Need Help from Disneyland Historians

[Club33forme]

I am attempting to establish when the Red Wagon Inn corn dog / refreshment truck was placed near the Plaza restaurant. I would like to know any facts. Was it not just a red wagon before the Red Wagon Inn was changed to the plaza in 1965? Archives does not have any information about it. Does anyone remember or have photos that could help narrow this down? Was this truck ever used for another purpose? Where did it come from? Who built it? How long has it been there? It is not pictured in the old guide books that I have.

Any help is apresheated

 

[skiingfast]

This question is of such specific knowledge you probably do need to talk to a true historian. I'm not sure this is in any of the books I read.

All I know is when the park opened, the Plaza Inn was called the Red Wagon Inn. 10 years later it was changed into the Plaza Inn.

You make want to ask the Disney archivist, Dave Smith.

 

[Club33forme]

This question is of such specific knowledge you probably do need to talk to a true historian. I'm not sure this is in any of the books I read.

All I know is when the park opened, the Plaza Inn was called the Red Wagon Inn. 10 years later it was changed into the Plaza Inn.

You make want to ask the Disney archivist, Dave Smith.

I had asked Dave a while back before his retirement and they did not have any info on it.

I had lunch with Dave and Steven from the archives recently, I should have asked them to keep an eye open for this truck on photos while researching other topics. Must be on someone's old photos to help narrow down the year it came to be. I thought Bob Gurr might know but no luck. I am down to the hope of everyday old photos

Thanks for your input.

 

[ygracey]

What about placing an ad in an anaheim newspaper? I know most papers automatically place ads online too. You may ask to purchase photos that people have or just ask if they have old photos or even slides with some corresonding time frame that would answer your question.

Other than that, maybe ask someone attending the next D23 expo if they can ask attendees.

Was it a participant location back in the day? Just wondering if that company would have info (if they still exist).

Or

Create a facebook page just for that location and see if people with the same interests or memories find it by google searching after you get some hits on that page.

I will ask my friends who are heavy into Disney Trivia. Good Luck!

 

[Disney Dreams]

I am attempting to establish when the Red Wagon Inn corn dog / refreshment truck was placed near the Plaza restaurant. I would like to know any facts. Was it not just a red wagon before the Red Wagon Inn was changed to the plaza in 1965? Archives does not have any information about it. Does anyone remember or have photos that could help narrow this down? Was this truck ever used for another purpose? Where did it come from? Who built it? How long has it been there? It is not pictured in the old guide books that I have.

Any help is apresheated

Are you doing a report or...? I'm a little confused on what you are looking to gather. Do you want information about The Little Red Wagon or The Red Wagon Inn? Both? I ask so I can help focus the information I have. Here's some basic information for you.

The Red Wagon Inn

• Has been there since 1955.
• It is one of the few restaurants in Disneyland that has been featured on its own attraction poster.
• Swift & Company was the original corporate sponsor. (They also sponsored other venues, like the Market House.)
• Its name comes from the red wagon in the Swift & Company logo.
• In the 1950s it was the priciest dining option in the Park.
• I think you specifically will find this one interesting: Had a private dining room with a private entrance in the back. Walt used this to entertain VIPs. Alcohol was served here. It was the pre-curser to Club 33.

The Little Red Wagon

• Came to be in approximately 1995.
• It is a drive-able food wagon
• Generally placed in the Plaza Hub area because of the Red Wagon history (connecting to The Red Wagon Inn)

HTH,
Dreams

 

[Jessica_of_FL]

Are you doing a report or...? I'm a little confused on what you are looking to gather. Do you want information about The Little Red Wagon or The Red Wagon Inn? Both? I ask so I can help focus the information I have. Here's some basic information for you.

The Red Wagon Inn

• Has been there since 1955.
• It is one of the few restaurants in Disneyland that has been featured on its own attraction poster.
• Swift & Company was the original corporate sponsor. (They also sponsored other venues, like the Market House.)
• Its name comes from the red wagon in the Swift & Company logo.
• In the 1950s it was the priciest dining option in the Park.
• I think you specifically will find this one interesting: Had a private dining room with a private entrance in the back. Walt used this to entertain VIPs. Alcohol was served here. It was the pre-curser to Club 33.

The Little Red Wagon

• Came to be in approximately 1995.
• It is a drive-able food wagon
• Generally placed in the Plaza Hub area because of the Red Wagon history (connecting to The Red Wagon Inn)

HTH,
Dreams

That is interesting!

I love learning Disney tidbits like this! Thanks Disney Dreams! And to Club33forme for starting this thread!

 

[Club33forme]

Are you doing a report or...? I'm a little confused on what you are looking to gather. Do you want information about The Little Red Wagon or The Red Wagon Inn? Both? I ask so I can help focus the information I have. Here's some basic information for you.

The Red Wagon Inn

• Has been there since 1955.
• It is one of the few restaurants in Disneyland that has been featured on its own attraction poster.
• Swift & Company was the original corporate sponsor. (They also sponsored other venues, like the Market House.)
• Its name comes from the red wagon in the Swift & Company logo.
• In the 1950s it was the priciest dining option in the Park.
• I think you specifically will find this one interesting: Had a private dining room with a private entrance in the back. Walt used this to entertain VIPs. Alcohol was served here. It was the pre-curser to Club 33.

The Little Red Wagon

• Came to be in approximately 1995.
• It is a drive-able food wagon
• Generally placed in the Plaza Hub area because of the Red Wagon history (connecting to The Red Wagon Inn)

HTH,
Dreams

For now just the little red wagon is my focus, so you say 1995, may I ask your source?

Many Disney people think it has been there forever, I think your year of 1995 could be correct or possible. I was hoping I could find someone involved in the construction of this truck. I don't think it gets moved very often as it has power & plumbing hookups.

Does anyone out there ever remember this truck / cart being driven? It has a newer drivetrain with disc brakes, V8 engine even tilt steering so it was built to drive but perhaps never at Disneyland. Also the drivetrain is too new to have been a 60's unit.

Thanks Dreams you are giving us some hope.

If you know more please help.

 

[Disney Dreams]

That is interesting!

I love learning Disney tidbits like this! Thanks Disney Dreams! And to Club33forme for starting this thread!

I think so too! Glad you found it interesting.

For now just the little red wagon is my focus, so you say 1995, may I ask your source?

Many Disney people think it has been there forever, I think your year of 1995 could be correct or possible. I was hoping I could find someone involved in the construction of this truck. I don't think it gets moved very often as it has power & plumbing hookups.

Does anyone out there ever remember this truck / cart being driven? It has a newer drivetrain with disc brakes, V8 engine even tilt steering so it was built to drive but perhaps never at Disneyland. Also the drivetrain is too new to have been a 60's unit.

Thanks Dreams you are giving us some hope.

If you know more please help.

Sorry, didn't realize I forgot to site the source. The Disneyland Encyclopedia, The Unofficial Authorized, and Precedented History of Every Land, Attraction, Restaurant, Shop, and Event in the Original Magic Kingdom by Chris Strodder (2008 edition)

I looked up both the Inn and the Wagon for you and posted here some of the key points that I thought would be of interest to you.

As for the date it states that it is approximate, as I indicated.

It has not been there forever. It's name is a tribute to the Red Wagon Inn. There are many old photos online of that area. None of them have the wagon --- because it didn't exist yet.

As for whether or not it really drives or not, it does. It's just like a food truck. When they need to drive it, they just disconnect the power, hoses, whatnot. Think of it like a motorhome. Source on that: I have talked with cast members at The Little Red Wagon.

Glad I could help,
Dreams