Having been aboard the Monorail for quite some time now, we find ourselves soaring past the Seven Seas Lagoon and through the Contemporary, one of the most thrilling experiences in all of Walt Disney World. A sudden burst of excitement fills the air as a young child bursts from her seat and rushes to the window, pointing excitedly at something outside. Looking out the window, we find that she has been the first to spot the Magic Kingdom itself, its wondrous mountain ranges and countless gleaming structures dotting the horizon. The whole cabin can’t help from smiling at her beaming face.
The crown jewel of the Walt Disney World Resort, the Magic Kingdom is where the magic of dreams coming true begins. Inspired by, and building upon, the legacy of its Californian counterpart, the Magic Kingdom is a remarkable design in immersion and focus on the Guest Experience. If there’s one thing that the Magic Kingdom prides itself over, it’s the fact that everything is a form of storytelling. We, the audience, will physically experience one adventure after another, seldom as spectators, but almost always as “participants” in the drama. The Magic Kingdom, like its fellow parks, is a seamless, thematic epic. The harmonic blend of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy act in compliment of the wild animals, alien creatures, and storybook castles waiting beyond the front gate.
The park gets closer and closer until we finally come to a complete stop at the Magic Kingdom monorail station, located to the western side of the park’s entrance
(with the PeopleMover station on the eastern side). Walking down an entry ramp, we approach the main entrance, having already purchased our tickets. Filling our ears as we approach the entrance plaza are the instrumental strains of many classic Disney songs. The park’s turnstiles is the first of what will be many fanciful details located throughout the resort – graceful and elegant, made of wrought-iron. We hand our ticket to a smiling Cast Member and pass through the turnstiles, a little bell sounding off as we enter. What we find is a truly stunning sight…
Main Street, U.S.A.
What was America like at the turn-of-the-century? Perhaps it was something like this recreation of everyone’s hometown. The nostalgia of Main Street, U.S.A. hits us right out of the gate… literally. Once through the ornate turnstiles, we glimpse the sight of a turn-of-the-century train station, fronted by a beautiful flower bed, complete with a floral depiction of Mickey Mouse’s smiling face right in the middle. A window in the center of the station is dedicated to the man who started it all, Walt Disney. It was installed in 2001 to mark Walt’s 100th birthday. Below, a sign reads:
“THE MAGIC KINGDOM – WALT DISNEY WORLD – POPULATION: 600,000,000 – ELEVATION: 108 FT.” Suddenly, we hear the familiar call of a steam whistle. A beautiful steam engine chuffs its way along the track, halting with a hiss. The beauty and grandeur of steam travel is captured in the romance and excitement of the
Walt Disney World Railroad, a grand-circle tour of the Magic Kingdom.
From aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad, we view the many sights and sounds along the rails, giving us a sneak peek at what the Magic Kingdom has in store: an ancient jungle, a bustling circus, a burning settler’s cabin. All the things we see are pointed out to us by a heard-but-not-seen old-timer, who fully embodies the traveling vagabond “everywhere-I-hang-my-hat-is-home” spirit.
“Your attention, please. The Walt Disney World Railroad is now boarding for a grand circle tour of the Magic Kingdom, with stops at Main Street, U.S.A., Wildernessland and Fantasyland. All aboard!”
Trains are scheduled to arrive every 5 to 10 minutes at most times throughout the day, and travel clockwise around the park. The four meticulously restored, working narrow-gauge engines are named for the people who helped make this place possible: the
Walter E. Disney, the
Lilly Belle, the
Roger E. Broggie and the
Roy O. Disney.
Excitement mounting, we pass underneath the train station through one of two tunnels located on either side of the flower bed. A plaque above each tunnel bears the inspired phrase:
“HERE YOU
LEAVE TODAY
AND ENTER
THE WORLD OF
YESTERDAY,
TOMORROW
AND FANTASY.”
