening today and it looks excellent. It’s good to see this prime location put to some greater use than it has been in recent years. I still maintain my opinion that Mary Poppins deserves a greater presence in the parks. I’ve had this concept for a Mary Poppins dark ride floating around in my head for a long time now that I think would be an excellent addition to a Disney theme park. At least Disney has taken some sort of step in this direction, but much greater potential still exists with our friends on Cherry Tree Lane.
I am happy to see Carnation Café retrieve that indoor seating that it lost years ago. Giving up the Blue Ribbon Bakery is fine with me since a far grander bakery will be replacing it, which I’m sure was the intent. Carnation Café has been getting smaller and smaller over the years, it’s refreshing to see this Main Street sit-down restaurant make a turn in the other direction.
As for the Matterhorn renovation, I hope that this favorite will be returning to its roots in more ways than restoring the original seating arrangements. The Matterhorn has undergone drastic changes time and time again over the years and what we have now is nothing like what opened in 1959. The largest refurbishment, from 1978, saw the hollow interior broken up into icy tunnels which provided a higher level of theming, but also took away some of the thrills of seeing how high up you had scaled. Holes in the mountain were sealed up, blocking many high-altitude views of the entire park to guests. 1978 also saw the addition of the now-primitive Abominable Snowman audio-animatronic, which is now laughable to guests compared to the fierce, terrifying one that thrilled guests on Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (since then, however, this one has become more laughable than the one at Disneyland, at least the Matterhorn one still moves). Also, though this is my wishful thinking, I miss the Skyway that went through the top of the mountain and would welcome its return (like that would ever happen). Eh, it’s nice to dream. I also hope that the lines for Matterhorn Bobsleds will be able to maintain efficiency, considering the reduced capacity. I’m not sure whether to expect any sort of drastic changes in that department.
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