#Disneyland60.....Today In Disneyland History......August, 18, 1958

Carnation Plaza Gardens Opens

August 18, 1958

It was the longest, continuous running swing dancing venue in the United States and possibly the world. Louis Armstrong played there. Walt Disney danced there. It was located in California’s most iconic location, Disneyland. It was the Carnation Plaza Gardens. While the stage was forever altered with the addition of Fantasy Faire Village, the memories and history of Carnation Plaza stage has been captured forever in a remarkable little documentary that we are delighted to share with you today. - The Stage Walt Built – A 1313 Documentary

On August 18, 1958 the Carnation Plaza Gardens opened in the Plaza Hub next to Sleeping Beauty Castle. An outdoor bandstand and dining locale, the Plaza became a popular site for "Date Nite at Disneyland," the following year. The Original Disneyland Bandstand was built in 1955 and was located in the middle of Town Square but a month before Disneyland opened, Walt Disney decided to have it moved just to the left of the castle so as not to block parades and the Main Street transportation cars. Later, a more permanent bandstand was built, known as Carnation Plaza Gardens. Many of the greats of the musical world over the years including the likes of Louis Armstrong, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, The Osmond Brothers, Lionel Hampton, Tex Benecke, Cab Calloway, and Stan Kenton graced the stage of the Plaza. It was not uncommon to find Walt and Lillian Disney dancing the night away and it was Walt’s wish that swing dancing would always have a place in Disneyland. 

Over the decades, it was the Carnation Plaza Gardens that gave high school bands, choirs, and orchestras a place to showcase their talents but ultimately it was the Swing Dancing in the evening on weekends that it was most noted for. On April 30, 2012, Carnation Plaza Gardens at Disneyland park held it’s last night of dancing and closed its dance floor in order to be reimagined into the new Fantasy Faire which opened on March 12, 2013.  A To honor the original Carnation Plaza Gardens, a plaque was placed in one of the towers commemorating the site's original usage. Following a nearly 14 month long hiatus, the decades old tradition of Saturday evening swing dancing returned to the former Carnation Plaza Gardens to the newly created stage area of the Royal Theatre which features several small stage shows based on Beauty and the Beast and Tangled during the day as part of the entertainment you can enjoy at the new Fantasy Faire.

The theming of the area has changed significantly to reflect a royal, Fantasyland style, and courtyard. As a result Disney has changed the name of the dancing event to the “The Royal Swing Big Band Ball“. In spite of all of the changes the area has undergone, one significant aspect of the former space was saved- the original dance floor.  Be sure to check the Disneyland entertainment schedule and bring your dancing shoes to dance the night away the next time you visit the Happiest Place on Earth. And that’s what happened today in Disneyland’s history.

Splitsville, a Great Disney Hangout!

     Splitsville is one of our favorite places to get together as a family or with friends!  If you have not been it is a definite Walt Disney World must do!  We have thoroughly enjoyed Splitsville as a family and meeting up with friends that are staying in the Orlando area. 

     Splitsville is a Downtown Disney attraction on the Westside.  Splitsville takes bowling, playing pool and just plain old fun to new levels.  You will be welcomed to a two story retro styled adventure that offers 30 bowling lanes, first class food, dancing and entertainment.  The billiard tables are awesome and of course who doesn't like a gift shop and much much more.

     Some people come to Splitsville for the bowling or the billiard tables and some just go for the fun!  Our family has really enjoyed all of it. It is an awesome place for families to get together while the adults sit and talking and have a few drinks the kids can play pool or go bowling.  With the hot summer days at Walt Disney World this provides a perfect option for daytime or evening entertainment.

     The food at Splitsville is amazing!  They offer food such as fresh hand rolled sushi rolls, hand-tossed pizzas, burgers, and of course who doesn't like a big plate of fries!  The pizzas are amazing, a definite must do for our family! They also offer a wide selection of draft beer to go along with your pizza or other adult beverages.  I mean, what is pizza without beer, Right! 

     This is the perfect hang out for the family or meeting up with friends.   So during these hot days this summer if you find yourself needing a cool place to have fun check out Splitsville!  You can schedule all kinds of parties for Splitsville.  Make sure you reserve a lane as soon as possible.  The billiard tables are on a first come basis.  Let the food, games, and dancing begin and don't forget to Show your DisneySide! 