Since Disneyland opened in 1955, attraction posters, not unlike the posters found in the lobby of a movie theater, have been the critical means of communication between all Disneyland-style parks and their visitors. Eye-catching, enticing build-ups for the action and adventure ahead, means of continuous and exciting development and marketing to the Disneyland formula. Anyone who has visited the Magic Kingdom can recognize that magical moment when they first hear the music on Main Street, first smell its popcorn and vanilla candies, and first see the colorful posters that line either tunnel beneath the railroad tracks. Each tunnel has different posters, so it’s not uncommon to see hardcore Disney fans start the day by entering through one tunnel, and end it by exiting through another, just so they can see them all.
Beyond these tunnels is Main Street, U.S.A. itself…
The sights and sounds of fun nostalgia are everywhere...and I do mean everywhere. There’s a friendly greeting at the old City Hall. The measured pace of the horse-drawn streetcar as it trots up and down the street. And then there’s the hiss of live steam as a vintage locomotive pulls into Main Street Station. Dozens of happy guests walk up and down the street, chatting happily, or not-so-happily, amongst themselves as they pop in-and-out of the various shops and restaurants nestled along the sides of the pavement. Main Street is the essence of hometown America at the dawn of the twentieth-century. The scent of freshly baked cakes and candies and the twinkling pin lights outlining the gingerbread trim of the colorful buildings evoke a small-town atmosphere. The paths along the various buildings are all paved with red brick. Rows of specialty shops carry a colorful variety of old-time merchandise. At night, the thoroughfare glows in the flickering light of gas-lit streetlamps and seemingly thousands of miniature electric lightbulbs strung amongst the sides of the buildings. Main Street, U.S.A. is engaging proof that the best of yesterday can still be found today.
Time seems to soften amid the orchestral rhythm of ragtime and the clopping of horse hooves. As the stress of contemporary life gives way to the quaint charms of yesteryear, we find ourselves in a little town at the turn-of-the-century. Main Street, U.S.A. is a sparkling thoroughfare presented in the style and architecture of a street not unlike what you’d find in the history books of the early 1900s, taking inspiration from not only Walt’s boyhood home of Marceline, Missouri, but also taking influences from around the country, such as New England and the Midwest. All around us is the color and excitement of a town at the start of a bold new century, at a time when electricity, transport and communication are about to change everything we know about the way we live our lives.
Our time on Main Street, U.S.A. begins in
Town Square, the civic hub of transportation and gathering. In Town Square, the
Main Street Vehicles are the major ways to get around. We can board an old-fashioned Fire Engine, Paddy Wagon, Horseless Carriage, Limousine, Jitney, Omnibus, or Horse-Drawn Trolley, for a one-way trip to the center of the Magic Kingdom via Main Street, U.S.A. To choose a mode of transportation, each vehicle has a designated stopping zone marked by a decorative sign.
The
Chamber of Commerce offers Disney’s “Package Pickup” service. In the
Guided Tour Gardens, tour attendees wait in an elegant garden for their guide who will take them on a tour of the Magic Kingdom. Guided Tours are an excellent means by which first time visitors can enjoy the wonders of Walt Disney World.
City Hall is the home of Guest Relations and Lost and Found. Friendly cast members are always on hand to answer questions, provide touring tips, make reservations and assist visitors with special needs. The adjacent
Fire Station provides a glimpse at a period facility of the sort. Authentic down to the brass pole and fire hose, the station houses a fire wagon that at one time rolled down Main Street, but with the coming of the automobile, the fire wagon gave way to the gas-driven fire engine.
Helping to create the first impression of Main Street are the Magic Kingdom’s Custodial Hosts. With a main concern for cleanliness, they work day and night to keep the show on the road. Working as a team, Custodial Hosts greatly contribute to the high standard of cleanliness that is a cornerstone of the Magic Kingdom show. Should guests misplace any of their items, Lost & Found is located at City Hall, and Locker Facilities are available to rent on the ground floor of the train station.
