Ms. Chase was a truly remarkable woman who could be found at the helm in Dooky Chase well into her nineties. The New Orleans community and beyond mourned her loss last year when she passed away at the age of 96. When we visited the restaurant just three months prior, in March 2019, Ms. Chase was actually cooking that evening. Unbelievable! I would argue that Ms. Chase was undoubtedly a “super-ager”–one to be studied.

Leah Chase in Washington, D.C.

While you can still visit the restaurant in New Orleans, I recently found another destination celebrating the life and legacy of Leah Chase. This time, it was in my own backyard.

On display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History are a number of artifacts, including her cooking pot, restaurant menu and iconic bright pink chef’s jacket. Instead of donning a traditional white chef’s coat, she famously opted for jackets in bright red and pinks. The jacket became part of her public persona. I would also imagine that it hid cooking stains quite well!

The “Queen of Creole Cuisine” became an international icon, hosting heads of state–including U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama–at the restaurant she owned with her husband. Her restaurant served well-known musicians and actors, and even played host to clandestine meetings during the Civil Rights era.

Leah Chase and Princess Tiana

Much like the character she influenced, Ms. Chase faced challenges on her path to becoming a female African American entrepreneur. But also like Tiana, Leah Chase had a penchant for hospitality.

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Many towns across America offer fine examples of Victorian architecture, but the Grand Floridian reflects a special subset of this style. Its primary antecedent was the once-ubiquitous turn-of-the-century seaside resort. A few of these live on as real places

Newport Beach-based architecture firm Wimberly, Alison, Tong & Goo executed the design alongside Disney’s in-house architects. The firm set out to design a hotel that would evoke the nostalgic charm of the Victorian seaside resort. However, just like buildings from this period, the Grand Floridian is not true to one particular style. (Victorians were not known for stylistic coherence–more on that in our Cape May post). Design partner Gerald Allison described the style as “American Victorian, basically the Queen Anne style.” (Dunlop, p. 109). “Basically” is the important word there. The Grand Floridian drew from a number of distinct hotels across the country for its design and character.

Fortunately for Grand Floridian fans, a few of these places are still around today and are ready for your visit. These hotels managed to survive fires, hurricanes, and redevelopment attempts and continue to offer guests a sense of the grandeur that was once the Victorian seaside hotel. Follow along for a tour of the real places that inspired Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, California

This famous San Diego resort was the primary inspiration for the Grand Floridian’s exterior. Affectionately known as “the Del,” the Hotel del Coronado features a conspicuous red roof and sprawling white complex that you’ll recognize instantly.

The Del debuted in 1888 to great fanfare, just across the bay from San Diego proper. At the time, it was the largest resort hotel in the world and would be the largest electrified building when it underwent that transformation. Today, it holds the record for second-largest wooden structure in the United States. It is, in fact, one of the last surviving examples of a once-prominent American architectural genre: the wooden seaside resort.

The Del has hosted countless dignitaries and celebrities over the years, and continues to offer guests an elegant experience in southern California. For more on the hotel’s history, including information on daily docent-led tours, visit the Del’s interactive historical timeline.

Gasparilla Inn & Club, Gasparilla Island, Florida

The Gasparilla Inn & Club on Boca Grande stands out as one of only two Florida hotels on this Grand Floridian-inspired list. You might recognize the name from one of the Grand Floridian’s restaurants–the Gasparilla Island Grill. This quick-service restaurant is open 24/7, and while its look has changed over time following a series of renovations, it’s retained its light and airy feel, with pale greens and bronze fixtures reminiscent of a Florida palm house.

Like many resort areas from the period, the real Gasparilla Inn’s story is intertwined with that of the railroad. In the early 1900s, the American Agricultural Chemical Company was shipping the valuable chemical phosphate, a key ingredient in fertilizer, from southwest Florida by barge. Recognizing the efficiencies to be gained from shipping product by rail, the company established two subsidiaries–one, the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad and two, the Boca Grande Land Company.

At the same time, tarpon fishing drew wealthy northern visitors to the area, made much more accessible by train. Seeing the opportunity, the Land Company began work on a resort in 1909 and in 1911, the Inn opened as “The Hotel Boca Grande.” Almost immediately, locals began opening shops and businesses around the hotel and the railroad brought car-fulls of northerners.

