July 1955 – January 1997
LOCATION
Main Street USA – Carnation Ice Cream Parlor occupied prime real estate on Main Street, at the corner intersection where the road opens up into two alleyways. Today, this space is used by the Carnation Café.
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Service Type – table service
- Seating – indoor tables and adjacent patio
- Entertainment – none
If you were craving ice cream at Disneyland, Carnation would have been your #1 destination. This opening day original had all the charm you’d expect from a Main Street shop, plus an unbeatable selection of ice creams and sandwiches. Diners were seated on the patio to enjoy their ice cream, people-watch, and enjoy the sunshine.
CLOSURE
Carnation Company was a real ice cream brand, owned by Nestle. In the 90s, Nestle phased out the brand, but allowed Disney to keep the name. Without the original ice cream supply, Disney decided to close the shop in favor of a bakery (the Blue Ribbon Bakery). But the name ended up surviving – the outdoor dining section became a new restaurant: the Carnation Café.
TRIVIA
An antique delivery truck would periodically drive down Main Street and into the alley, to deliver products to the shop.
Carnation’s menu featured a few sundaes named after Disneyland attractions and characters, including the Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain, and Snow White.
Before closing, the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor actually expanded. Before 1977, there was no outdoor dining area, just indoor tables. But popular demand led to a large outdoor patio in the alley.
I worked at the carnation ice cream store on main Street from 1968 till 1970. I met my wife there and we’ve been married for 51 years
That’s so cool!
*I was hired by Glen Watkins in the spring of 1958 at age 17. Started as a dishwasher and busboy, then went to the fountain as a soda jerk. Worked the grille, too. My Dad was transferred to Portland, Oregon that summer but I returned in 1960 and again worked on the fountain. Also came back the following years until I graduated from college in 1965. But then I mostly worked at Plaza Gardens.
I remember lots of Uncle Walt stories but one time he and I spoke when just before closing he picked up a gilled cheese and orange juice. We always knew when he was in the park because of his white Lincoln parked in back of the Fire Station. As you know that’s where his apartment was located. Walt was known to terminate staff on the spot, so when we saw his car we suddenly got serious:) Also Roy Disney used to stop by to talk to Mr. Watkins (who btw was a great guy)
I really enjoyed working there, especially my co-workers. Great memories…
I was hired by Carnation, before Disneyland opened, as a soda jerk. I trained on the fountain for a few days and they needed someone on the grill so that’s where I ended up. I worked until the following spring and then left to work as a teller at Bank of America in Anaheim. In 1957 I quit BofA and worked the summer at Carnation.
It was a lot of fun. Walt would come in after hours and pick up a quart of milk. Moose would sit at the end of the counter and draw pictures for kids while he ate his lunch. We had a lot of movie stars eat there.
I and a few others took an unauthorized boat trip after hours and were caught when Walt saw us from his apartment over the Firehouse and reported us to Security. We didn’t get fired, but we did get a chewing out by the head of Security.
What a cool story. Not a lot of people can claim they got tattled on by Walt Disney! haha.
Hi, Jim. Do you remember my Dad, Glen Watkins, Manager. He was there from the beginning in 1955. I worked there myself from 1960 to 1966. Do you have any other names and stories about other employees you worked with? How about Phil from Upjohn across the street? Anyway, if you get this email give me a reply. Thanks, Larry.
Hello Larry,
My name is Thea Miller – I was friends with your sister, Karen in junior high school before you moved to Laguna. I’ve been trying to locate Karen and have not been able to. Last time we spoke was (I think) 1976. I hope that she is well. And, that you and your families are too.
You were same grade as my sister Cheryl – you may remember. If you get this, I would appreciate you sharing my information with Karen.
Thank you.
That long ago I have a hard time remembering. When the president of the gas company visited they had a number of us learn how to turn on the street lights on Main St. He came down the street in a buggy and tipped his hate as he went by which was our sign to turn on the light. As a teenager I wasn’t very curious to know what was going on around the park. I too worked for Glen on afternoon shift and the Manager on the day shift. That was a little intimidating as I had to order the food for the next day. If that day was cool we had an excess of bananas and if was hot we had an excess of grill fixings. The one person I do remember by name was Barbara Jones. On New Year’s day 1956 she gave me a big kiss as she came on shift.
Working through stuff in my parents basement, I came across an original, first edition 1955 Carnation Ice Cream Parlor, Disneyland Menu. Where a “Mammoth Matterhorn Mountain sundae, “One of the world’s largest sundaes,” with 5 scoops of ice cream, sliced pineapple, 5 different sundae toppings, sliced banana, chopped almonds, whipped cream and cherry, costs just 79 cents. Is anyone interested in a scan of this menu? Regards, David Dowell
That’s amazing! If you send a copy of the scan to duchessofdisneyland@gmail.com, I’d be happy to share it as part of this post!
One of the greatest finds at Disneyland was the original ice cream parlor on the corner – this is after going to Disneyland almost every other week for decades!
The article does not mention it, but there was a genuine counter just like you to see in any old fashion ice cream parlor. That is where I sat and ordered my Matterhorn Sundae. I had never had a better pile of ice cream and toppings and whip cream – lots of whip cream –in my life.
I was very lucky to have discovered the ice cream parlor when I did, because it closed just a year or two later. Standing in line for an ice cream cone at the new place just doesn’t compare. My favorite ice cream there was called Fantasia, like spumoni, and now even that is gone.
To be fair to Disneyland, I did not realize the carnation ice cream parlor was closed because carnation ice cream no longer was available. I have fun memories of going with daddy to Sav-on drug stores and getting a Carnation ice cream cone in the late 50s for a nickel.
I’m a graphic designer so I would really enjoy the scan of your menu if it’s not too much trouble. Thank you.
chazdesimone@hotmail.com
Hi Chaz – check out Disney Food Blog. They have pictures of the menu! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2009/12/28/disney-food-history-disneylands-carnation-ice-cream-parlor/
Plz!
Wow, I thought Carnation Cafe was original from 1955. Even an old baby boomer like me still learning about this place!
How cool is that I inherited a 3 spindle Hamilton Beach malt maker it came from carnation ice cream Disneyland I wonder if that’s at a price that would reflect the possibility of maybe Walt or Roy Disney having a malt Shake?