Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner — Disney’s Hollywood Studios

“Min and Bill” was an MGM movie released in 1930. It starred Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery and tells the story of a dockside innkeeper (Min) who, while raising her adopted daughter, has an ongoing love/hate relationship with a boozy fisherman (Bill) who lives at the inn. Dressler won the Academy Award for her portrayal of Min in 1931.

Min and Bill Movie Poster

The tramp steamer, S.S. Down the Hatch, that houses Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner represents the waterfront theme seen in the movie. The architectural style of the building is called “California Crazy.” It became popular in the 1930’s and the concept was to catch the eye of the consumer and create a lasting impression.

Min and Bill's Dockside Diner

Min and Bill's Dockside Diner

Min and Bill's Dockside Diner

Dinosaur Gertie’s on the other side of Echo Lake is another good example of this style.

Dinosaur Gertie's

Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner is a great place to stop and catch your breath. A number of umbrella-covered tables are nearby and offer excellent people-watching opportunities.

Min and Bill's Dockside Diner

Here is the current menu. As you can see, the offerings are simple, but I’ve got to tell you, the pretzels are pretty good.

Min and Bill's Dockside Diner Menu

But the real reason I’m writing about Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner has nothing to do with the above. It has to do with more Disney trivia just waiting to be discovered.

This “building” is supposed to represent a cargo ship. If you look around, you can see freight ready to be loaded aboard.

Cargo

To the left side of the ship are a number of large crates.

Cargo

Take a look at who these wooden boxes are addressed to.

Citizen Kane Cargo

It's a Wonderful Life Cargo

Casablanca Cargo

Gone With The Wind Cargo

The Producers Cargo

For those of you who aren’t movie buffs, these are characters from the films Citizen Kane, It’s a Wonderful Life, Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, and The Producers (respectively).

So there you have it, more details.

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Addendum:

The insignias over the S.S. Down the Hatch alternate between flags and pennants. The flags represent letters, the pennants represent numbers.

The flags spell out: D O C K S I D E D I N E R

The numbers are: 7 8 2 5 6 2 8 9 6 3 5 4 (I think — I was looking at a picture and the wind was blowing, making it difficult to read some of them.)

I’m no cryptographer. If someone else knows the significance of these numbers, please let me know.

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27 Replies to “Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner — Disney’s Hollywood Studios”

  1. Any idea why the back of the Dockside Diner has a 45-star US flag? This flag was used from 1896-1908, so it wouldn’t seem to fit the 1930s style referenced in the article.

    Jack’s Answer:

    Ummmm….

    You may have noticed, all of the transportation watercraft at WDW fly the American flag. Most of these are the 48 (or lessor)-star flags. Long ago, I asked a cast member why they didn’t fly 50-star flags on the boats. I was told that a 48-star flag is not the “official” flag of the U.S., thus, it does not need to be shown proper flag etiquette. This makes them easier to maintain — and most people would never notice.

    I don’t know if this story is true, but it could be.

    I don’t know if this story applies to Dockside Diner, but it could.

  2. This will be my tenth trip to WDW & even though I have noticed the crates, I have never read them. I did not know all of this info —- you are the BEST!! Thanks again for sharing details that I am ashamed to say I should have known about as I look at everything (ask my sister, I totally drive her crazy!).

  3. Jack–Love reading your little insights to The World! My husband and I go quite a bit to Disney, and taking pictures of the same stuff gets old, so I’m now looking at different things to highlight our trip. One thing you might want to consider–The crates in the MuppetVision ride. Hubby and I took pictures of them during our February trip, and cracked up!

  4. Great Job Jack. I really enjoy reading your stuff. It inspires me to learn more about what the Disney Imaginears wanted us to dig up. For the inquisitive mind, Walt Disney World Resort is a place you could never get tired of.

  5. I just wanted to say it is great to see you highlight this place. I actually worked here during my College Program experience in 2001 so it’s nice to see others take notice!

    By the way, when I worked there they also served Michey Belgian Waffles with Ice Cream, boy were those good!

  6. Excellent! I love this stuff too. I am always looking for this stuff when I am there.
    Keep it coming.
    Thanks!

  7. Jack I have passed those packing cases more times than I can remember and have never ever bothered to stop and read them. I will now.

    George Bailey is one of my all time heroes. It’s a Wonderful Life is a magical movie.

    “I wish I had a million dollars! HOTDOG!”

  8. Man, you are getting a lot of comments on this particular blog Jack!

    I have to say–I’ve been to Disney a ton, and I’ve never noticed any of this stuff, and I LIVE for this type of stuff.

    Excellent work!! Remember this–sometimes the stuff that you know about, take for granted, and don’t necessarily think about much is sometimes the stuff no one else knows about!

    That said–thanks for sharing this information!

    How fun!!!

  9. Thanks for the reminder that this spot formerly served sandwiches! I *knew* I’d bought a sandwich there back in 1989 or ’90! (It was good, too, and one of the few “healthy” options I could find at the time.)

  10. Great blog, Jack! I, too, love the pretzels there. I found out on our past trip that this is the only location left that serves the spicy cheese pretzels. I used to get them at MK also, but they they no longer serve them there.

    Thanks for all the great info!