Like the various Main Streets of the real world, Main Street, U.S.A. is populated with “real,” believable people – a concept Disney calls “Streetmosphere.” The so-called
Citizens of Main Street walk the street in stride, a living snapshot of the optimism, humor and pride of the American Dream. Among the many Citizens, the ever-friendly Mayor is always ready with a smile and a joke; pressman Scoop Sanderson will stop guests for a quick interview; the local Fire Chief, Smokey Miller, and Police Chief, Duncan Donut, are always looking out for danger – although in the Magic Kingdom, the only dangerous thing is someone not having fun – and a group of Suffragettes frequently march the streets, rallying people to support the cause.
A band concert in the park was a common civic diversion of small town American life at the turn-of-the-century. The
Main Street Philharmonic hearkens back to that time with their daily concerts in Town Square. The iconic program includes energetic musicians, synchronized marches, popular songs of the early twentieth century, and songs of the Disney Canon. The world-famous
Dapper Dans often perform up and down Main Street to welcome us as we enter the park. Their shows are a charming blend of four-part harmony, tap dancing, corny jokes and Deagan organ chimes. At certain times throughout the morning, the
Main Street Trolley Show makes its way “right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A.”, as a chorus of energetic youths set the mood for the fun and excitement ahead of us.
On a morning like today, when Main Street is open early to guests, we are invited to leisurely wander through the area as we anxiously await for the rest of the Magic Kingdom to open, and experience its shops, exhibits and attractions, including round trips on the Walt Disney World Railroad and the first showing of
Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.
Walt Disney might have done more to touch the hearts and minds of millions of Americans than any other man in history. He brought joy, happiness, and a universal means of communication to people of all nations. Certainly, our world shall know but one Walt Disney. Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream has moved from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to the more elaborate Town Square Exposition Hall, a more fitting place, given that the Magic Kingdom was one of Walt’s last dreams.
Just beyond the rotunda of the Exposition Hall, a number of scale models, statuettes and artwork hearken to the man behind the mouse. For the most part, the exhibits of Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream will remain the same as it did back in Disney's Hollywood Studios, albeit with its look re-done to match the Exposition Hall theme. Red carpeting, golden walls, basically what the Exposition Hall looks like right now. Even the plaques detailing the exhibits would change to fit the theme, with wooden panelings and old-timey fonts. Another aspect taken from Disney's Hollywood Studios is the presence of a meet-and-greet opportunity within the exhibit. As a reference to the Town Square Theater days, you can meet up with Disney’s “Fab Four” – Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. Heading to the right at the northernmost edge of the exhibits would be the entrance to the theater. The entrance would be warmly-lit, with curtains hanging over the automatic doors. Situated next to the entrance, exactly where Bill Justice’s elaborate character mural once stood, you’ll find a large, framed version of the final group photo from
Once Upon a Studio, the short made to mark 100 years of Walt Disney Animation Studios. It is here in this theater, of course, that we watch a film about the life of the man who started it all, narrated by Julie Andrews…and Walt himself!
When the film is over, you, of course, exit through the gift shop. But with the arrival of Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream, Curtain Call Collectibles has turned into something truly special:
The Disney Gallery. In a private collection of portraits, paintings, caricatures and sculptures, The Disney Gallery serves as a showcase for the artwork of Walt Disney Imagineering and Animation, past and present. Special displays show rare storyboards from the Walt-era films, and Q&A sessions with Imagineers and artists happen on the occasion.
A live artist is often found on hand here, providing free sketches for patrons (but only one per family, though). Plus, if your wallet’s fat enough, you can purchase some of the items on display! Among the items on sale are paintings, limited-edition prints, cels, figurines and the much-coveted Walt Disney Classics Collection.
Located to the left of the Exposition Hall is
Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. To many Disney fans, this name may sound familiar. This is because this restaurant is inspired by the same Tony’s restaurant that served as the setting of one of the most iconic scenes in Disney history: the moment when Lady and Tramp fell in love on that “lovely bella notte.” Inside this beautiful restaurant, you'll find all sorts of Italian treats: pizza, paninis, antipasto, sausage, seasonal soup, salads, scampi, chicken parmesan, fettuccine, and, of course, spaghetti and meatballs. Plus, there’s plenty of
vino and
birra to spare; and quite a few authentic Italian desserts.
