The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (20 page)

The three stores along
Adventureland
’s thoroughfare have separate street entrances, but flow seamlessly into one another inside.  In fact, one way to beat the street crowds on especially jam-packed summer days or holidays is to duck into the shops.  You’ll avoid being crushed, and might find some unexpected treasure that you’ll want to buy! The
Adventureland Bazaar
flows into the
South Seas Traders
, which flows into the
Indiana Jones Outpost
.  You can browse for as long as you like, oblivious of the elbow-to-elbow crowds outside, or just dart through if you’re in a rush.
Did You Know?
  The striking
Adventureland Bazaar
was designed in large part by
Imagineer
Rolly Crump
, who specialized in outlandish, mysterious, and otherworldly designs.  In April 2009 he was honored with a tribute window and sign on
Main Street
.  The tribute theme?  Fortune-telling.

Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost

[
FastView:
 
Indy fans, put this shop on your itinerary!  It’s your “Holy Grail”.
]

The westernmost shop in
Adventureland
, located just east of the
Bengal Barbecue
, the
Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost
opened in 1995 in concert with the launch of the new
E-ticket
attraction, the
Indiana Jones Adventure
.

The
Indiana Jones Adventure
is, in fact, just across the road, so Guests preparing for their
Indiana Jones
experience, or exiting from it, can stroll right into the
Outpost
for all of their archeological needs, from signature
Indiana Jones
chapeaux
to
Indy
T-shirts, action figures, bullwhips, retro leather jackets, pins, jewelry, secret maps, and, of course, snakes (synthetic, not real).

One of the most interesting features of this shop is the
Indiana Jones
pinball machine against the west wall of the store.  I heard about its existence through an online rumor and was able to verify it in autumn 2009.  The pinball machine seems to come and go as mysteriously as Dr. Jones, who, in the films, often vanishes from campus to locate supernatural treasures and save the world.  If the pinball machine is there when you visit, see if you can beat the high score! 
Did You Know?
  The
Indiana Jones Outpost
replaced the
Safari Outpost
, which had sold safari gear since 1986.  The
Safari Outpost
had replaced a
Guatemalan Weavers
shop that had been in operation since the early days of the park, having opened in 1956.

South Sea
s Traders

[
FastView:
 
Beach fashions and accessories primarily for the teen and young adult set.
]

For the latest in surfer attire, visit the
South Seas Traders
between the
Adventureland Bazaar
and the
Indiana Jones Outpost
.  Although the shop opened in 1984, their fashions move with the times.  Featuring contemporary brands like Billabong, Hurley, Quiksilver and Roxy, this shop presents one of the park’s best selections of imaginatively designed
Disney
and non-
Disney
T-shirts, hoodies, dresses, and flannel shirts.

South Seas Traders
seems like a natural stop on a hot summer day, whether you need flip flops or sunblock, but it’s also a must on a cold autumn or winter evening, particularly for tweens, teens, and fashion-conscious adults.  Buy a fashionable—and warm!—hoodie and have the Cast Member snip the tags.  Burrow into your comfortable jacket as you continue your park visit; the stylish look’s a bonus! 
Did You Know?
  Need advice?  For two quarters,
South Seas Traders
’
Shrunken Ned
will gladly dispense some.  Who’s
Shrunken Ned
?  Just look for a British chap with a monocle, wispy white hair, droopy white mustache, and flowing Lord Dundreary sideburns.  He “hangs around” in the heart of the shop.  The pith helmet on the shelf next to him marks him as an explorer, as does the scrap of British flag and the pair of binoculars above which his head is suspended.  His head, you see, has parted company from the rest of him, clearly the result of some miscommunication with the locals.  Despite not being altogether all together,
Shrunken Ned
will share priceless pearls of wisdom.  For example, his brilliant cure for insomnia:  Get plenty of sleep.

Grub:

Bengal Barbecue
(L, D, S)

[
FastView:
 
Meat or veggie
s
kewers, fruit, yogurt, and
Tiger Tails
(bread sticks) make tasty snacks.  All that—and a bag of chips.
]

This thatched snack hut near
Tarzan’s Treehouse
and
Indiana Jones Adventure
exudes an alluring barbecue scent that pervades the entire district, even in the early morning hours before it opens.

Bengal Barbecue
sells a limited but delicious selection of kabobs, snacks, and beverages.  Lines grow long on peak days, and service is sometimes rather slow, but
Bengal Barbecue
fans find it worth the wait.

If you’re thirsty, you can purchase cocoa, coffee, tea, juice, milk, sodas
, or water for about $2 to $3.50 per beverage.  Quick bites include chips for $3, a
Jalapeno Cheese-Filled Pretzel
or
Mickey Mouse Pretzel with Cheese
for $3.69 each, a
Fruit Cup
for $3.69, fresh fruit and yogurt parfait for $5, or
Tiger Tails
(bread sticks) for $3.69.