  11. Re-Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner.
    We were at Disney Studio’s the week of May 9th to 16th.Were they closed for renovations that week as we did not see it open during our many visits there that week?

    Jack’s Answer:

    Sorry, I don’t know if Min and Bill’s was closed in May. It’s certainly possible.

    Be sure to check out this page on Allears:

    http://allears.net/tp/rehabs.htm#may

    We list the rehab schedule for Walt Disney World. However, May has already been removed.

  12. Cool! I like the 30s style that Min & Bill and Gertie have! Has the diner always been Min & Bill? I’ve never paid close attn to it.

    The crates are clever. Imagineering at its best! I only recognized Scarlett O’Hara *blushes*. Should probably watch some classics.

    You must have the best time just going to the parks and discovering things that most people don’t notice.

    Jack’s Answer:

    Yes. The eatery has always been Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner. However, when it first opened, it served sandwiches and chip.

  13. I so enjoy your blogs – thank you!
    I noticed these freight boxes and the words on them when we were there this April and was fascinated by them. I wasn’t sure what they all meant, but I knew George Bailey!
    Just another really cool Disney detail waiting to be found!

  14. Thanks Jack I absolutely love your blogs. We had milk shakes from here in january and they were great. We sat back and relaxed and people watched. It was a really nice place for a break.

  15. Hey Jack

    I was once told the flags above the diner are a coded message, is this true? Do you know what it says?

    Great Blog

    Jack’s Answer:

    You people make me work too hard.

    I looked up nautical flag codes and this is what I discovered.

    The insignias over the S.S. Down the Hatch alternate between flags and pennants. The flags represent letters, the pennants represent numbers.

    The flags spell out: D O C K S I D E D I N E R

    The numbers are: 7 8 2 5 6 2 8 9 6 3 5 4 (I think — I was looking at a picture and the wind was blowing, making it difficult to read some of them.)

    I’m no cryptographer. If someone else knows the significance of these numbers, please let me know.

  16. Hey Jack,

    First off, wonderful blog! I’ve been spending the past few weeks “catching up” on all the posts I have missed since I just discovered this treasure recently. I am hooked! Thank you for all the time and work you put in to provide us with such priceless information.

    Another significant number on the “Citizen Kane” chest: 50141. “Citizen Kane” was released in the US on May 1st, 1941.

    1. Another tidbit……Citizen Kane was the first “talkie” movie shown at the theater in Hollywood that is now Disney’s El Capitan Theater. Located on Hollywood Blvd almost across from the Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

  17. I love these details, but I’m surprised they actually got something wrong: Tara is supposed to be in Clayton County, not Jonesboro County.

    Jack’s Comment:

    My limited research on the subject suggests you’re right. I found that Tara was supposed to be located approximately 5 miles outside of Jonesboro. Jonesboro is a town in Clayton County.

    I thought that possibly the county had been renamed from Jonesboro to Clayton after the Civil War, but could find no indication of this.

    You’re a sharp cookie.

  18. Very cool stuff.

    Now the next time my wife and I visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I can show her this area and impress her with my powerful Disney knowledge (courtesy of you).

    And what pretzel do you like from the “Cargo of Treats” menu?

    Jack’s Answer:

    If I’m “sweet” hungry, I order the Apple-Cinnamon. If I’m “salt” hunger, the cheese. Sorry, I couldn’t narrow it down any better than that.

  19. Yeah – I spotted these last October when I was there. My dad is a huge fan of The Producers (the original, not the musical version) and when I showed him the photo he giggled. I do like these touches.

    Also – anyone noticed the Maroon Studios billboard situated near there?

    Jack’s Comment:

    Thank you for doing me a favor by reminding me that not all “details” are small. The Maroon Studios billboard is a perfect example. For those of you who do not know, Roger Rabbit made cartoons for Maroon Studios.

  20. Just when I think I can’t be amazed by you anymore, these tidbits come up. Love the names on the crates!! I was just there, wish I had known!

  21. Movie buffs may also recognize the significance of the addresses. 11/26/1942 was the date of Casablanca’s New York cinematic premiere and Claude Rains played Capt. Louis Renault in the film. Also, 12/15/1939 was the Atlanta, GA premiere of Gone with the Wind based on Margaret Mitchell’s book.

    Great find, Jack! No one does the details quite like Disney.

  22. People often ask me, How do you go to Disney over 25 times and not get board of the place? It is all the little details like this that keeps it new and fresh! After 25+ trips there is still so much to see and do! Thanks for a great blog and keeping the magic alive.

  23. Thanks for the info! I knew about the crates, but I could never figure out the last one since I’ve never seen The Producers. You are full of knowledge!

  24. What a great blog! I’ll admit that I’ve never noticed any of these. When we head to WDW in Sept 2010, we’ll make it a point to check these out. Looks like a good place for taking some pictures, especially for a fan of classic Hollywood movies.

    I’m really enjoying the Disney Trivia blogs you have been doing. I grew up 15 minutes from WDW (when the MK was all there was) and have gone more times than I can even count. Your blogs are showing me just how little I’ve observed the “fine print” around me.

    Thanks again Jack and I’m looking forward to readying more Disney trivia blogs.