Once Upon a Time-Carnation Plaza Gardens

Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens Disneyland
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Carnation Plaza Gardens was a fun area with a lot of history! As with most of Disneyland, it is one of the many spots that has changed and no longer exists. Therefore, today I would like to talk about this historical area of the park that is now a thing of the past, Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Once Upon a Time-Carnation Plaza Gardens

Carnation Plaza Gardens was located in the area to the left of Sleeping Beauty’s castle. Originally Carnation Plaza Gardens opened in 1956, however, Walt Disney added a covered dance floor and stage area in 1958, that housed many talented people through the years!

Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens Disneyland

Talent

Over the years, many famous, (and soon to be famous) people performed at Carnation Plaza Gardens. For example, Louis Armstrong, The Osmond Brothers, Mel Torme, and Duke Ellington to name a few. In addition to a live band, there was also an orchestra that would play every Friday and Saturday night. As a result, Friday and Saturday nights became “Date Night at Disneyland”.



Details

On the Carnation Plaza Gardens stage, was a podium. The woodworking details on the podium and stage area were amazing! I love to see detailed woodwork like that. A lot of time and effort goes into things like that. Especially back in the day before machinery was so prominent.

Once Upon a Time Carnation 'Plaza Gardens
The back part of the stage at Carnation Plaza Gardens.
Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens
The podium at Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Entrances

In order to get to Carnation Plaza Gardens, you had to use one of the three entrances.

First of all, the main entrance to this area had a sign that went across the walkway that said Carnation Plaza Garden. It was to the right of Frontierland.


Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens
The sign to Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Next, there was a Frontierland entrance that had an old west style facade for you to walk through.

Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens
The entrance to Frontierland from Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Finally, the last entry was just to the left of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. A bridge with white wood fencing that overlooked the rose garden and the moat that circles the front of the castle. I loved this area of the park. It was so peaceful!

Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens
View of the Castle and the rose garden.
Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens
The bridge next to the rose garden.
Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens
Another view of the bridge and garden area.

Swing Dancing

Swing Dancing was and is a tradition that has lasted for almost 60 years! It was the longest-running swing dancing location. From 1958 until 2012. That is when Disneyland decided to change the Carnation Plaza Garden area to Princess Fantasy Faire. It took 14 months to reimagine that area. As a result, Disney had the swing dancing at another spot at the Disneyland Resort.

Once they finished building the new area, the swing dancing returned! It continues to this day with a live band playing every Saturday night. Therefore if you are ever in Disneyland on a Saturday night, make sure to check it out. Even if you are not a dancer, it is so fun to watch people swing dance. They even get dressed for the occasion.

Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens
Part of the covering and the stage area.



Walt Disney and his wife Lilian would be seen dancing here. Walt hoped that there would always be a spot for swing dancing in the park. I am so happy to see this tradition continue. Even after all this time!

For current information and schedules for swing dancing, check out Disneylands website here.

Food

Food! I didn’t know that they served food in this area! I wish I had. Towards the back part of this area, there used to be food service counters and lots of tables and chairs for you to sit and eat at. You could even get… ice cream! Ironically… Carnation ice cream.

The food counters closed down in 1999.

Once Upon a Time Carnation Plaza Gardens
Some of the tables at the back part of the gardens.

In Conclusion

Carnation Plaza Gardens was a fun and pretty part of the park with a ton of history! Therefore it will forever be a part of my memories (as I am sure it is with a lot of you out there who remember this part of the park) while enjoying the new offerings in the same spot.

Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions or comments on today’s post, please feel free to leave them below!

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About Melisa Rice 182 Articles
Melisa has had a love for Disneyland that started at a very young age. Her family traveled to Disneyland every year or two when she was growing up. As she got older, she began to read anything she could get her hands on regarding Disneyland. If you ask her anything about Disneyland, she is always willing to share her knowledge. As a former Manager of a video store, she has a wealth of knowledge about movies as well. In addition to these experiences, she also loves to take landscape photography, do crafting, bake cakes for her nieces and nephews. But most of all, she enjoys reading the Bible.

2 Comments

  1. Greetings, Melisa. Thank you for sharing your recollections and pictures of the former Carnation Plaza Gardens. I, like you, have grown up loving all things Disney and, especially Disneyland. I am in the process of trying to write about both the entertainment that was at the park from opening day to about 2010 (at the latest as, while I understand the need for change along with current generations, do not tend to enjoy watching aspects that I love being displaced or ignored in maintenance in times of late.) I am trying to cover about 55 years in honor of the opening date (1955.) Anyway, I do have a question that you might be able to give some hints about. Do you know who the ‘Atmosphere Character’ (walk around cast member in costume) “Buford P. Barley” was?? He tended to be present in Critter Country most of the time starting on August 8th, 1990 and was a daytime entertainer through about the end of November in 1992 (he worked mostly, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays plus some holidays though, early ion, he was on some weekdays during the week, too.) I don’t know, exactly what his character did or what he looked like. Thank you, in advance for any memories or information you might be able to provide. Take care and, again, thank you for sharing your Disney memories! Gil Gossett

    • Hi! Thank you for your comment. You are welcome! It is nice to hear I am not alone in not liking all the changes that have happened over the years. I think that it is great that you are writing about the old entertainment from Disneyland. It sounds like it would be very interesting. As to your question about Buford P. Barley, I wish I could help. But I don’t know anything about it. I am sorry. I tried to do a Google search but no luck. There is a Facebook page that is called Disneyland Former Cast Members and Fans. It is previous Cast Members that share about working in the parks. I wonder if maybe someone might be on there that may know? Just a thought for a starting point. I wish you luck with your writing! I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.

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