In light of the hotel’s success, the developers sought to expand the simple original structure. In 1912, they hired well-known Florida architect Francis Kennard to design an expansion, and it was during this time that the hotel’s distinguishable Queen Anne elements began to appear. The developers shipped polished new furnishings from Wanamaker’s in New York, and the the hotel as we know it today came to be. The expanded hotel opened for the 1913 season under its new moniker, “The Gasparilla Inn.”

When you visit, don’t miss the 1910 train depot down the street from the Inn. Located on the corner of Park Avenue and Fourth Street, the historic depot has been restored as a mixed-use building, with The Loose Caboose Restaurant occupying its south end. Stop by for a grouper sandwich or their acclaimed homemade ice cream before settling in at our #2 stop among the real places that inspired Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Although not a seaside resort, there’s no questioning the Omni Mount Washington‘s connection to the Grand Floridian with its bright white facade and red roof.

The creation of New York financier Joseph Stickney, the Mount Washington Hotel came to life in 1902 after two years of construction efforts by 250 Italian craftsmen. Despite its location tucked away in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the hotel operated for several decades as a a summer-only destination. Guests enjoyed the well-designed golf course, wagon rides, billiards games, the indoor swimming pool, and many other amenities, all quite modern for the time.

The hotel changed hands multiple times throughout the 20th century, playing its most famous role as host to the 1944 Bretton Woods Monetary Conference. It was during this conference that the UN established the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in an effort to address the global economic consequences of World War II. As a result of the conference, the hotel benefited from a number of renovations sponsored by the U.S. government and earned its name in the history books.

In the 1990’s, several New Hampshire businessmen bought up both the hotel and surrounding tracts of land to consolidate into what is now the state’s largest ski area. Today, the hotel operates as an Omni property, is open for year-round stays, and is #3 on our list of real places that inspired Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan

Don’t let this hotel’s remote location dissuade you–the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan has served as a real-life celebration of Victorian resort style since its founding in 1887. Not unlike the other hotels on this list, it was a consortium of transportation companies that would come together to invest in a resort property. Developers marketed the Grand Hotel as a welcome summer respite for vacationers who arrived by steamship from Chicago, Detroit, Erie and Montreal and by rail from other parts of the country. Today, the resort still boasts the superlative of longest porch in the country, from which visitors can take in sweeping views of Lake Huron little changed from earlier times.

Fans of Victoriana are in good company at the Grand Hotel. The resort enjoys repeat guests, many of whom travel specifically to savor the island’s Victorian legacy. Indeed, the hotel was front-and-center in American public life in the 1890’s. Thomas Edison conducted his first public demonstration of the phonograph on the famous porch, and Mark Twain often included the Grand Hotel on his Midwest speaking circuit.

By the 1980’s, this legacy was far from forgotten, when the the hotel served as filming location for the movie, Somewhere in Time. Visitors trek to the hotel annually to celebrate the cult film, in which Christopher Reeves’ character travels back in time in search of his 1912 soulmate (played by Jane Seymour). A dashing Christopher Plummer portrays hotel manager and adversary to the couple’s romantic aspirations. What’s not to love?

The Belleview Inn, Belleair, Florida

The Belleview Inn today lives on as a reincarnation of its former self. Known originally as the Belleview-Biltmore, the hotel was constructed in Bellair, Florida in 1897, overlooking Clearwater Bay on Florida’s west coast. The hotel owed its existence to railroad tycoon Henry Plant, who, like his counterpart Henry Flagler on the east coast, was responsible for bringing the railroad and spurring development on Florida’s west coast. The Belleview was only one of several grand hotels that Plant built throughout Florida.

Over time, the hotel changed hands, experienced varying levels of upkeep, and dodged the wrecking ball repeatedly. Most recently, a team of developers led a three-year renovation which preserved part of the sprawling original structure. In 2018, the hotel opened as the Belleview Inn and includes the original lobby and surrounding 35 guest rooms. Fortunately, the developers executed a carefully-planned demolition process for the remaining building, salvaging original materials for reuse in the new building. These include the resplendent stained-glass panels that now grace the ceiling of the recreated “Tiffany Room.” Despite losing its designation on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, “the Queen of the Gulf” lives on as a tribute to the golden age of Florida travel.

The Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, Colorado

You might be thinking, what’s a Colorado-based hotel doing on a list of hotels that inspired the Grand Floridian?

