Buena Vista Street | the disney food blog

NEWS: We Now Have a DATE for When Disney California Adventure Will Open for Shopping and Dining!

Although the Disneyland Resort theme parks cannot reopen under California’s current theme park guidelines, Disneyland recently announced that it would be opening Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park for some limited shopping and dining starting this month!

Red Car Trolley

Just yesterday we saw the Red Car Trolley in the park being worked on, and we were getting so excited just thinking about when we’ll be able to step past the gates at Disney California Adventure once again. And NOW we know exactly WHEN Buena Vista Street will be opening!

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PHOTOS: The Red Car Trolley Has Been Spotted in Disneyland Resort!

By Kelly Oliveros Leave a Comment

We are getting ready to visit Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park as soon as it reopens this month for some shopping and dining!

Disney California Adventure

And, it looks like Disney is getting ready too. Today we spotted a very familiar vehicle in Disney California Adventure Park and we could not be more excited!

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Disneyland’s President Shares Photographs From INSIDE the Park!

By Carly Terzigni 2 Comments

If you're looking for information related to the current closures and their effect on the Disney Parks, click here for all the up-to-date details and click here for answers to dozens of reader FAQs.

These days, a simple photograph of the Disney parks means the world to us! Seeing the occasional update on how the parks are doing, even if it’s just a snapshot, truly brightens our day. So when we see new photos emerge, we want to share them with you!

Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle in Anaheim, California

We got a special Earth Day treat from Rebecca Campbell, president of the Disneyland Resort. She shared beautiful photographs on Instagram from inside the parks on a trip she took yesterday to check on the essential Cast Members currently working. Her caption as she walked through the parks reads, “I had to stop a few times and acknowledge how beautiful it still looks.”

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Popcorn News! The New Mickey Light-Up Tree Popcorn Bucket Has Arrived at Disneyland Resort!

By Janelle Sheetz 2 Comments

It’s a Christmas miracle for our friends on the west coast!

Disneyland Holiday Decorations

All of our Disney pals in California must have been especially good this year because you know those new Mickey Light-Up Tree Popcorn Buckets that have been selling like hotcakes at Disney World? Well, lo and behold — they’ve just flown into Disneyland Resort (and boy, are their arms tired!)

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Disning in Disneyland: Inside Rock Candy Mountain at Disney California Adventure

By Heather 3 Comments

A few months back, we gave you a sneak peek of Trolly Treats’ Rock Candy Mountain.

Displayed prominently in the candy store’s main window, these sweet slopes are definitely one of my favorite things to look at on Disney California Adventure’s Buena Vista Street; ESPECIALLY when you know its hidden secret!

Rock Candy Mountain Window Display on Buena Vista Street

History of Rock Candy Mountain

Originally intended as an attraction to be part of the Storybook Land Canal Boats; the Casey Jr. Circus Train was going to travel around it in Disneyland Park. Concept art was drawn, but the project was never built.

Rock Candy Mountain Original Concept Art

In its honor, the sparkling sugar mountain has been brought to life by imagineers who used both real and replica candies to create a fun window display that is sure to delight all passers by.

AND instead of Casey Jr. making its way around the tracks, a mini red trolley has the privilege. If you stand out front on Buena Vista Street, you can even hear the trolley bells coming from [Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: Hand Pulled Taffy at Trolley Treats

By Heather 5 Comments

Newly opened Trolley Treats in Disney California Adventure has a handful of signature items that I’m very excited about!

Trolly Treats on Buena Vista Street

One of them is this brightly striped, hand pulled taffy made on site in their very own candy kitchen!

This new signature line comes in four flavors (from left to right below): Lemon-Lime, Strawberry-Orange, Watermelon, & Raspberry Peach.

Hand Pulled Packaged Taffy

Taffy Flavors and Ingredients

When I heard that DCA would be making hand pulled taffy in the candy kitchen, I was actually picturing salt water taffy pieces; so when I saw these striped strips I was really surprised and [Read more…]

First Look and Review! Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure

By Heather 39 Comments

After years of watching the progress of Disney California Adventure’s expansion, and in recent months being able to see the tower of Carthay Circle Theater from behind construction walls, it’s so surreal that I have now actually dined there…twice!

*Please note, the lighting inside Carthay at night is so dark. Many of my photos do not do it justice.

Carthay Circle Restaurant Marquee

Carthay Circle Premiere!

Atmosphere

Inspired by the original Carthay Circle Theatre in Hollywood where Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937, the restaurant is about as close to a true replica as you can get.

The theming inside is true to the period as well. It features fabulous old photos of Walt as well as memorabilia from Snow White. From the moment you walk into Carthay Circle Restaurant, you feel as though you have stepped back in time; back to the “Golden Age” of Hollywood.

