Source: Yesterland
February 2001 – late 2001
LOCATION
Hollywood Land – Hollywood & Dine occupied Backlot Stage 12 in Hollywood Land, off the main drag (not far from where Monsters, Inc. is now). Today, this space is largely underutilized, most recently used for Black Panther meet and greets.
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Service Type – quick service
- Seating – indoor dining room
- Entertainment – none
Hollywood & Dine’s “backstage” setting mimicked a movie studio’s catering area, complete with prop lights and Hollywood set décor. The food court concept offered guests the chance to “dine” in settings inspired by popular Hollywood restaurants during the mid-20th century.
CLOSURE
Despite the approachable concept, Hollywood & Dine suffered the same problem much of California Adventure did in the beginning. Guests didn’t get it. Add in high prices for basic food items and a somewhat hidden location in the park, and this dining spot seemed doomed to fail. The food court area closed after less than a year, originally temporarily, but it never reopened. For a few years, the space would periodically serve as a private event venue, but even today it remains largely underutilized, waiting for whatever comes next.
TRIVIA
The real-life Don the Beachcomber bar in Hollywood, which inspired one of the counters within, is largely credited with inventing the Mai Tai (though this claim is hotly disputed by Trader Vic’s).
Schwab’s Pharmacy, another themed area in Hollywood & Dine, was the subject of a persistent urban legend claiming actress Lana Turner was discovered there sipping a soda—though in reality, she was discovered in a different Hollywood cafe.
I was lucky enough to perform on the backlot stage a few years ago, and we were able to get ready inside stage 12. They still have a lot of the signage from the Hollywood and Dine being stored back there!
When DCA opened there was a great dance club there for young couples n kids, it had great music and bands. My wife and I would hang there and dance while teens ran the park. They always knew where we were when they needed more money or we’d meet for dinner. The music was bomb, I just loved it.