August 1955 – July 1970
LOCATION
Frontierland – Aunt Jemima Pancake House made its home in the center of Frontierland, overlooking the Rivers of America. Guests could reach the restaurant from Adventureland or Main Street, and would find the patio at the edge of Frontierland’s main block of stores. Today, this space is re-themed as the River Belle Terrace.
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Service Type – quick service
- Seating – indoor dining room & outdoor patio
- Entertainment – visits from Aunt Jemima throughout the day
For guests with a sugary breakfast craving, Aunt Jemima Pancake House was the go-to spot. This casual restaurant served famously huge waffles, pancakes, and breakfast platters, each themed to fit Frontierland (like the Davy Crockett’s Delight or Golden Horseshoe Special). As diners enjoyed their breakfasts, Aunt Jemima herself stopped by to sing and talk with restaurant patrons. For almost a decade, the Pancake House was one of the most famous restaurants in the park.
CLOSURE
Aunt Jemima Pancake House, like many other Disneyland restaurants, didn’t close so much as change theming. Quaker Oats ended their sponsorship with Disneyland in 1970, at which time Disney wanted to take over operations. As part of that process, Disney removed Aunt Jemima as the spokeswoman (the character belongs to Quaker Oats), and instead changed the restaurant’s name to Magnolia Tree Terrace. Not much in the way of menu or decor changed, but the restaurant would never again be operated by an outside company, even during future sponsorships.
TRIVIA
Actress Aylene Lewis portrayed Aunt Jemima in Disneyland.
This restaurant was fully operated & controlled by Quaker Oats. Disney took over operation in 1967, long after Aunt Jemima’s had closed its doors.
From 1962 – 1967, the Pancake House became “Aunt Jemima’s Kitchen”, expanding its menu beyond breakfast items.
For a few years, the Pancake House celebrated National Pancake Day with a “pancake race”, sending participating guests on a race down Main Street USA, pancake skillet in hand.
UPDATE JUNE 2020
Hi all – in light of recent events, I think it’s important I say a few things. A lot of people like me (white, privileged, uneducated on so many important intersectional issues) don’t understand the history of this character. At first, my solution was not to talk about it – to keep this blog post short and stick to facts like dates and menu offerings. But a lot of kind readers have reached out to me and we’ve had really helpful discussions about why that’s not enough – and how important it is to talk about the tough stuff.
I would encourage anyone unfamiliar with the racism behind this character to read this helpful page from Ferris State University. Aunt Jemima is still used today as a slur (see Trina McGee’s experiences on the set of Boy Meets World), and this character was NOT an appropriate example of Disney welcoming diverse characters into the park.
If any readers want to educate themselves and learn how to be better, Forbes provided a list of resources as a good place to start. Black lives matter, and it is on all of us to be allies and to advocate for systemic change – in and out of the parks.
The real history of the Aunt Jemima name, that was used for the products we grew up with, was after the 1875 American folk song “Old Aunt Jemima” written by Billy Kersands, a comedian/songwriter and minstrel show performer. Yes, Kersands was black. The brand of pancake mix was labeled by the Pearl Milling Company and made between 1888-1889. The Quaker Oats Company has owned the brand since 1926.
I wonder when Quakers will protest the company logo/icon and we will lose that as well.
Just because people take a name and use it in a derogatory way, does not make it the only reference.
You say yourself in this comment that the name was used in a derogatory way. The race of the person that wrote a folk song it was based on does not change the fact that the label and character of Aunt Jemima was derogatory. By that logic, if a woman says something sexist, it’s ok because a woman said it? No.
The Aunt Jemima logo was racist, and it was long overdue for Quaker Oats to remove it – it’s really that simple. If Quakers expressed offense with the company’s logo, I would support the company changing that as well.
Great point Pamela. Thanks for the insight. It’s interesting when things get spun one way and we fail to see the propaganda.
I just happened to be making pancakes for my girls when I decided to do some research on the character of Aunt Jemima. I had never heard of the Restaurant at Disneyland. Thanks for taking the time to share the information.
For me this was another opportunity to learn about America’s complicated history on the subject of race.
Thanks again.
Your update is very much appreciated!!!
Duchess of Disneyland, thank you for the June 2020 update. I was shocked to learn of the Aunt Jemima restaurant and found your page through a Google search looking for more background. I appreciate you linking to a well cited post highlighting this racist caricature’s history.
I grew up going to the Happiest Place all the time
I have always had the most fun and warm memories of the beautiful strong ? women who were so incredibly kind and gracious to a little girl. I collect Aunt Jemima vintage items for two reasons
1. To remind me of these gentle women who put love ? in my heart with just a hand on my shoulder
2. To never tolerate hate or abuse
Black lives Should Matter More because of what the history they have endured
Amen
America has always been both black and white and I appreciate you collecting that history. It’s important to remember how images were used to belittle to create future images that are used for better purposes.
how is there no acknowledgement of the racism here?!?!
Hi Sarah – I know the Aunt Jemima character has a messy and complicated history that is very much worth discussion. But in all honesty, I am not educated enough on the subject to give an appropriate commentary in my blog post. Instead I’ve opted to keep it short and just report the basic facts about this restaurant.
My mother was hired for the restaurant when it first opened. I was 4, and remember her takng me to Disneyland one day. I think she was allowed to take me for free. She took me on a few rides, but I will never forget how much Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride scared me.
Mr. Toad does seem like it would be terrifying to a kid; especially the ending!
A lot of people don’t know that Aunt Jemima’s started as a chaine late . One of them opened in either the late 1950s or early ‘60s. This was near Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Anyone else remember?
My mother worked at Aunt Jemima’s when it first opened, and I recall her taking me to the park and on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, which really scared me. I was only 4.
Ah, Cherry Hill, NJ…my hometown. I’ve looked it up a little further and it was apparently near Ellisberg Circle. I’m trying to think exactly where it might have been…I don’t think it was there anymore by the time I came along in 1972.
It’s an interesting idea to have a mascot/character unique to a restaurant. But I can see why having a different company’s character and licensing wasn’t ideal for Disney. Cool article!
Thanks, Joaquin! I agree with your thought about an external company license. I still think they should turn the French Market into Tiana’s Place. That way a restaurant has a character tie, and there’s no licensing issue. PLUS – they could put Ray and Louis and her friends in the garden around the patio, like they do at the back entrance to A Bug’s Land!
I have an Aunt Jemima stove that I would like to send you a picture of to see if you would recognize it from your research. I have not been able to find any information on it. I even contacted the Quaker Oats Co. to no avail.
Hi Robin,
I don’t have much information aside from what I’ve posted here in the article. But if you tweet the photo to @DisneylandToday, they may be able to confirm if it’s a stove from the park or not!