CENTRAL PLAZA

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RED WAGON/PLAZA INN

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Disneyland Red Wagon Inn restaurant posterAlso known as “The Hub”; designed like the spokes of a wheel, each “spoke” from “The Hub” goes to a different land. Initially, this area was also going to be the entrance to Edison Square, between The Red Wagon Inn and the INA Carefree Corner (where First Aid is currently located). The Edison Square plans were the precursor for Carousel of Progress before the revolving theater concept came about. It was originally going to be a walk-through attraction where a curtain went up at the end of each act and the guests walked to the next set. It shows up on versions of the old wall maps and the 4 scenes are labeled on the map as “American Home Pre-electricity,” “American Home Advent of Electricity,” “Contemporary Living,” and “The Electronic Age.” Previously, this area was used as the original Art Corner. Once the Edison idea went away, this same tent served for many years as the entrance to Central First Aid.

A statue entitled “Partners” featuring Walt Disney & Mickey Mouse was added to the center of the Plaza area on November 18, 1993, expertly sculpted by Blaine Gibson. At the dedication ceremony on that day, John Hench, Blaine Gibson, Marc & Alice Davis, Bill Farmer, Wayne Allwine, and Russi Taylor were in attendance. Jack Lindquist, President of Disneyland, was the Master of Ceremonies. Roy E. Disney, son of Roy O. Disney (Walt's Brother), unveiled the statue. A quote from Walt Disney is on the plaque: “Most of all what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place—where parents and children can have fun together.” On the east side of the Plaza is the Plaza Inn (formerly The Red Wagon Inn), and on the left is the Plaza Pavillion.

Most photos available for purchase as enlargements. Email your request. To view photos allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below.

Central Plaza, 1950’s

Disneyland Central Plaza photo, August 27, 1955
Aug. 27, 1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner cutout, 1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner cutout, 1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner cutout, 1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner cutout, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner cutout, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner cutout, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner, Summer 1955
Original Art Corner cutup, Summer 1955
White Wing and Horse Drawn Trolley, Summer 1955
White Wing and Horse Drawn Trolley, Summer 1955
Central Plaza, October 1955
Oct. 1955
Central Plaza, October 1955
Oct. 1955
Red Wagon Inn December 1955
1955
Disneyland Central Plaza, 1955
1955
Disneyland Central Plaza, 1955
1955
Disneyland Central Plaza, 1955
1955
Bandstand Gazebo
Bandstand Gazebo, 1950’s
Central Plaza photo, March 1956
March 1956
Central Plaza photo, March 1956
March 1956
Central Plaza photo, March 1956
March 1956
Central Plaza and Omnibus 1956
Central Plaza and Omnibus 1956
Central Plaza 1956
Sept. 1956
Central Plaza 1956
Sept. 1956
Central Plaza October 1956
Oct. 1956
Central Plaza October 1956
1956
Central Plaza,1956
1956
Disneyland Central Plaza 1956
1956
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, 1956
1956
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, 1956
1956
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, 1956
1956
Central Plaza Horse-Drawn Streetcar, January 1957
Jan. 1957 (House of the Future construction on right)
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, April 1957
April 1957
Disneyland Central Plaza July 1957
July 1957
Central Plaza Edison Square display, 1950s
Edison Square display, 1957
Disneyland Central Plaza 1957
1957
Disneyland Keystone Kops at Central Plaza, 1957
1957 Keystone Kop (r) is Bernie Flymen; played sax & clarinet at DL 1955–1960 and in Desi Arnaz’s “I Love Lucy” band
1950s
House of the Future in back, 1957/58
Central Plaza April 1958
April 1958
Walt Disney riding toward Central Plaza, June 1958
June 1958
Disneyland Central Plaza, September 1958
Sept. 1958
Disneyland Central Plaza, June 1958
1958
Disneyland Central Plaza, June 1958
1958
Disneyland Central Plaza, June 1958
1958
Central Plaza, Liz Taylor, Eddie Fisher, and family, January 1959
Liz Taylor, Eddie Fisher, and family, Jan. 21, 1959
Central Plaza, May 1959
May 1959
Central Plaza, May 9, 1959
May 9, 1959
Central Plaza, May 9, 1959
May 9, 1959
1950s
June 1959
Disneyland Central Plaza, October 1959
Oct. 1959
Disneyland Central Plaza, October 1959
Oct. 1959
November 1959
Nov. 1959
Plaza Pavillion, 1950s
The Pavilion, 1950’s
Central Plaza, 1950s
1950’s
Central Plaza, 1950s
1950’s
Central Plaza, 1950s
1950’s
Central Plaza, 1950s
1950’s
Central Plaza, 1950s
1950’s
Central Plaza, 1950s
1950’s
Disneyland Central Plaza, 1950s
1950’s
Disneyland Central Plaza, 1950s
1950’s
Central Plaza, 1950s
1950’s
Disneyland coming attraction display, 1950s
Coming attraction display
Plaza Pavillion, 1950s
The Pavilion, 1950’s
Plaza Pavillion, 1950s
The Pavilion, 1950’s
Central Plaza, 1959/60
1959/1960
Disneyland Central Plaza Keystone Kops photo, 1950s
Undated
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, 1950s
Undated

