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When Disneyland opened in 1955, the space where the Plaza Inn sits was the Swift-sponsored Red Wagon Inn, Walt Disney’s personal favorite among all 24 restaurants and stands in the park.
Hidden in the back was a secret VIP suite called the “Hideaway” (or Palm Room) with its own unmarked entrance, private bathroom, and fully stocked wet bar…the only place serving alcohol in the dry park. Walt used it to entertain celebrities, dignitaries (including President Harry Truman), and sponsors; the room was later converted to offices and demolished in the 1999 rehab.
After Walt purchased and dismantled the grand Victorian home at 20 St. James Park in Los Angeles, built for Baroness Rosa Von Zimmerman, the restaurant inherited its leaded-glass front doors, hand-carved wood paneling, newel posts, marble foyer pieces, crystal chandeliers, and the spectacular stained-glass ceiling from the mansion’s third-floor solarium, giving the “Delmonico-style” restaurant instant authentic 1890s grandeur. Set decorator Emile Kuri (who also worked on "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea") was personally instructed by Walt to create the height of luxury at everyday prices. Kuri sourced treasures like an 1840s gilded Louis XV clock and barometer set from Versailles plus 24 custom Baccarat crystal chandeliers.
After Disney bought out all third-party food sponsors, Walt and Imagineer John Hench oversaw a $1.7 million overhaul. The restaurant reopened July 18, 1965 as the Plaza Inn, switching from full table service to elegant cafeteria style while adding a full on-site bakery, gas-lit terraces, and even more opulent New Orleans–Victorian flair. #DisneyLand #DisneyFacts

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