Source: Daveland Blog
July 1955 – Summer 1962
LOCATION
Adventureland – The Tropical Cantina had an ideal location for foot traffic in Adventureland, facing the Jungle Cruise Boathouse. To find the Cantina, guests walked through Adventureland (starting from the main entrance) nearly to the end of the land’s main walkway; the Cantina sat on the right, across the path from the river. Today, this space belongs to the Bengal Barbecue.
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Service Type – quick service
- Seating – nearby benches and minimal seating
- Entertainment – none
As one of the smaller lands in the original park, Adventureland didn’t have a ton of restaurants or rest areas in the 50s and 60s. Most visitors dined at the Tahitian Terrace when in the area, but for passengers on the go, there was another place to stop for refreshment. The Tropical Cantina sold cold drinks and snacks, the perfect pick-me-up between cruises and shows in the Tiki Room.
CLOSURE
In the early days of Disneyland, most restaurants and shops had an official sponsor; though Walt didn’t like having other vendors manage pieces of the park, he had to recoup costs from the initial build. Tropical Cantina was one of the few dining spots in the park that didn’t have a sponsor, and when Sunkist looked to expand beyond their Main Street location, a tropical drink stand made perfect sense. Eventually, the Tropical Cantina became “Sunkist, I Presume” in 1962.
TRIVIA
Drink names on the marquee included: Singapore Sling, Lava Boiler, Mandarin Flip, and mixed tropical juices.
The upstairs of the building was used as a small rest area for cast members.