During the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration, guests can enjoy a limited-time experience filled with new and returning entertainment, festive decorations, and, of course, themed food and beverages. For many, favorite snacks at Disneyland over the years evoke cherished memories of The Happiest Place on Earth.
One guest might recall a distant memory from the '60s, approaching a pirate ship to order a tuna sandwich, as pirates naturally would. Another might remember a hazy scene under the lights of Videopolis in the ‘80s, questioning if it truly happened (oh, it did). Or perhaps they recall sitting down for dinner at Disneyland Park in the ‘90s, with their mom tucking a napkin into their shirt as a plate of Beef Stroganoff was served.
With decades of rich history, the chefs at Disneyland Resort have harnessed the power of snacking to blend old memories with new creations, even delving into past recipes for inspiration to craft modern takes on classic dishes. Here is a guide to Disney time traveling the only way we know how … through food.
For the full lineup of the nostalgic foods, new eats and dazzling sips at the celebration, see the Disney Eats Disneyland 70th Anniversary Foodie Guide.
A Few of Walt’s Favorites
He would often tell guests that it all began with a mouse, yet it was Walt Disney who inaugurated Disneyland Park in 1955. Including some of his favorite dishes on the 70th-anniversary menu is a way to pay tribute to him during Disneyland's celebration. Here are several new dishes inspired by Walt's fondness for chili, pie, and naturally, mouse ears.
Mickey Hat Cookie
Find it at: Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe and Market House in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Cookie dipped in chocolate with a chocolate decoration.
These cookies feature a design that resembles the mouse ear hat made famous by the Mickey Mouse Club TV series in 1955. While guests don't have to sing "M-I-C-K-E-Y" between bites, we certainly won't stop them.
Chili Cheese Corn Dog
Find it at: Corn Dog Castle in Disney California Adventure Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Corn dog topped with chili, shredded cheddar, and corn chips
Chili is a well-known favorite of Walt's, with one of his recipes from 1958 preserved in the Walt Disney Archives. Over the years, Disney chefs have perfected the recipe and still serve “Walt’s Chili” to park guests worldwide. This chili corn dog is an ideal way to enjoy a generous serving of Walt’s homestyle favorite.
W.E.D. Chili Cheese Baked Potato
Find it at: Troubadour Tavern in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Baked potato topped with beef & bean chili, cheese, sour cream, diced onions, and cornbread.
Walt appreciated straightforward and comforting cuisine, and this dish perfectly matches that description. It’s named after WED Enterprises, the company Walt established in 1952 to assist in the creation of Disneyland. Today, WED Enterprises is recognized as Walt Disney Imagineering, and we are recognized as those who are about to enjoy this potato.
Lemon Chiffon Pretzel
Find it at: Pretzels near Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Cream cheese-filled pretzel dipped in lemon-flavored icing topped with crushed vanilla wafer.
Walt was famously fond of pie, and a preferred option was lemon chiffon pie with a graham cracker crust. Today, visitors can enjoy the futuristic scenery of Tomorrowland while savoring this unique twist on one of Walt's beloved desserts.
New Bites Inspired by Casa de Fritos
What we have here is not just the Frito Kid, but also a chip vending system — an ideal blend of surreal Disneyland food fun from 1955 that created lasting memories for children everywhere. Casa de Fritos was situated where Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante now offers traditional Mexican dishes. For the Disneyland 70th Celebration, the menu features two interpretations of Casa de Fritos classics.
Fried Tamale Walking Taco
Find it at: Rancho Del Zocalo Restaurante in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Fried beef tamale with chili, corn chips, and diced onions with cilantro, shredded cheese, and sour cream.
This dish combines two items that were once offered at Casa de Fritos in Frontierland: the Ta-cup and the Frito Chili Pie. The Ta-cup was an open-faced taco served in a fried corn tortilla. Both dishes were popular early on at Casa de Fritos, so their modern version is expected to be very successful.
Mocha Cream Puff
Find it at: Rancho Del Zocalo Restaurante in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Cream puff filled with cinnamon-mocha pastry cream topped with chocolate-covered corn chips.
Indeed, I mentioned chocolate-covered corn chips. Adding the traditional corn chip as a topping on a sweet dessert provides the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, leaving guests trying to recall the last time they tasted something this delightful.
Tropical Nods to Tahitian Terrace
In 1962, Adventureland introduced the Tahitian Terrace, featuring live performances by the Royal Tahitian Dancers and a menu influenced by South Seas cuisine.
Guests from that era might recall staying at the park until midnight, glancing at a menu through a curtain of water or watching a nearby fire dancer. To reminisce about this vibrant location, let's head over to Carnation Café and Bengal Barbecue for some new treats.
Tropical Rum Cocktail
Find it at: Carnation Café in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Bacardi Superior Rum, Myers’s Rum Original Dark, Pineapple, Orange & Lime Juices, and Grenadine.
