Casey's: The Same, but Different

I love visiting different Disney Parks around the world. Each one has its own distinct character. Sure, there are attractions unique to each of the parks, but I also enjoy discovering the differences in those things which at first appear very similar. The above photo of Casey's Corner at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., was taken at Disneyland Paris, but could just as easily be a shot of the same restaurant in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World (this one actually came first; the Refreshment Corner in Florida was remodeled as Casey's Corner in 1995).

Both locales share the same spot on Main Street, and both serve hot dogs and Coca-Cola in a setting inspired by America's favorite pastime, baseball (the "Casey's" name comes from the 1888 poem and 1946 Disney animated segment "Casey at the Bat"). Look around, though, and you'll see things that make the Paris corner different.

For starters, Casey's Corner here has its own poster! This type of art piece is typically reserved for attractions, but in their far-reaching quest for detail, the Disneyland Paris designers actually created posters for several of the park's restaurants and even minor attractions like the Main St. Limousine. The art on the poster is inspired by the type of period advertising and magazine illustrations done by the likes of Norman Rockwell and Joseph Leyendecker.

Inside the restaurant, there are obvious things - the prices are in euros, there's a broad selection of desserts not found in the states and they have Fanta and Coke Zero - and less obvious things, like the collection of turn-of-the-century baseball memorabilia. Casey's Corner at Magic Kingdom has a nice collection as well, but since these are the real articles and not duplicates, there's different stuff to see.

Here, and in other restaurants across the park, they have these very cute and unique high chairs for infants with a fun, Mickey-inspired design.

And then there's the food. My wife, Laurel, and I have actually made it a tradition to get a hot dog at Casey's Corner/Refreshment Corner in every Disneyland-style park we visit. It's always fascinating to see how this all-American classic is interpreted. The meat and the bread are different from what you'll find in the U.S., not to mention the packaging and the handy tote bag in which your entire meal is placed when you purchase it. Dropped in the bag for us were also packs of ketchup and mayonnaise (which brought to mind a scene from Pulp Fiction), but no mustard.

In the end, it was a pretty good hot dog, and a great way to make us feel a little bit "at home" away from home in Disneyland Paris.