Kids Love to Cruise with Disney

The whole family loves cruising with Disney but specially the kids!  Disney offer so many fun, exciting, and adventurous opportunities for all ages!  Disney makes it easy for your kids to have a blast even without mom and dad!

When you board the ship you have the opportunity ,as a family, to explore all of the youth activities before the ship sets sail.  The ship offers It's a Small World Nursery or Flounders Reef nursery for children ages 3 months to 3 years.  For children ages 3 years to 12 years the ship offer the Oceaneers Club and Laboratory.  Tween ages 11 through 14 can have a blast at Edge.  Finally your teens ages 14 to 17 can get to know more teens on the ship at Vibe. Your young ones may even get a picture with their favorite character!
  
The younger cruisers can enjoy Goofy golf (No pun intended), basketball, soccer, ping pong, and shuffleboard.  The ship also offers an arcade and some nights free arcade play time.  As a family you can enjoy family games and family dancing at the D Lounge or Studio Sea.  My favorite things are the Bon Voyage and Pirate on board deck dance parties! 

My kids enjoyed the Edge so much that we had to pull them away every night to go to bed!  They did so many cool activities with the kids such as a scavenger hunt that brought them throughout the ship to solve puzzles and each puzzle told the kids where to go and what to do.  They played Gender Wars Boys vs Girls!  The girls had to answer questions about the boys and the boys had to answer questions about the girls!  I wish I could have been a fly on the wall!  They also played "Who can make the worst drink", and the cast member had to drink it!  My kids team won that because they put hot chocolate, creamer, lemonade, water, and Dr Pepper together and it made the poor cast member gag!  They also had video game tournaments, make a pizza night, and matching games.  With every adventure there was a prize to be won! 

As parents who love our children and love to be with our children Disney has provided a wonderful tool called Wave phones.  You automatically have two that come with your stateroom but for a small fee you can add more to link together.  This provides communication between you and your children throughout the day and evening. As you're young cruisers meet other young ones on the ship they are able to use their Wave phones to communicate with one another.  Disney has definitely done their part to make sure that all young cruisers have an adventurous voyage!

So don't worry if your family will enjoy Disney Cruise and don't worry if they're too young or too old because Disney offers something for everyone!  When cruising with Disney everyone will have their own adventure and the memories you will make individually and as a family are limitless!  All that's left is for your family to pick the date of your "Bon Voyage"!  Happy Sailing and We'll see ya real soon on the open sea!

By Tamela Hansen

Party Planning Roundup - Showing our #DisneySide

A number of us Gals were lucky enough to be chosen to show our #DisneySide with an @Home Celebration! As not to flood our site, and your inbox, with individual postings, we will be doing a few group updates. Please feel free to share our ideas and let us hear any of your own.

Disney Gal Lori:

Date:    February 28th - March 1st (It's a long party!)
Theme: Toy Story
Plans:    We will be celebrating with 55 kids from Anderson Elementary school on Friday and thousands on Saturday at the Chandler Ostrich parade. My son has made extra large monkeys for a Barrel of Monkeys game and we'll be making some adorable aliens with the kids. Then we'll hit the parade route and take our float to Infinity and Beyond!

Disney Gals Judy & Kelly:

Date:    February 22nd

Theme: Disney Cruise

Plans:    We will be sailing on the newest ship in the fleet, The Disney Side! Our guest will be mainly older teens and adults, but we will all be embracing our inner child. Starting with a Sail Away Party, eating at "Cabanas" buffet, having a pirate photo shoot with Captain Jack, and ending with a dessert buffet. In between we will have Cruise Line games and adult beverages in "O'Gill's Pub".

Disney Gal Gayle:

Date:    February 28, 2014

Theme: Disney Dance Party-Music from the Parks

Plans:   The unsuspecting cast of Madrone Players' upcoming production of "The Wizard of Oz", thinks they are coming to a special Friday rehearsal. But instead, they will walk into the rockiness of the craziest Disney Dance Parties of all time, complete with Disco Ball, fist pumping, and make you want to get up and show your #DisneySide music from the Parks. Led by our own Disney Performing Arts Conservatory member,  the cast will be treated to the wildest afternoon in the wilderness, complete with Disney dances, photo booths, Disney food and magical surprises galore as they prepare to embark on their journey over the rainbow the following week! Shhhhhhhhh-don't tell-it's a secret!

Next week we will catch you up on how the plans are coming along. Until then...how are you showing your #DisneySide?