Central Plaza, 1960–1961

Surrey Ride, january 1960
Surrey Ride, January 1960
Disneyland Central Plaza, January 3, 1960
Jan. 3, 1960
Disneyland Central Plaza, January 1960
January 1960
Disneyland Central Plaza, January 1960
January 1960
April 1960
April 1960
June 1960
June 1960
June 1960
June 1960
Central Plaza, August 1960
August 1960
Disneyland Central Plaza, December 19, 1960
Dec. 19, 1960
Livery Stable Carriage
Livery Stable Carriage, July 1960
Disneyland Central Plaza, January 1961
Jan. 1961
Disneyland Central Plaza, January 1961
Jan. 1961
View of Matterhorn from Central Plaza, February 1961
Feb. 1961
Central Plaza, June 1961
June 1961
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, June 1961
June 1961
Central Plaza, July 1961
July 1961
Central Plaza, July 1961
July 1961
Central Plaza, September 1961
Sept. 1961
Central Plaza, December 1961
Dec. 1961
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 1961
Dec. 1961

La Coquette

The balloon “La Coquette” (“the flirt” in French) was used in the Oscar winning 1956 film “Around The World In Eighty Days.” Actors David Niven and Cantinflas are in the balloon, which was painted with large figures from Greek Mythology. The balloon was built by Goodyear for the U.S. Navy and originally used during World War II for the training of blimp pilots. The Balloon Club of America acquired the balloon in 1952. One of the photos below (from the LIFE archive available on Google) shows the two stars with producer Mike Todd. In 1957, La Coquette was brought out again, this time to celebrate the one year anniversary of the movie with a huge celebration in Madison Square Garden.

Flash forward to Easter, April 22, 1962, and for some reason, “La Coquette” (N9074H) found its way to Disneyland’s Central Plaza for the Easter Parade; it may have even been used again in 1965. La Coquette was featured at the climax of the 1962 Easter Parade and floated over the Matterhorn after being launched from Central Plaza. Balloonists Peter Pellegrine and Francis Shields rode to an altitude of 2,000 feet and landed 45 minutes later in an orange grove 10 miles away. Apparently, Coquette’s retirement came 13 years later in August of 1977. Tony Fairbanks, the legendary American balloonist, took the balloon to the Flying Circus Aerodrome in Bealeton, Virginia to participate in a combined World War I air show and hot air balloon rally. “La Coquette” seems to have been the only gas balloon to have both launched and landed in Virginia since perhaps the U.S. Civil War, for many reasons including terrain, prevailing wind direction, and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.

Tony Fairbanks was an avid gas balloon pilot and an original member of the Cleveland Balloon Club founded in 1932. He flew gas balloons in the early US Nationals and made at least 6 flights over the Swiss Alps. Tony and Don Piccard formed the Balloon Club of America in Philadelphia, in 1952. Several years later, in 1961, the Balloon Club of America (Philadelphia) and the National Lighter-Than-Air Society (Akron) formed the Balloon Federation of America.