When facing Carthay, there are three doors. The two on the left are entrances to the restaurant, and the door to the right is the entrance to the private 1901 Lounge (for which we will soon have a review,too!). Lovely cast members are there to get the door for you and welcome you to Carthay Circle.

Welcome to Carthay

Upon entering there is a rather large lounge area. To the left is a spacious waiting area to enjoy after you’ve checked in for your meal, and to the right there is a separate room — The Carthay Circle Lounge — where the bar and extra seating is located.

Carthay Circle Lounge

In the lounge, you can get drinks and small bites. No reservations are needed to visit the lounge, and you are more than welcome to [Read more…]

First Look! Clarabelle’s Ice Cream Opens In Disney California Adventure

By Heather 17 Comments

A few weeks ago, we shared our excitement about Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, opening up today on Disney California Adventure’s Buena Vista Street.

Well, it’s time to hop on the Red Trolley and take a ride to check it out. Be sure to notice the fun ad for Clarabelle’s while you’re in the trolley. See you there!

Red Trolley Stop #1 at the Entrance to Buena Vista Street

Clarabelle’s Back Story

From the moment I heard about Clarabelle’s, I was really looking forward to checking it out. It has a fabulous little back story.

In the early 1920’s, it’s said that a young Walt Disney often visited an ice cream shop run by “Clarabelle Cowherd.” The bovine-obsessed Clarabelle ran her ice cream shop using farm fresh dairy products, and used old fashioned churns to make her flavorful hand scooped ice creams.

It’s said that she was the inspiration for Disney’s humorous Clarabelle Cow character. And I love that Clarabelle’s story is a part of the decor of this new ice cream stop on Buena Vista Street!

Clarabelle's Signage with Ice Cream Cone Inspired Light

Outdoor Wall Signage

Located smack in between the new Fiddler, Fifer, & Practical Cafe and Trolley Treats, Clarabelle’s is a walk-up counter service spot to get some traditional Disneyland Resort goodies as well as something totally new to the parks’ menus: The Hand Dipped Ice Cream Bar.

Clarabelle's Menu

Atmosphere

Clarabelle’s is tiny. With just three registers to place an order, I think on a hot day this cow-crazy cone shop is going to be an E-Ticket attraction sized line.

Don’t let it’s size fool you, though, because imagineers were able to pack some very snazzy decor into a [Read more…]

Coming Soon! Mortimer’s Market on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure

By Heather 14 Comments

There are so many fun new places about to open up in Disney California Adventure! I feel like I’m going to need a check list to hit them all when they officially open on June 15th!

Be sure to check out the great menu options at Flo’s V-8 Cafe, Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel, Carthay Circle Restaurant, Trolley Treats, and Clarabelle’s Ice Cream! And don’t forget to snag your Starbucks at Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Cafe!

Next up, Mortimer’s Market is one of the smaller shops, but that doesn’t mean you should skip it…

Mortimer's Market

Mortimer’s Market will be a one stop shop for whole and cut fresh fruits, veggies, “healthier” snacks, and beverages such as bottled water, juices, and soft drinks.

The “story” behind Mortimer’s is that this fresh fruit and veggie stand was run on Buena Vista Street by “Mortimer McKenzie.” Mortimer was said to be a small man with a high voice; friendly and unassuming with an enthusiastic personality. A certain young animator might have found inspiration for [Read more…]

First Look: Walls Are Down at Carthay Circle Restaurant (Plus Full Menu Photos!)

By Heather 13 Comments

It’s hard to believe that Disney California Adventure is coming to the end of its 5 year remodel and expansion. Even though June 15th is the “official” grand opening date, things are slowly starting to soft open (Mad T Party is in full swing), and the construction walls are finally coming down.

Carthay Theatre & Fountain

This weekend marked the revealing of Carthay Circle Theatre and the Carthay Fountain. Here are a few photos for you to drool over. It’s gorgeous.

Carthay Circle Theatre

A fitting tribute to the place where Walt Disney debuted his first animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in 1937, The Carthay Circle Theatre in Disney California Adventure will house a table service restaurant featuring “Premiere” (get it???) cuisine. I was very excited that the menu was already posted! I’ll take the House Biscuits immediately please…

Carthay Circle Menu

Carthay Circle Restaurant Menu Close Up -- click to read larger version

Although we couldn’t peek inside the windows, the outside was still amazing to see. For such a long time all we could see the was tippy top, but now you can get a glimpse of some of the fabulous details that have gone into imagineering this beautiful establishment… [Read more…]

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NEWS: We Now Have a DATE for When Disney California Adventure Will Open for Shopping and Dining!

PHOTOS: The Red Car Trolley Has Been Spotted in Disneyland Resort!

Disneyland’s President Shares Photographs From INSIDE the Park!

Popcorn News! The New Mickey Light-Up Tree Popcorn Bucket Has Arrived at Disneyland Resort!