In the center of Town Square is
Elias Park. Well-kept lawns and vibrant planters surround a tall flagpole, from which the Stars and Stripes proudly wave. A Magic Kingdom tradition since 1971 is the moving, yet understated,
Flag Retreat Ceremony held every evening, just before sundown, at the base of the flagpole. As dusk signals the end of the day, the Dapper Dans and Main Street Philharmonic join together for the lowering of the flag at Town Square. Activity in Town Square ceases as the national anthem is played. The stirring ceremony is a reminder of “
the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America.” Sat beneath the cool shade of tall trees, aptly placed benches provide ample seating for the ongoing entertainment throughout the day.
Of course, no Town Square would be complete without an appearance or two from the world famous Disney Characters. Throughout the day, starting promptly at 9:00 a.m., Daisy Duck, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Clarabelle Cow, Pluto, Chip and Dale can be found, eager to welcome guests to a day of fun and excitement here at the Magic Kingdom! Not only that, but a few regal faces are known to make appearances in the gardens near The Disney Gallery come the afternoon.
From Town Square, we head down Main Street itself, a charming collection of storefronts and restaurants leading up to the park’s
Central Plaza. Just like all the other Main Streets before it, the ground floor buildings are built on a 9/10 scale, with the second and third stories progressively smaller - forced perspective at work. Like the credits in a movie, the windows on Main Street are used to honor the Cast Members, Imagineers and artists who have contributed to the creation and development of the Magic Kingdom. Amidst the patriotic bunting, swaying trees and musical stylings of popular tunes of the time
(like “Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby”, “Wait ‘Til The Sun Shines, Nellie”, “In My Merry Oldsmobile”), as well as many recognizable show tunes from the Broadway stage
(particularly, songs from Oklahoma!, The Music Man
and Hello, Dolly!
) and motion-picture screen
(songs from Summer Magic
, as well as “Fortuosity” from The Happiest Millionaire
and “Married Life” from Up
), we embark on a nostalgic stroll down Main Street. Here we experience the simpler pleasures of small town America as it were in the turn-of-the-century.
As with every other Main Street in the Disney pantheon, we begin with the lavish
Emporium, the largest mercantile in the park. Owned and operated by Ossian “Osh” Popham – the character Burl Ives played in the lesser-known Disney musical
Summer Magic – this superstore evokes the charm and elegance of a turn-of-the-century department store, with stained-glass decor, gas chandeliers and sweeping rotundas in presentation of the goods and wares of a childhood dream. The clanging of cash registers matches the measured pace of the passing Main Street Vehicles. Countless clothing racks and near-infinite rows of display cases offering headwear, toys, pins, snacks and souvenirs line the tiled floor. Per tradition, storefront windows display vignettes from animated classics of Walt’s time –
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
Pinocchio,
Cinderella,
Peter Pan,
The Jungle Book and
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – all brought to life with animated figures and unique lighting and effects. A golden plaque in front of each display briefly retells the story of the film. Come Christmastime, these displays are swapped out with displays telling the story of
Mickey’s Christmas Carol.
Just a few paces down the street from the Emporium, right nearby the old Car Barn, is the
Harmony Barber Shop. This real, working barbershop is the place to go if your hair needs a little trimming. It’s also quite the popular place to go for “baby’s first haircut.” Founded by the Dapper Dans themselves, they’ll often pop by to serenade those awaiting, or getting, a haircut of their own.
The
Main Street Confectionery sits opposite the Emporium, the place to go to satisfy your sweet tooth. Freshly baked treats, caramel apples, gargantuan candy bars, chocolate rabbits and more decadent delicacies line the shelves of this confectionery dreamworld. The glass-walled kitchen looks into the live "performance" of skilled candy makers at work. The aroma is that of an intoxicating blend of sugar, vanilla, butter, and caramel. The intoxicating sweets on display lead into the
Kernel Kitchen, a small snack area where the specialty is popcorn mixed with chocolate and other sweet treats. In fact, the Kernel Kitchen has recently teamed up with its business partners at the Main Street Confectionery to host the “Sweetest Spoon Showcase”, and one of the competition’s six winners, Willie Anderson, has crafted a delicious popcorn/candy combination that you can try yourself. Of course, there are various other kinds of popcorn you can buy here, whether it be salty, savory or sweet.