Want something more substantial?  The
Bengal Barbecue
specializes in a variety of
Jungle Skewers
from $3.79 to $4.29 each.  Choose between
Bengal Beef
(it’s sweet),
Banyan Beef
(it’s hot and spicy),
Chieftain Chicken
,
Outback Vegetable
, or
Safari
(asparagus wrapped in bacon)
Skewers
. They’re very tasty, but messy (grab plenty of napkins!) and they’re slight—so don’t expect to quell a tiger-sized appetite with a single skewer!
Did You Know? 
Bengal Barbecue
opened in 1992, replacing
Sunkist, I Presume
, a hot dog and juice joint that had occupied this little hut since 1962, when it replaced the
Tropical Cantina
. 
Sunkist, I Presume
was, obviously, sponsored by Sunkist.  The name was a play on the famous rhetorical question “Dr. Livingston, I presume?” asked by Welsh-American newspaper reporter Henry Stanley on November 10, 1871, when he found British explorer Dr. David Livingston near Lake Tanganyika, Africa.  Livingston had been residing there incommunicado since 1864.

River Belle Terrace
(B, L, D, S)

[
FastView:
 
A
Walt
favorite back-in-the-day.  See the
River Belle Terrace
entry in the
Frontierland
chapter for more details about this historic
Disneyland
restaurant.
]

Although officially located in
Frontierland
, the
River Belle Terrace
has an
Adventureland
entrance just across the path from
Tarzan’s Treehouse
.  This elegant buffet restaurant, with its palette of creams and pale pinks, and its glass and crystal touches, offers traditional American sandwiches, salads, and desserts, as well as hearty bacon, egg, sausage, and pancake breakfasts.  (See the
Frontierland
“Grub” section later in the book for specific dishes and price ranges.)

One can eat in the classic interior, enjoying the views through the many windows, or
dine outside on the large patio overlooking the
Rivers of America
.  Whether you want to enjoy a tranquil, early morning
al fresco
breakfast watching the ducks and the
Mark Twain Riverboat
glide on the
Rivers of America
, or want an amazing spot to watch
Fantasmic!
or the evening’s
Magical Fireworks
, you can’t go wrong with the
River Belle Terrace
. 
Did You Know?
  This is a low-key alternative to the sometimes frenzied character breakfast dining experience of the
Plaza Inn
.  There’s no character dining at the
River Belle
, but children can enjoy fruit, bacon, cocoa, juices, and
Mickey
-shaped pancakes.
Did You Also Know?
From 1962 to 1970, the restaurant at this location was
Aunt Jemima’s Kitchen
; an actress portraying
Aunt Jemima
greeted Guests. From 1970 to 1971, the restaurant was re-named
Magnolia Tree Terrace
(a reference to
Magnolia Park
, which was replaced by
New Orleans Square
in 1966).  It was in 1971 that the restaurant finally became the stately
River Belle Terrace
.
Shortcut Alert:
  The
River Belle Terrace
restaurant, because it has two entrances, is a convenient, fast way to navigate between
Adventureland
and
Frontierland
on crowded days.  Remember this tip around Christmas and in high summer!

Tiki Juice Bar
(S)

[
FastView:
 
The
Dole Whip Floats
are scrumptious
Disneyland
traditions.  Brave the long line.
]

Located next to the
Enchanted Tiki Room
, near the
Adventureland
gate, the
Tiki Juice Bar
serves up fruit and beverages to keep you energized and hydrated during your exciting adventures.

Sponsored by
Dole
, this little thatched stand opened in 1976 and it’s always been all about fruit treats.  (The carnivores in your group will need to swing by the
Bengal Barbecue
for a satisfying snack!)

The
Dole
treats are so good that the queue here is often as long as an attraction queue.  But you’re within earshot of the
Tiki
courtyard, so you can pass the time by listening to the
Tiki
pre-show or chatting with your companions.  And the efficient Cast Members at this stand keep the line moving along; the wait won’t be as long as you expect.

Not only are the
Tiki Juice Bar
offerings fresh and tasty, they’re reasonably priced too.
Dole Pineapple Juice
costs about $3. A
Fresh Pineapple Spear
will run you about $3, too.  The yummy
Pineapple Dole Whip Soft-Serve
is only $3.69.  And the delicious
Dole Whip Float
refreshes for $5.19.

The author’s
absolute fave is the
Dole Whip Float
, a combination of pineapple juice and soft-serve ice cream.  Grab a straw
and
spoon for this treat.  It’s even garnished with a colorful little paper umbrella (hello, tiny free souvenir!).

My niece
once missed out on her
Mint Julep
because the
Mint Julep Bar
closed while we were waiting in line for my
Dole Whip Float
.  Julia will be reminding me of this incident thirty years from now!  If you haven’t stopped by the
Tiki Juice Bar
yet, get ready to discover some new
Disneyland
food favorites!
Did You Know? 
Dole pioneered pineapple cultivation and sales in the United States when James Dole launched his Hawaiian pineapple plantation in 1900.  The fruit originated in South America, particularly Brazil, but over the centuries spread around the globe via explorers and traders.  Columbus even stumbled across pineapples on his travels and brought them back to Europe.  Why the name “pineapple” when the fruit clearly is not an apple nor derived from pine trees?  Pine cones used to be called “pine apples”and the tropical fruit’s resemblance to giant pine cones inspired the nomenclature. 
Double Vision:
  Craving a
Dole Whip
treat but you can’t get to
Disneyland
?  According to
Los Angeles Magazine
(February 2013),
Whipp’d LA
at 7901 Santa Monica Boulevard crafts
World Famous Dolewhip
soft-serve and float dopplegangers that’ll make your taste buds think you’re in
Adventureland
!  Visit
www.whippdsoftserve.com
for more info.