Apparently, you can see a 1/8th scale model of La Coquette at The Hollywood Casino in Tunica, Missouri, created by Modelwerkes in California. Surprisingly, this Casino in Missouri has quite a collection of movie props, including the DeLorean car from “Back to the Future” and the biplane from Hitchcock’s thriller “North by Northwest.”

Central Plaza Hot Air Balloon
Central Plaza Hot Air Balloon
Central Plaza Hot Air Balloon
Central Plaza Hot Air Balloon
Central Plaza Hot Air Balloon
Disneyland Central Plaza Hot Air Balloon, April 22, 1962
April 22, 1962
Central Plaza Hot Air Balloon
Easter 1962
Disneyland Central Plaza with La Coquette Balloon, East 1962
Easter 1962
Disneyland Central Plaza with La Coquette Balloon, East 1962
Easter 1962
Disneyland Central Plaza with La Coquette Balloon, East 1962
Easter 1962
Central Plaza Hot Air Balloon
Central Plaza Hot Air Balloon

Central Plaza, 1962–1964

Central Plaza, January 1962
Jan. 1962
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, March 1962
March 1962
Central Plaza, May 1962
May 1962
Central Plaza, July 1962
July 1962
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, August 1962
Aug. 1962
The Osmond Brothers perform in Disneyland After Dark, Central Plaza, 1962
The Osmonds in Disneyland After Dark, 1962
Central Plaza, September 1962
Sept. 1962
Disneyland Central Plaza, 1962
1962
Disneyland Central Plaza, May 31, 1963
May 31, 1963
Disneyland Central Plaza, May 31, 1963
May 31, 1963
Disneyland Central Plaza, May 1963
May 1963
Disneyland Central Plaza, August 1963
Aug. 1963
Disneyland Central Plaza, August 1963
Aug. 1963
Dapper Dans, November 1963
Dapper Dans, Nov. 29, 1963
Plaza Pavillion, March 12, 1964
March 12, 1964
Central Plaza, June 1964
June 1964
Central Plaza, June 1964
June 1964

Central Plaza, 1965–1969

Central Plaza January 1965
January 1965
Disneyland Central Plaza, April 1965
April 1965
Disneyland Central Plaza, April 1965
April 1965
Disneyland Central Plaza, April 1965
April 1965
Central Plaza June 1965
June 1965
Disneyland Central Plaza July 1965
July 1965
Bill Elliot and his band at Central Plaza, August 27, 1965
Bill Elliott, Aug. 27, 1965
Singer Terri and Bill Elliott and his band at Central Plaza, August 27, 1965
Bill Elliott’s singer Terri, Aug. 27, 1965
Singer Terri and Bill Elliott and his band at Central Plaza, August 27, 1965
Bill Elliott’s singer Terri, Aug. 27, 1965
Singer Terri and Bill Elliott and his band at Central Plaza, August 27, 1965
Bill Elliott’s singer Terri, Aug. 27, 1965
Central Plaza, August 1965
Aug. 1965
Central Plaza, September 1965
Sept. 1965
Central Plaza, November 1965
Nov. 1965
Central Plaza January 1966
Jan. 1966
Central Plaza July 1966
April 1966
Central Plaza July 1966
Central Plaza, July 1966
Central Plaza with Walt Disney and Mickey, October 1966
Mickey Mouse & Walt Disney, 1966
Central Plaza April 26, 1967
April 26, 1967
Central Plaza June 1967
June 1967
Disneyland Central Plaza January 1968
Jan. 1968
March 1968
Plaza Gardens, March 1968
March 1968
March 1968
March 1968
Horse-Drawn Trolley in Central Plaza, March 1968
March 1968
March 1968
March 1968
March 1968
March 1968
March 1968
March 1968
March 1968
Disneyland Central Plaza, June 1968
June 1968
Disneyland Central Plaza, June 1968
June 1968
Disneyland Central Plaza, June 1968
June 1968
Disneyland Plaza Pavilion, July 17, 1968
July 17, 1968
Central Plaza October 1968
Oct. 1968
Central Plaza November 1968
Nov. 1968
Central Plaza December 1968
Dec. 1968
Disneyland Central Plaza January 1969
Jan. 1969
Disneyland Central Plaza January 1969
Jan. 1969
Central Plaza February 1969
Marching Band, Feb. 1969
Central Plaza
Undated
Central Plaza
Undated
Central Plaza
Undated
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, 1960s
Undated
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, 1960s
W. W. Hicks photo, undated

