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Building the Dream: The Making of Disneyland Park – Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship

George Savvas

by , Director, Public Relations, Disneyland Resort

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A unique Peter Pan-themed restaurant opened at Disneyland park on August 29, 1955. The Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant was a Fantasyland icon that once stood where Dumbo the Flying Elephant is today.

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Part of the elaborately themed restaurant location included Skull Rock Cove where you could sit and enjoy your meal.

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In 1969 the location changed its name to Captain Hook’s Galley, and in 1982 it was removed during the creation of New Fantasyland at Disneyland park.

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The legacy of this popular Disneyland park location lives on today. At Disneyland Paris, guests can enjoy Pirate Galleon, a recreation of the Disneyland park original, and at Disneyland park itself, some say the watery rockwork adjacent to the Dumbo Flying Elephant queue and Storybook Land Canal Boats is actually part of the original Skull Rock Cove.

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Destinations: Building the Dream: The Making of Disneyland Park – Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship

Topics: Disney History

Comments

  • Even as a child, I could see that the Chicken of the Sea ship was a was quite small inside.
    The doorway in the top photo is about 1/3 to 1/2 size compared to the man standing next to it.

    And, Alan, you and I had similar experiences, as I wanted the ship to SAIL, not just be stuck there as a restaurant!

    Yes, it is Annette as Pan in that photo.
    If you hover your cursor over the photo, a caption giving that info will pop up.

  • I vaguely remember that from a visit in 1978 when I was 7. I kept begging my mom to let me go on the pirate ship. She kept saying it wasn’t a ride. Eventually I made her go ask and she came back and said it was just a restaurant. We didn’t even eat there.

  • Is that Annette Funicello in the Peter Pan costume in the second picture?

  • Many visits growing up and this ship is one of my clearest memories. Recently revisited Disneyland after years absent with my wife who had never been, anxious to show her the places I visited as a kid and was looking forward to sharing the ship with her. I was heartbroken that the ” Chicken of the Sea” was gone. It’s true you can never truly go back, mores the pity , a lot of good memories created there

  • Anyone know the capacity? It looks tiny

  • I agree with Chris above. I think that Disney needs to start planning for the aging baby boomers who went to D-land when it first opened. We like to spend more time sitting, watching and reminiscing. We do need more themed eating areas and more Peter Pan.

  • Looks like Annette Funicello as Peter Pan in the second photo above. My first visit to Disneyland was in 1987, so I never had the pleasure of seeing the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, but I did see the Pirate Galleon in DL Paris and it is phenomenal.

  • One of my favorite memories as a kid. Eating a tuna sandwich and playing pirate on the ship. Great times.

  • My very firat trip to Disneyland, Dewwmbwe 1967, I had my first meal there. Loved it.

  • I personally would like to see a lot more restaurants with this detailed level of themeing. We are already going to loose one of the best restaurants in the park, Big Thunder Ranch due to Star Wars Land, not only do they have the best food, the themeing is superb as well.

  • oops! meant to say MAKE them at home from time to time.Guess I was too overcome with nostalgia to proofread.

  • Oh how I miss that place. I even found the recipe for the Tuna”burgers” they used to have. I them at home from time to time, but it’s not the same.

  • Well, looks like I’m going to Disneyland Paris.

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