Central Plaza/Red Wagon Inn/Plaza Inn
BACKSTORY: From 1955—1965, The Red Wagon Inn was the name of the restaurant at Central Plaza, originally sponsored by The Swifts Premium Meat Company in Kansas City (they also sponsored the Main Street Market House & Frontierland’s Chicken Plantation House). The name came from Swift's logo at the time which featured a red delivery wagon. RWI was the only restaurant at Disneyland that served 3 full-course meals a day. It was Walt's favorite restaurant at Disneyland and contained 4 dining rooms. The Gold and the Green rooms were for guests; The Inn Between was the first cafeteria for Cast Members; and the Hideout/Hideaway had a VIP lounge, a wet bar, and bathroom for Walt’s special guests. This area became a hospitality center for Goodyear when they were a sponsor, then converted to offices, and finally destroyed in the 1999 rehab. Renamed “Plaza Inn” in 1965, it serves traditional American fare and is sponsored by the Columbian Coffee Growers. Designed by Walt Disney's wife, Lillian, it is decorated with turn-of-the-century furnishings and authentic mementos of the 1890s, including the stained glass ceiling, entrance hall, and foyer taken from the old St. James home in Los Angeles (1880). The Tencenniel celebration & press conference were held here in 1965. The menu originally offered a varied selection of food, featuring steaks & chops and Swift’s quality meats.

1950’s • 1960’s/1970’s • 1990’s/2000+