Although not a seaside resort, The Brown Palace Hotel in Denver served as the model for the Grand Floridian’s atrium lobby. Eight floors of cast-iron balconies, topped by a stained glass ceiling, comprise the Denver hotel’s lobby. Sound familiar?

In operation since 1892, the Brown Palace Hotel today hosts guests as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection of hotels. Stop by next time you’re in Denver to visit #6 on our list of the real places that inspired Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Viewpoints expressed reflect the personal opinions and views of the author. They do not reflect the views of any other entity and should not be read to endorse or otherwise promote any person, business, or service.

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New Orleans isn’t just a destination for party seekers and food connoisseurs these days.  It also makes for a fun and interesting family trip.

Fans of The Princess and the Frog in particular should add this city to their travel list, as Disney drew from real places for almost every aspect of the beloved film.  If you love Tiana and Louis as much as we do, you must visit New Orleans to experience the colorful city that Disney brought to life on film.

Beignets at Morning Call

Start your day off with coffee and beignets at Morning Call, the 24-hour café overlooking City Park.  This establishment is one of several, including the famous Café Du Monde, that served as inspiration for the restaurant where Tiana works in the film.  

TRAVEL TIP:  Bring cash, as they don’t accept credit cards.

THE DESTINATION’S IN THE DETAILS:  The original Morning Call café opened in the French Quarter in 1870 and has been a New Orleans tradition ever since.  The new, City Park location opened in 2012. 4

Alternatively, finish off your day with beignets for dessert.  24-hour dessert opportunities are dangerous for night owls like myself!

Jackson Square and the French Quarter

This one is obvious—The Princess and the Frog is studded with architectural gems from the French Quarter.  Visit Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, which feature in several scenes, most notably Tiana’s wedding parade.  

TRAVEL TIP:  Two Louisiana State Museum buildings flank St. Louis Cathedral.  On one side is The Presbytère, which features a set of rotating exhibits that may be worth exploring based on your interests.  On the other side is the Cabildo, whose exhibits tend to cater to history buffs.

The French Quarter’s distinctive architecture figures prominently in the film.  The decorative ironwork, Spanish balconies and narrow, gaslit corridors form the backdrop for many scenes and can be found all throughout the French Quarter.  

TRAVEL TIP:  To see where the Quarter’s Pirates of the Caribbean-esqe gas lamps are made, pay a visit to Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights, located on a narrow alley at 521 Conti Street.  The showroom has a good exhibit outlining the history of power in New Orleans and a workshop where you can talk with a craftsman.  

For more on New Orleans architecture, check out my post on [Disneyland’s New Orleans Square].

The St. Charles Streetcar

Wherever you’re staying, make use of the city’s iconic streetcar to get around.  In the film, Tiana uses the green St. Charles line to get to her job at the restaurant.   

TRAVEL TO:  This line runs between the Central Business District and Carrollton, with stops in the beautiful areas of the Garden District and Uptown along the way.  Since we were staying in the French Quarter, we used the trolley to get to our architecture tour in the Garden District. If you’re going this direction, you’ll want to catch the trolley at the corner of Common Street and St. Charles Avenue.  

THE DESTINATION’S IN THE DETAILS:  This is both the oldest line in the city and the oldest continuously operating streetcar in the world. 1 As such, a ride in one of these vehicles offers a veritable trip into the past.  The cars have no air conditioning, but windows open wide for a nice breeze. (You’ll want to sit by one anyway for the best photos of the historic mansions along St. Charles Avenue). The seats, made of sleek, polished wood with brass fittings, can actually be reversed for the return trip.2  No guarantees that the driver will allow you to ride leaning out the door, but otherwise, hop on board and start your day like Tiana!

The Garden District

Hop off the streetcar at St. Charles and 1^st Street and admire the homes reminiscent of the one that Tiana’s childhood friend Charlotte resides in with her father, Eli “Big Daddy” La Bouff.  We took a fantastic architecture tour of the neighborhood with Katrina, owner of New Orleans Architecture Tours. Kat showed us many lovely homes, but we were particularly delighted to learn that John Goodman himself owns a home in the Garden District!  Just like Big Daddy himself, Goodman owns an exquisite home in this historic, tree-lined neighborhood, on the corner of Coliseum and 2^nd Streets.  

