hey say that our strongest memories are the ones formed by our sense of smell. The summer grass when we were 5, the scent of Grandmother’s rose water or the hint of vanilla from our warm kitchen at home have an incredible power to take us back to happy times.

would have to argue though, that just as strong, (if not stronger), is the indelible mark left by the memory of taste. When I need to feel like the whimsical freedom of summer is just outside my back door, I crave an ice cream soda. It takes me back to the very first one I ever had, and it was at Disneyland. My parents took my brother and I to Carnation and helped me order a strawberry soda. I wasn’t sure what to expect or what the big deal was because, after all, you could get soda anywhere. You know, cola and the like could be bought at the grocery store. I was amazed when it arrived. “Oh” I said. “It has ICE CREAM! Now yer talkin’!” It was tall and cold and covered with whipped cream: heaven in a glass.

hat day the ice cream soda became a family tradition and we always had one either there or at the Monorail Café after a hard day in the hot August Park. I’ve tried in vain to find an ice cream soda as good, but some things, you can only get at Disneyland.

“E” writes:

hen I was a boy in the 50s and 60s and we went to Disneyland, we always had to get come white chocolate at the candy store on Main Street. As young as I was and also coming from a small town in Oregon, I had no idea where else to get white chocolate. It was a small thing, but a special thing.

always have to have frozen banana,” says D.L. “and a Dole whip at the Tiki Room. You can buy similar things in the grocery store, but it just isn’t the same. These things just can’t be duplicated!”

y family and I, ever since our first trip and on every trip since, our first destination is always the Walt statue to pose together to see how much we’ve all changed since our last trip. Afterwards, we all go get a pretzel at Bengal BBQ, (an absolute MUST!)” JC

he newest food tradition on the scene in this house appeals to both the senses of taste and smell in a very big way. Now, at every visit, we try to get to the Golden Horseshoe and have a slice of their decadent, giant slab of multiple layer chocolate cake. The cake is perfectly moist, the frosting is fluffy and rich, and if that isn’t enough, the outside is encrusted in chocolate chips. And the added bonus is that it is not just a dessert, but a group activity, because you really need about four people to eat one! I am, however, still looking for a great ice cream soda. Let me know if you know of one!

The food traditions don’t stop here. Next week…our favorite restaurants, past and present.

I would love to hear your family's Disney traditions, please drop me a line,

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— Allison