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DCA History Tour – Dining

Can you believe it! We are just a little over 5 weeks away from the moment every Disney fan has been waiting for since 2008…the redo of Disney California Adventure will finally be completed! So, the OBVIOUS thing to do is move on to Part 4 of my DCA History Lesson! We have covered, so far, Sunshine Plaza, Golden Dreams, and Superstar Limo. This entry will be a lengthy one, since we are covering ALL of the past restaurants that have graced the face of the park. From quick service to sit-down, expensive to cheap, we are covering them all! Let’s get started then! Grab a tray, place an order, and let’s travel back in time!

Let’s start off with the Quick Service locations around the park. They all tried to be unique and themed, though they were just QS places, but sometimes…the theme just didn’t work. “Pizza Oom Mow Mow” and “Burger Invasion” were 2 of those locations. The former was a a mish mash of two connected beach cottages (with a variety of pizza choices). You ate in, what seemed to be, outside of a garage door adorned with airbrush art that they put on shirts when you go to the beach. One of the problems facing this was that there was NO BACKSTORY! With such an awkwardly designed place and no story of how it got there, it was just known as “That ugly restaurant by the Orange Stinger”. It opened in Feb. of 2001 and closed in Sept. of 2010.

Right beside the glory that is “Pizza Oom Mow Mow” (btw, what a terrible pun!) was “Burger Invasion”. This spaceship/hamburger crossover was one of the many McDonald’s locations across the domestic Disney theme parks. This one, though, had no inside seating and no coverings…which is a deal breaker for most people. The McDonald’s contract expired in 2007, but the Mickey D’s fast food joint stayed around until Sept. of 2008. After it closed, it stayed closed…for 2 years. Eventually this, “Pizza Oom Mow Mow” and the S.S. Rustworthy (look for that in an upcoming blog!) were demolished and were replaced by the beautiful and delicious “Paradise Garden Grill” and “Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta”

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DCA History Tour: Superstar Limo

Editor, this is the second post in a series on DCA History as it prepares to re-make itself effective June 15th.

This article is going to be BIG! Bigger than Madonna! Bigger than Leonardo…well maybe not that big. Yes, you guessed it, we are heading back to LAX to relive what is regarded by some as the worst Disney theme park attraction of all time…I know, harsh. So let us look back, grab a map to Drew Carey’s house, and climb aboard as we head to our own premiere as we remember…”Superstar Limo.”

The premise was relatively simple. You were the “Latest and Greatest” thing to come to California and your premiere of your new movie was showing at the Chinese Theater that day. To get there, you had to travel in your “Superstar Limo” through all of California’s celeb hotspots and see some of “Hollywood’s Best” on your journey. Your Hollywood Agent would repeatedly check up on you via a small screen in the limo with you. When he wasn’t there, an invisible announcer became your tour guide through Rodeo Drive, Bel-Air, Malibu and beyond. After encountering Regis Philbin, an awkwardly placed Madame Leota reference and multiple “directors and screenwriters” you finally make it to your premiere and meet the Unofficial Star of DCA, “Hollywood Favorite,” Whoopi Goldberg.

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Worst Disney Attraction Ever

Despite creating the genre and 57 years of experience in the theme park industry, The Walt Disney Company has not hit every attraction out of the park. In fact, some were complete strikeouts. Here are a few of my nominees for the worst Disney Attraction… Read More »Worst Disney Attraction Ever

Walt Disney Family Museum Amasses Unique Collection

An interview with The Walt Disney Family Museum’s director of collections, Michael Labrie, was recently published. It provides some interesting background to the museum and its growing collection. Says Labrie: “Diane just acquired this wonderful collection of small thumbnail paintings of scenes from ‘Lady and… Read More »Walt Disney Family Museum Amasses Unique Collection

Holidayland, Disneyland’s Forgotten Land

We all know the rule, no alcohol is served at Disneyland (or the Magic Kingdom for that matter). But did you know that it wasn’t always the case. A special land set up outside the berm would allow guests to have a meal and a… Read More »Holidayland, Disneyland’s Forgotten Land

Red Car Trolley Previewed at California Adventure

One of the key elements of the makeover of Disneyland’s second gate is the Red Car Trolley. Inspired by the historic Pacific Electric Red Cars that criss-crossed the Los Angeles area and were featured in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the Red Car Trolley will operate… Read More »Red Car Trolley Previewed at California Adventure

Robert Sherman – A Son’s Tribute

The Disney Insider has posted a very touching tribute to recently deceased Disney songsmith Robert Sherman, or as the author called him — Dad. We all know there’s something special about “it’s a small world”, but I have new appreciation after reading Jeffrey Sherman’s tribute… Read More »Robert Sherman – A Son’s Tribute

POV Ride through Fan’s Classic Disneyland Nature’s Wonderland Model

Artist Sam Towler has built a fantastic model of Disneyland’s long gone, but much loved, Mine Train thorugh Nature’s Wonderland attraction. Replaced by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in 1979, generations of Disneyland fans have grown up without knowing the simple magic of the original version. Thanks to Towler, you can now get the experience of an actual on-ride point of view.

This was filmed using one of those Hot Wheels car digital cameras. Not too shabby, eh. Compare with film of the original attraction. Find out more about his model on his blog. Be sure to visit his other blogs to see more creations, like this fantastic Casey’s Jr. Circus Train from 2008. (Video below the jump)

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