The Scoop on Disneyland’s Carnation Ice Cream Plans

Disneyland managed to head off a food fight last week with its public announcement of upcoming changes to the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant.

In the past, the park has unceremoniously closed shops and attractions without warning, sparking howls of protest from loyal patrons who feel a sense of ownership in the place. (Witness the sudden shutdown of the Skyway between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland in late November 1994, prompting hundreds of angry phone calls.)

Carnation, a fixture on Main Street since the park opened in 1955, is a particular favorite for legions of fans. By April, the eatery and an adjacent bakery will be transformed into a new full-service cafe and two carry-out venues. The new concessions will retain something of the old restaurant’s small-town Americana theme and Victorian architecture, while enabling Disneyland to serve hundreds more patrons an hour than the old configuration.

Rumored changes to Carnation unleashed a wave of angst from Disneyphiles, who lobbied the park brass for months via the Internet, letters and phone calls to preserve the restaurant’s leisurely charm. Management’s decision to defuse the situation--by informing patrons ahead of time and retaining the restaurant’s cherished table service--is a sure sign they’re learning from past mistakes.

*

Marla Dickerson covers tourism for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-5670 and at marla.dickerson@latimes.com