Central Plaza, 1970’s–1980’s

Central Plaza June 1970
June 1970
Central Plaza July 1970
July 1970
Central Plaza July 1970
July 1970
Lionel Hampton at Plaza Gardens, May 1971
Lionel Hampton at Plaza Gardens, May 1971
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, February 1971
Feb. 1971
Central Plaza July 1972
July 1972
Disneyland Central Plaza July 1972
July 1972
Central Plaza, Plaza Gardens, Stan Kenton, May 1975
Stan Kenton at Plaza Gardens, May 1975
Disneyland Central Plaza, March 1975
March 1975
Disneyland Central Plaza, March 1975
March 1975
Disneyland Central Plaza, March 1975
March 1975
Disneyland Central Plaza, March 1975
March 1975
Disneyland Central Plaza, March 1975
March 1975
Disneyland Central Plaza, March 1975
March 1975
Central Plaza, Plaza Gardens, May 1975
May 1975
Central Plaza August 1976
August 1976
Central Plaza, December 1977
Dec. 1977
Central Plaza, Plaza Gardens, Count Basie, September 1978
Count Basie, Plaza Gardens, Sept. 1978
Central Plaza, Plaza Gardens, Count Basie, September 1978
Count Basie, Plaza Gardens, Sept. 1978
Disneyland Central Plaza with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck, 1988
Dec. 1977
Central Plaza, undated
Undated

Central Plaza, 1990’s–2000’s

Partners Statue, October 1995
Partners Statue, Oct. 1995
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
Central Plaza bronze statue, June 2005
May 2007
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
June 2005
January 2007
Jan. 2007
Central Plaza, May 2006
May 2006
Central Plaza, May 2006
May 2006
Central Plaza, May 2006
May 2006
Central Plaza, May 2006
May 2006
Central Plaza, May 2006
May 2006
Central Plaza, May 2006
May 2006
February 2007
Feb. 2007
February 2007
Feb. 2007
February 2007
Feb. 2007
Central Plaza, March 2007
March 2007
Central Plaza, March 2007
March 2007
Central Plaza, March 2007
March 2007
Central Plaza, July 2007
July 2007
Omnibus at Central Plaza, September 2007
Sept. 2007
Pearly Band at Central Plaza, September 2007
The Pearly Band, Sept. 2007
Central Plaza, January 2008
Jan. 2008
Central Plaza, March 2008
Plaza Pavilion construction, March 2008
Central Plaza, March 2008
March 2008
Central Plaza, March 2008
March 2008
Central Plaza, March 2008
March 2008
Central Plaza, March 2008
March 2008
Central Plaza, March 2008
March 2008
Central Plaza, March 2008
March 2008
Central Plaza, May 2008
May 2008
Disneyland Central Plaza Carnation Gardens photo, June 2008
June 2008
Disneyland Central Plaza Carnation Gardens photo, June 2008
June 2008
Disneyland Central Plaza Carnation Gardens photo, June 2008
June 2008
Disneyland Central Plaza Carnation Gardens photo, June 2008
June 2008
Central Plaza, September 2008
Sept. 2008
Central Plaza, September 2008
Sept. 2008
Central Plaza, September 2008
Sept. 2008
Central Plaza Pavillion, March 2009
Sept. 2008
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 2008
Dec. 2008
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 2008
Dec. 2008
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 2008
Dec. 2008
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 2008
Dec. 2008
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, January 2009
Jan. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, September 2009
May 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, November 2009
Nov. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, November 2009
Nov. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, November 2009
Nov. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, November 2009
Nov. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, November 2009
Nov. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 2009
Dec. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 2009
Dec. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 2009
Dec. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 2009
Dec. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, December 2009
Dec. 2009
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, March 2010
March 2010
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, March 2010
March 2010
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, March 2010
March 2010
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, March 2010
March 2010
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, June 2010
June 2010
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, June 2010
June 2010
Disneyland Central Plaza photo, June 2010
June 2010
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