Moving further east from the Main Street Confectionery and the Kernel Kitchen, you’ll find the southern entrance to the
Discovery Arcade. Running the length of Main Street’s eastern side, this glass-roofed arcade is an eternal tribute to those who had imaginative, and sometimes bizarre, ideas and inventions for the future. From ingenious patents to dreams of a utopian world, it’s all here to see, with startling posters depicting what prominent American cities could look like in the future and display cases filled with visionary gadgets. The turn of the century gave those of the time a feeling that anything “can, and will” be achieved by man. The Discovery Arcade pays homage to these great minds, from their ingenious yet humble patents to their wildest dreams of futuristic cities. The Discovery Arcade is a nod to the never-built Edison Square concept made for Disneyland in California. While less ambitious, it does portray the charm of early 20th century living and offers a fun glimpse into what people of the time were using to improve their lives. It also acts as a nice sister attraction to the Carousel of Progress just minutes away in Tomorrowland, which Edison Square ultimately morphed into.
Among the items on display here are an x-ray machine, a brownie camera, a projection camera
(like the one they use at the Main Street Cinema), an early vacuum cleaner, a gas turbine, a bicycle, a player piano playing Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag”, laminated glass, a wind turbine, a ballpoint pen, a Marconi radio, and models of a zeppelin and the plane used in the historic Kitty Hawk flight. Not only that, but there are also relics and models from the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, which piqued the imagination of a young Walt Disney, given that his father worked for it. But perhaps the most beautiful element of the Discovery Arcade is the
Winter Garden. Accessed from Center Street, directly in the middle of the arcade, this natural arboretum includes trees, bushes and fountains.
Heading up Main Street from the Confectionery, the distinctive sound of cartoon merriment can be heard in all its ragtime charm from inside the
Main Street Cinema. Beneath a vibrant, lightbulb-illuminated marquee, make your way inside an elegant Victorian-inspired building that recalls the great motion picture houses of yesteryear. Inside the theater, you can enjoy some classic Disney shorts that play on a never-ending loop, such as
Steamboat Willie,
Plane Crazy and
Flowers and Trees. It’s the perfect way to get away from the crowds and just take a load off for a while! Moving on from the Cinema, we have
Uptown Jewelers, which sells fine jewelry, china, clocks, Disney figurines and pins.
The soft glow of gas-lit street lamps mark
Center Street, the dead-center of Main Street, U.S.A. Center Street offers a great, out-of-the-way place to relax and enjoy a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle of Main Street. Center Street also helps give the illusion that Main Street is bigger than it actually is, adding some depth to the area. Furthermore, Center Street is also home to some of Main Street’s other prominent businesses, and we can often hear their proprietors at work. For example, you’ll find proprietors offering singing and dancing lessons, and we can hear the sounds of singing and tap-dancing from within. Other proprietors on West Center Street include a Chinese Hand Laundry, but the windows are closed there, so we can’t hear anything, a Livery, from which we hear the sound of horses neighing, and the Champion Cyclery, where the finest bikes in all Main Street are built. On East Center Street, we find the Hotel Marceline, from which we can hear one tenant showering, brushing his teeth and shaving; as well as the office of Dr. E.S. Bitz, who apparently specializes in “Painless Dentistry”…although, the sounds of drilling and screaming seem to indicate that what the doctor really specializes in is false advertising. We can also listen in on three students at Miss Sara’s Piano School.
