Plaza Gardens Stage

UPDATE: This entry refers to the defunct Carnation Plaza Garden which has seen been replaced by the Royal Theater. It was good while it last.

It all comes from a misplaced Bandstand.

As everyone knows, on the blueprints of Disneyland, the bandstand was supposed to sit in the middle of Town Square for everyone to see it. But once the workers had put it down, Walt Disney realised it blocked the view to its Castle. 2 days before opening, Walt had it moved to a less fancy location. North west to the hub. But musicians would still play there and entertain guest for hours every friday-saturday night making the location so popular it went clustered.

In 1956 the Bandstand was moved again to Frontierland, and in its place was raised a big pavillion under which a stage and dancing ring was set.

And since then, Only In Disneyland can patrons and seldom visitors keep their sneakers on to dance on the best music played by some of the greatest musicians of Orange County. This kind of attraction makes Disneyland rather unique. An animation more than an attraction, Plaza Gardens Stage reminds us that Disney parks are not only about guided entertainement. There anyone can express themselves on some of the most populare tunes of all decades.

Those Plaza Gardens are not to be confused with Disneyland Paris’ own Plaza Gardens Restaurant. Even though Disneyland’s Plaza Gardens also have a counter serving food since opening.

Plaza Gardens Stage and its present Jump, Jive, Boogie, Dance Party should not be missed by anyone visiting the original Kingdom. You can spend hours just sitting outstide the ring watching those Disneyland oldtimers along with younger patrons perfectionning their steps for everyone to see.