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In a 1992 interview, Professor Stephen Fjellman
(anthropologist and author of Vinyl Leaves: Walt Disney
World and America), observed that Disney divides the
cultures of the world into two groups: Euro-Americans
and "exotic others." The Adventureland Veranda is
where the food of these "exotic others," as dubiously
authentic in nature as Disney's depictions of their
respective nations, was offered up to hungry park guests
for nearly 23 years.
This restaurant was the first location that visitors to
Adventureland would encounter on their trip across the
bridge from Main Street USA or the hub. Housed in a
large building awash in the architectural styles of at least
two separate continents, the Adventureland Veranda was
home to some of the Magic Kingdom's most mismatched
decor, best cast member costumes and undeniably
intriguing entrees.
The building, which sits relatively untouched since the
restaurant closed in July 1994, manages to look
Caribbean, Chinese, African and Polynesian all at the
same time. It is perhaps as great a tribute as any other in
the Magic Kingdom to Disney's ability to interpret popular
conceptions of distant locales and, in turn, reinvent those
same conceptions. Inside the furnishings were equally
melded, with dark wooden paneling, earth-colored tile
floors, high ceilings braced by ornate rafters and flowery
brass chandeliers. It was a setting of oblique tropical
elegance, borrowing from a wider range of influences
than I am able to enumerate. To the east of the
restaurant was an outdoor dining area, the real veranda,
that was primarily Caribbean in feeling. It looked out
over the central canals of the hub. To the west of the
restaurant was another open-air dining area ensconced
in the alcoves opposite the Swiss Family Treehouse
attraction. Between the two of these was another patio,
a high, glass-ceilinged decagonal space with a brick floor. Nearby, the
Aloha Isle juice bar still operates from one exterior section of the Veranda's
facade.
The Adventureland Veranda opened with the park but had no sponsor until October
1977, when soy-sauce giant Kikkoman stepped into what seemed a custom-built void.
In conjunction with this sponsor, the establishment set forth some of the park's most
eclectic food offerings. The Teriyaki Burger, for example, was a delightfully bland
tasting slab of semi-beef stuffed in a bun with a slice of pineapple. The Shrimp Fried
Rice with Egg Roll or South Seas Fruit Salad were similarly fresh and appetizing
choices for the discerning explorer's palate. Years before the park ever experimented
with waffle fries, the Veranda served the thinnest, soggiest french fries in the world.
Premium stuff. But high above the rest, at least in my esteemed opinion, was the
gastronomically reprehensible Sweet and Sour Hot Dog. This delicacy, unfortunately,
did not survive menu changes during the restaurant's later years.
Adding to the
incomparable
atmosphere of the
Veranda was a
soothing,
criminally lazy,
loop of
Polynesian-like
background
music. The
relaxing strains of
steel guitar
standards like
"Harbor Lights"
and "Blue
Hawaii" rolled
through the dining areas, and out onto the Adventureland streets, like waves of
enchantment. The songs were not only easing to the senses, it was also safer for
guests (as it generally caused them to chew their food more slowly and thoroughly).
This music, however, was retired in early 1993. It was replaced by the current
background track for the majority of Adventureland, which is significantly more
upbeat and regrettably less romantic.
Cast members at the Veranda were bestowed with the double blessing of a
relatively tranquil work environment and some of the best costumes in the park.
From the mid-70s until April 1994, they wore the outrageous turquoise, green and
black outfits that screamed "hip" with a voice rooted firmly in the 1960's.
It was virtually impossible to look bad in these getups, and for this and other
reasons I lament never having worn one during my time as a Kingdom cast member.
The costumes were enough to make one overlook the polyester reality, there was
only "the look." The latter-day costumes, still worn at Aloha Isle, do not
measure up. |
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The
Adventureland Veranda
Extinct WDW Restaurant
Located:
Adventureland,
Magic Kingdom
Opened: October 1, 1971
Closed: July 1994
Sponsors:
Kikkoman (1977-1994)
Remnants:
Space still exists as big empty building
All images copyright The Walt Disney Company.
Text 2009 by Mike Lee
WYW acknowledges
the thoughtful assistance of
Dave Applewhite
and
Brian Lee
with its Adventureland Veranda research
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