Here on Center Street, the streets are wide open and merchants take use of the beautiful weather to sell wares outside. Along the eastern side of Center Street, you’ll find perhaps the most beautiful sight in all the Magic Kingdom: the outdoor wares of the
Greenhouse Flower Shop. There isn’t a wilted petal in sight
(because the flowers displayed outside are plastic). The flowers are always fresh. And yes, you can purchase your own flowers and plants here. Although most business occurs within the Greenhouse store, many people are more familiar with the vibrant colors of this outdoor marketplace. East Center Street is also the place where caricature artists and silhouette artists are willing to demonstrate their art for you.
West Center Street also houses an idea that I will borrow from
@KingMickey:
Cafe Lillian. In his words:
"This new cafe features an outdoor patio with seating under quaint, striped umbrellas or a large gazebo, as well as a small, tucked-away indoor section with booth seating, all which make a lovely spot to grab a quick bite with views of the charming street. While the cafe is predominantly outside, the small indoor section features portraits of Lillian and Walt together throughout, with beautiful, fresh rose flowers adorning the interior, her favorite flower. The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch only and makes the perfect spot to grab that morning breakfast sandwich, Mickey waffle, or their famous Main Street Patty Melt as a midday meal. The seating patio opens in the evening to provide additional seating on the quiet side street to offer a moment’s reprieve from the main bustle of the street. While taking a small bit of space, a tiny cafe built at the side of Main Street adds an extra bit of charm and intimacy that Magic Kingdom’s could use more of."
Moving on from West Center Street, we’ll find
Disney Clothiers, boasting the largest Disney wardrobe in town. A seamstress is always on hand to make repairs and special souvenirs from scratch. Oh, and by the way, the Disney Clothiers building also features a door that supposedly leads to the
Magic Kingdom Casting Agency. We can’t go in, but the door itself is a popular photo-op spot. Next door, the
Penny Arcade features a number of vintage arcade cabinets from the turn of the twentieth century, including the turn-the-crank kinetoscope movies, mechanical fortune tellers, and various other tests of strength and skill. One will not find a single video game inside the Penny Arcade. All the coin-operated conveyances are of the mechanical variety. Next door to that,
House of Magic acts as Main Street’s leading purveyor of fine magic tricks, gags and novelties; and master magicians are often seen performing sleight-of-hands and other tricks for passers-by.
On the edge of the northwestern side of Main Street, overlooking the Hub, is the
Lamplight Inn, an idea I have borrowed from Brian Krosnick’s buildout. This concept was born from Brian’s dissatisfaction with the lack of quick-service eateries in the park; and serves as a way to help fix the problem. The Lamplight Inn serves sandwiches, soups, salads and coffee; and it even extends into an outdoor eating garden, where guests can enjoy their food under candy-striped umbrellas. As always at this location, a ragtime piano player is often on hand, playing the latest rags and ragtime arrangements of classic Americana and Disney songs.
Back on the other side of the street, moving northwards from East Center Street,
Crystal Arts sells exclusive Disney statuettes, glass miniatures, crystal castles, snow globes, dishware, music boxes, ornaments, and stylized silverware. Here, a talented glassblower creates hand blown souvenirs in full view of patrons, an attraction all its own. The
Main Street Bakery is yet another good place to escape the hustle and bustle of Main Street, U.S.A. What's on the menu here? Well, this is the in-park home of Starbucks Coffee, and in addition to that, the bakery offers a charming selection of dining options and bakery items. The
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor takes up residence next door. In this old-fashioned eatery, ice cream is the name of the game. Specialty sundaes, ice cream sodas, root beer floats and triple scoop cones abound. And like
@KingMickey, I would expand the parlor to fill the space of the Plaza Restaurant, thus getting rid of the parlor’s notorious cramped size.
~ ~ ~
So begins our journey through how I would improve the Magic Kingdom. The next post will be coming along within the next few days.
By the way, the introduction to this post -- with the girl eagerly spotting the Magic Kingdom -- came from an early version of
@MANEATINGWREATH's Dream Resort thread. I thought it would be nice to include as a tribute to his work, given that his work would go on to inspire my own dream resort threads. The Winter Garden portion of the Discovery Arcade is something I borrowed from one of S.W. Wilson's Magic Kingdom concepts; specifically, the one from late 2015.
