The Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship (August 1955–1982) was originally built of wood smack-dab in the middle of concrete, with a small amount of water surrounding it. Tuna sandwiches, tuna salad (served in little boats), tuna burgers, and hot tuna pies were served here at the counter located below the deck. The restaurant was also known as Captain Hook's Pirate Ship and The Chicken of the Sea Restaurant.

The Skull Rock Lagoon was added in 1961 and served as a scenic backdrop and seating area for patrons of the restaurant. Based on Skull Rock from "Peter Pan," you could enjoy your food while listening to music & the cascading waterfall. Kids were often chased by Captain Hook behind the waterfalls and through the small caves.

Skull Rock & the Pirate Ship were both demolished in 1982 to make way for the "new" Fantasyland. The original intent was to move the Pirate Ship near the Storybook Land entrance, however, the ship (which had been replaced by a concrete version which was more stable) could not be moved in one piece without damaging it. There was no money in the budget to rebuild her, so she was taken apart instead. Dumbo was moved into the area that once held these two "attractions" from the past. It is ironic that Disney is now spending millions to put Pirates onto Tom Sawyer's Island as a result of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" fever that has swept because of the successful movie franchise. If the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship & Skull Rock were in a position of being saved or demolished today, you can be sure there would be money in the budget to restore them. Over at the Disneyland Hotel, you can see a somewhat poor recreation of the Skull Rock Lagoon in the Hotel's Pool area.

As a bonus today, Tina has also requested some photos on the Welch's Grape Juice Bar that used to be located in Fantasyland. Here is an overall shot of the area with a specific zoom-in of the Welch's Bar itself:

Welch's sponsored the Mickey Mouse Club as well as the Juice Bar. The Juice Bar sold purple, red, and white grape juice in plastic cups and frozen juice bars until the Fantasyland area was remodeled in 1982. There was apparently a redesigned juice bar in the works, but it was never executed. Behind the original juice bar was a Fantasia-themed pastoral with hand-painted centaurs & centaurettes and grape decor. Tina remembers the countertops being painted in a periwinkle blue with scalloped edges in the gingerbread wood trim.

Here is a photo of my brothers and mom enjoying Welch's Frozen Grape Juice Bars while relaxing in Fantasyland, November 1965. This was a surprise trip to Disneyland for my brother's 8th birthday.

Well folks, that's it for this column. Many thanks again for the positive feedback and suggestions—until next time, see you at Daveland, 24/7!

Dave