DISNEYLAND Sponsors: The Swift Company

When DISNEYLAND was being built, Walt Disney desperately looked for every penny he could scrape up to finish the park. Many people doubted the park would succeed, so money was hard to come by. Walt sent his staff members out to shake the bushes for potential sponsors and one of the first companies to sign up was the Swift Meat Packing Company. Swift sponsored three locations at the Magic Kingdom- The Swift Market House, The Red Wagon Inn and the Chicken Plantation Restaurant.

The Chicken Plantation, located in Frontierland, sold fried chicken dinners made with Swift Brand chicken. The restaurant was DISNEYLAND's answer to Mrs. Knott's Fried Chicken, though it never became as successful as Knott's Berry Farm's legendary restaurant. The Chicken Plantation was eventually replaced by the New Orleans Square expansion in 1966.

The Red Wagon Inn was a restaurant located at the end of Main Street right outside Tomorrowland. It served various dishes which made use of Swift's products. The Red Wagon Inn was replaced by the Plaza Inn, also in 1966. Coincidentally, the Plaza Inn now serves great fried chicken dinners.

The Swift Market House was located on Main Street, but what it actually sold remains in dispute. While some Disney historians believe it operated as a regular butcher shop, selling uncooked Swift meats, others believe it just sold coffee and housewares, much like it does today. The building is now called just The Market House and was recently renovated to sell Starbucks Coffee.

Happy Birthday, Donald Duck!

Eighty years ago on this day, Donald Duck made his debut in the classic cartoon short The Wise Little Hen. Playing a selfish character who refused to help the Hen of the title grow corn, Donald wasn't the star of the short. He stuck out from the other characters, however, and soon became a worldwide phenomenon.

Disney Quote Weekends

"Mickey Mouse popped out of my mind onto a drawing pad 20 years ago on a train ride from Manhattan to Hollywood at a time when business fortunes of my brother Roy and myself were at lowest ebb and disaster seemed right around the corner."

-Walt Disney

Disney Quote Weekends

“Every day in some small way, we are a part of Walt’s dream, whether walking through the park, watching amazing movies or television, or just spending time together. It all started with a young cartoonist landing in Los Angeles, his friend Mickey Mouse in his heart, a trunk full of dreams and ambitions, and most importantly, a lifetime of stories to tell.”

-Noah

DISNEYLAND Parade Week: The Main Street Electrical Parade

For many years, the end to a magical day at DISNEYLAND would be capped off by viewing the dazzling Main Street Electrical Parade. Millions of twinkling lights covered each and every magical float in a parade powered solely by batteries! (Energizer was a longtime sponsor of the parade.)

The classic DISNEYLAND version of the parade stepped off nightly from 1971 until 1996. In 1997 it was transported to New York, where it was displayed as part of the premiere of the animated film Hercules. From there, it was sent to Florida, where it ran until 2000 in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park. In 2001 it returned to California to run at DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE. In 2010 it was sent back to Florida where it remains to this day. (Though it is rumored to be returning to DISNEYLAND soon.)

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. DISNEYLAND proudly presents our spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination. In thousands of sparkling lights and electro-magnetic musical sounds. The Main Street Electrical Parade!"

DISNEYLAND Parade Week: The Lion King Celebration

In 1994, Disney knew that it had something special in its newest animated film The Lion King. Even before the film was released, the DISNEYLAND Entertainment Department set about to translate the magic that would be unleashed on theater screens into a real life spectacular. And spectacular it was!

DISNEYLAND's Lion King Celebration was a rhythmic salute to the movie that graced Main Street, often up to three times daily! Widely regarded as the greatest parade ever staged by DISNEYLAND (or any Disney theme park for that matter) The Lion King Celebration set the bar for what a parade could be so high that it has yet to be matched. The parade was so beloved that Disney produced a popular videocassette sold only in DISNEYLAND that quickly sold out to grateful guests who were happy to take home a reminder of a truly magical experience.

"It's the circle of life

And it moves us all

Through despair and hope

Through faith and love

Till we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the circle

The circle of life."

DISNEYLAND Parade Week: Party Gras!

DISNEYLAND has a well earned reputation for throwing the biggest, boldest parties. So in 1990 when it was celebrating its 35th birthday, it threw its biggest party yet- Party Gras! Featuring oversized Disney character balloons, festive multi-colored confetti and a Caribbean sound, nobody could resist the magic of DISNEYLAND's Party Gras!

"Everyday we're starting something

DISNEYLAND is jumping

Do the Party Gras!"

DISNEYLAND Parade Week: Happy Birthday, Donald Duck

He may be a bit on the rough side, but deep down we all know Donald Duck is a softie. Despite his hair trigger temper, Donald has become an internationally known and beloved star. In 1984 he celebrated a milestone- 50 years! And all of his fans and friends wanted to join the celebration! And what a celebration it was! DISNEYLAND threw a party suitable for a King (or mouse.) A memorable song, bright floats and a cavalcade of Disney characters delighted guests twice daily.

There's a party, party,

a party today.

A once a year occasion.

A party, party!

Is coming our way,

Donald's Birthday celebration!

DISNEYLAND Parade Week: Totally Minnie

We kick-off summer by remembering famous DISNEYLAND Parades!

DISNEYLAND didn't always have year round parades. Guests would typically see parades only during the summer months and the Christmas season. So the summer months were an especially special time to visit the Magic Kingdom. One of the more memorable parades of the 1980's celebrated an often overlooked Disney character- Minnie Mouse!

Given a 1980's makeover, Minnie Mouse hit the streets of DISNEYLAND in the Totally Minnie parade performed twice daily. With an infectious theme song, day-glo wardrobe and a valley girl attitude, Minnie Mouse finally got the attention she deserved.

"When she flashes those long lashes

she brings down the house. 

Who else could it be but Minnie Mouse?"

Disney Quote Weekends

“Mickey and I started out that first time many, many years ago. We’ve had a lot of our dreams come true. Now we want you to share with us our latest and greatest dream. That’s it right here: DISNEYLAND.”

-Walt Disney