Tag Archives: Disney Park

August 29, 1955 – The Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant Opens in Disneyland

“Part of the elaborately themed restaurant location included Skull Rock Cove where you could sit and enjoy your meal.”

On August 29, 1955, the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant opened in Disneyland’s Fantasyland. The restaurant was Peter Pan-themed, once standing where the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction resides today. The restaurant was a quick-service spot serving several tuna dishes, including a tuna burger; it also featured an area of seating designed like Skull Rock from the animated feature. The restaurant remained under the Chicken of the Sea sponsorship until 1969, when it was renamed Captain Hook’s Galley, where it stood until 1982.The ship was originally made entirely of wood, but quickly started to rot from sitting in the water, and work was done over several years to replace the wood with concrete. During the redesign of Fantasyland, Imagineers tried to save the ship, but the ship had to be moved, and was eventually destroyed when parts were moved away and involved in an accident. The ship has since been recreated in Disneyland Paris, while parts of Skull Rock were reused for the Storybook Land Canal Boats.

August 9, 1955 – The Aunt Jemima Pancake House Opens in Disneyland’s Frontierland

On August 9, 1955, the Aunt Jemima Pancake House restaurant opened in Disneyland’s Frontierland area. This restaurant could be considered one of Disney’s first forays into character dining, as Aunt Jemima would appear to greet guests in the early days of the park. The restaurant closed in early 1962, and has changed many times since then, becoming Aunt Jemima’s Kitchen (operating from July 17 1962 to 1970), Magnolia Tree Terrace (operating from 1970 to 1971), and finally, the River Belle Terrace; however, throughout all these incarnations, pancakes have always remained the staple at this restaurant.