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Especially in its early days, Disneyland had several sponsors, especially for its restaurants. While we still see this a bit today, such as with things like DOLE Whip, it is less of an everyday occurrence at the park. So let’s take a look back at some of the bygone, vintage sponsors of yesteryear.
Casa de Fritos Restaurant
Located in Frontierland, Casa de Fritos opened in 1955. Sponsored by Frito-Lay, this restaurant was a mainstay until 1982. The original Doritos were even invented there out of leftover tortillas.
The original Casa de Fritos location became Don DeFore’s Silver Banjo Barbecue in 1957. Casa de Fritos moved to the former Marshal’s Office in Frontierland instead.
When Frito-Lay and Disney ended their partnership in 1982, Casa de Fritos closed and reopened after a refurbishment. It became Casa Mexicana in 1982 and closed in 2001. This restaurant is now Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante.
Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship
Sponsored by Chicken of the Sea, the pirate ship was sponsored by them from 1955 to 1969. It was well known for its tuna burger and hot tuna pie.
“It didn’t look like a walk-up eatery,” Jim Denney, author of Walt’s Disneyland, told SFGATE via email in 2025. “It looked like an attraction, because it was an attraction. It was a destination worth visiting, whether you chose to eat there or not.”
After Chicken of the Sea stopped sponsoring the restaurant in 1969, this spot became Captain Hook’s Galley. The ship remained until 1982.
Carnation Ice Cream Parlor
Carnation Ice Cream Parlor was an opening day eatery when Disneyland opened in 1955. It was sponsored by the Carnation Company. The parlor closed in 1997.
Although it would remain open as it was until 1997, Nestlé purchased the Carnation Company in 1985 and got rid of their ice cream brand. Even though Carnation was no longer the sponsor or product of the location, Disneyland kept the name.
You can still visit this spot as Carnation Café reopened at the park in 2012. Though it isn’t an ice cream parlor anymore, this is a proper restaurant now.
Red Wagon Restaurant
Red Wagon was open from July 1955 until July 1965 and was the largest restaurant at Disneyland at the time. It was centered on the 1890s, as alluded to in the 50s ad above.
The restaurant’s sponsor, The Swifts Premium Meat Company, ended its sponsorship in 1956. Following that, it turned into the Plaza Inn.
Note that the sign outside the restaurant says “Red Wagon Inn” and not “Red Wagon Restaurant.”
As you can see above, the menu exclusively featured Swift’s Quality Meats. The kids’ menu, seen above, was a “menu for young Americans.”
This building still houses the Plaza Inn. While the theming is largely the same, the restaurant did receive a facelift before its renaming.
Maxwell House Coffee House
Maxwell House Coffee House was one of the shorter-established sponsored locations at Disneyland. It opened on December 1, 1955, and closed on October 8, 1957.
After that, the sponsorship went away, and the space became Hills Brothers Coffee House. Then, from winter 1976 to spring 1978, this was Town Square Cafe, which morphed into American Egg House from 1978 to 1983, only to go back to Town Square Cafe again. From then until August 1992, this restaurant remained.
Golden Horseshoe
When it opened on July 17, 1955, this location was called The Golden Horseshoe Stage. It ran as a revue until October 12, 1986.
Golden Horseshoe was sponsored by Pepsi-Cola from 1955 until September 1982. That was followed by Eastman Kodak from October 1, 1982, to April 30, 1984. The Golden Horseshoe opened its new show on November 1, 1986, until December 18, 1994.
Walt and Lillian Disney even celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a party at the Golden Horseshoe. This party was on July 13, 1955, and was only a few days before the opening of Disneyland.
Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House
Originally called the Aunt Jemima Pancake House with sponsorship from Quaker Oats, this restaurant opened on August 9, 1955, and lasted until January 1962. Then it reopened as Aunt Jemima’s Kitchen until 1970, when it was changed again to Magnolia Tree Terrace.
River Belle Terrace
River Belle Terrace then opened in 1971, sponsored by Oscar Mayer. The spot was also previously sponsored by Hormel and Sunkist. It still operates as River Belle Terrace to this day.
McDonald’s Fries Spots
McDonald’s was a sponsor for fries locations at Disneyland. These included Conestoga Fries or Westward Ho! from 1998 to 2008.
These McDonald ‘s-sponsored spots went away after the sponsorship ended in 2008, as did the familiar fries.
Do you miss any of these spots? Let us know on social media!
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