Guests can toast to Tahitian Terrace with the vibrant tropical tastes of this classic beverage, evoking memories of sunny vacations, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and a cocktail in hand.
Grilled Tahitian Ribs
Find it at: Bengal Barbecue in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Ribs served with white rice and pineapple slaw.
The original Tahitian Terrace menu featured succulent ribs with pineapple and rice, and I'm thrilled you'll find a modern version of this dish at Bengal Barbecue.
Nostalgic Carnation Inspirations
Carnation Ice Cream Parlor began serving customers on July 17, 1955, featuring an ice cream counter where guests could sample the newest creamy delights directly on Main Street, U.S.A. Nowadays, guests can enjoy some nostalgic nods to their beloved savory and sweet treats.
Beef Stroganoff
Find it at: Carnation Café in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Braised Beef, Bacon, Onions, and Mushrooms over Egg Noodles.
In the 1990s, the Carnation Café menu featured a delicious Beef Stroganoff. Those who fondly remember this flavorful dish of pasta and beef, along with Darkwing Duck, might want to try this new version.
Banana Split
Find it at: Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice creams topped with strawberries, pineapple, hot fudge, fresh banana, chopped nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry.
The Victorian Banana Split was a popular choice at Carnation Ice Cream Parlor in Disneyland Park starting in 1955. By looking at the original Carnation Ice Cream Parlor menu, now available at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor hosted by Dreyer’s, you can see that this banana split closely resembles the original, making it an ideal sweet treat to take guests back in time.
Banana Split Churro
Find it at: Churros near Goofy’s Sky School in Disney California Adventure Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Classic churro rolled in cocoa powder with banana and strawberry sauces garnished with whipped topping, crushed peanuts, and a cherry.
This modern twist on the Victorian banana split elevates the classic dessert to new levels, especially for churro enthusiasts. For guests searching for their next churro experience, this is undoubtedly the most enticing choice.
Party Like it’s 1955
The culinary scene at the park in 1955 captured the adventurous spirit of both guests and pirates.
With numerous culinary innovations over the past 70 years, Disney chefs have relished revisiting and recreating some of those mid-century recipes. Here are a few dishes that evoke memories of Disneyland's inaugural summer.
Hook’s Galley Tuna Melt
Find it at: Red Rose Taverne in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Fresh tuna salad topped with Muenster and herb-marinated tomatoes served with house chips.
In August 1955, soon after Disneyland's debut, the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant in Fantasyland served tuna sandwiches. Guests could take photos at the ship’s wheel and enjoy sandwich oppor-tuna-ties inside. In 1969, the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant was renamed Captain Hook’s Galley (and eventually closed in 1982). Nowadays, guests can indulge in their own adventurous dreams and this tasty version of the classic sandwich.
Apple Pancake Rolls
Find it at: River Belle Terrace in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Apple pie topping, walnut streusel, and cinnamon Chantilly cream served with choice of bacon or sausage.
Pancake roll-ups have been a key item on the Pancake House menu since its opening in August 1955. Variations of this original dish, such as strawberry and blueberry pancakes, are also offered. The Apple Pancake Rolls served today closely resemble the ones enjoyed by guests almost 70 years ago.
More Retro Treats Inspired by Eats from Decades Past
In the totally tubular 1980s, Disneyland introduced Videopolis in Fantasyland, demonstrating that even Mouseketeers could perform the moonwalk.
Featuring large video screens showing the latest music videos and an expansive dance floor, it was the ultimate spot to dance before refueling with futuristic round fries at The Space Place restaurant in Tomorrowland or enjoying a burger in Frontierland.
Here are a few more most-righteous modernized must-eats that will transport guests back.
Dancing Shimmering Lights
Find it at: Troubadour Tavern in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Sweet berry lemonade with blackberry topper and colorful sanding sugar.
This vibrant creation takes its inspiration from Videopolis, the revolutionary high-tech venue where guests could dance the night away during the 1980s and 1990s. Each sip invites guests to reminisce about their dance moves and hairstyle choices, pondering whether they've evolved over the years.
Space Place Cottage Fries
Find it at: Galactic Grill in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Fries tossed in Parmesan butter and parsley served with house-made ranch.
These Cottage Fries remind us of The Space Place restaurant in Tomorrowland, where they were offered as a futuristic side dish between 1977 and 1996. Hold on — with Cottage Fries returning in 2025 and now elevated to entrée status, it seems Tomorrowland’s prediction of the future was accurate all along!
Cowboy Fries
Find it at: The Golden Horseshoe in Disneyland Park
Vintage-Inspired Flavors: Fries, nacho cheese, sautéed ground beef, burger sauce, and butter pickles.
Back in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, Frontierland restaurants served hamburgers. To pay homage to those classic burgers, we've created a dish that tops fries with all the delicious elements of a burger, minus the bun.
Do any of these updated versions of past recipes evoke nostalgia for you? Guests can enjoy these dishes for a limited time during the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration. Be sure to check out our complete Foodie Guide for more 70th anniversary treats.
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