While you’re in the neighborhood, make sure you stop by the famous Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.  Kat’s architecture tour includes a stop in this cemetery. New Orleans is known for its unique collection of walled, above-ground cemeteries like this one.  You may recall that in the film, the last stand-off between Dr. Facilier and Tiana’s cohort takes place in a cemetery inspired by the one at Lafayette.

TRAVEL TIPS:  The cemetery is free and open to the public, but add this to your itinerary early in the day.  It closes at 2:30 PM Monday – Friday and at Noon on Saturday.

THE DESTINATION’S IN THE DETAILS:  The cemetery was established in 1833 and continues to see active burials.  Families are responsible for maintaining their own tombs, and where tombs have been abandoned, the non-profit organization Save Our Cemeteries has stepped in to lead preservation efforts.  Look out for one of the most striking memorials—that commemorating the Jefferson Fire Company #22. The tomb is decorated with an old-fashioned pumper built for the firemen’s society in 1852. 3

Dooky Chase Restaurant

The Princess and the Frog is one of the few Disney films to have been inspired by a real person.  In fact, Tiana was based entirely on famed New Orleans chef Leah Chase, who together with her husband Edgar “Dooky” Chase, Jr.  owns Dooky Chase Restaurant in the Treme neighborhood. At 95 years old, the “Queen of Creole Cuisine” still holds the role as Head Chef.  

TRAVEL TIPS:  Stop by for the lunch buffet (11 AM – 3 PM, Tuesday – Friday).  Dooky’s only serves dinner on Fridays, from 5 PM – 9 PM.

THE DESTINATION’S IN THE DETAILS:  Although she had several jobs while growing up in New Orleans, Leah Chase’s favorite job was waiting tables in the French Quarter.  As late as 1940, it was unheard of for a young black girl to work in the French Quarter. Leah’s love of food and for feeding others persevered, and in 1944 she met her husband Dooky, whose parents owned a sandwich shop.   Leah and Dooky took over the business and transformed it into a sit-down restaurant. Over time, Dooky’s became both a favorite local gathering place (not unlike the final manifestation of Tiana’s Place) and a setting of national significance.  The Chases have served multiple presidents, dignitaries and celebrities over the years, and the restaurant was the setting for countless meetings of civil rights groups. 5

Leah admits that she was puzzled when Disney approached her about the project but was very pleased with the final outcome.  “’I talked to them for hours and didn’t know what I was talking to them for,” she says. “I was talking about my life. … But that’s another great thing about corporations like Disney: They know what it takes to bring people together, and that’s what life is all about. They had a Cinderella, they had a Snow White, they had all types of little white princesses, so I guess the makers thought that it’s about time we show a black princess. And that is the cutest thing, and they have done it in sucS

Steamboat Natchez

Nothing says Princess and the Frog like a trip on the Steamboat Natchez.  For inspiration for Louis’ beloved riverboat, Disney looked no further than the steamboat still actively plodding the waters of the Mississippi, the Natchez.  The Steamboat Natchez departs daily from its dock where Toulouse Street meets the river. Check the schedule for daily sailing times.  

For a true Princess and the Frog experience, make sure you pick a sailing featuring the boat’s signature music ensemble, the Dukes of Dixieland.  The Dukes have been “the official” New Orleans jazz band since the 1970s, and hold performances on the Natchez—these are the “Big Boys” that Louis wants to join on deck.  

[Could link to another post on the Magic Kingdom – Rivers of America Liberty Belle, including Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee].

Speaking of Mardi Gras, old school Disney fans may remember when Sebastian held his own “Party Gras” parade at Walt Disney World Resort in 1992.   Disney filmed the opening scenes of this sing-along video on-property at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.  For more on Port Orleans Resort, check out my post [here].

As you plan your trip, check out these sites:

Sources:

1. http://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/transportation/gettingaround/streetcars.html
2. DK Eyewitness Travel: New Orleans, p. 106-107.
3. http://www.saveourcemeteries.org/lafayette-cemetery-no-1/
4. http://morningcallcoffeestand.com/
5. http://www.dookychaserestaurant.com/about
6. http://www.oprah.com/entertainment/the-woman-behind-the-princess-and-the-frogs-tiana/all#ixzz5PmRh0X1i

Viewpoints expressed reflect the personal opinions and views of the author. They do not reflect the views of any other entity and should not be read to endorse or otherwise promote any person, business, or service.

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