Is Main Street keeping up with America's real Main Streets?

[DrStarlander]

I just watched a cute video of European tourists visiting small towns in America and marveling at how quaint and quintessential they are. Seeing these "revitalized" small towns (with newly installed brick pavers and lamp posts and sidewalks) got me wondering how Magic Kingdom's Main Street compares. That is, with tax dollars being spent to spruce up and "make cute" America's real Main Streets, is Magic Kingdom's feeling in need of a sprucing too?

Is all that 1970s pink and gray concrete looking cheap and out of date? I think some investment (e.g., brick) could really help keep Disney's Main Street on another level. I'd be interested in hearing about any real American Main Streets that give Disney a run for their money.

Havre de Grace, Maryland from the video.

 

[NelsonRD]

I agree, if you want to keep it current with today, it would need at least one storefront abandoned with broken glass, one going out of business sign, one rundown business, more pot holes, broken street lamps, transient homeless, one liquor store and a pizzeria.

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

I agree, if you want to keep it current with today, it would need at least one storefront abandoned with broken glass, one going out of business sign, one rundown business, more pot holes, broken street lamps, transient homeless, one liquor store and a pizzeria.

Don’t forget meet n greet spots with the fentanyl zombies.

 

[ChrisFL]

I agree, if you want to keep it current with today, it would need at least one storefront abandoned with broken glass, one going out of business sign, one rundown business, more pot holes, broken street lamps, transient homeless, one liquor store and a pizzeria.

and a gun shop and pawn shop next to the liquor store

 

[NelsonRD]

Don’t forget meet n greet spots with the fentanyl zombies.

and a gun shop and pawn shop next to the liquor store

I am from NY, so I did forget the hookers.

 

[Goofyernmost]

It would be great if it wasn't that it is supposed to represent a common main street around the beginning of the 20th Century. And to be honest is it way more spruced up then any actual main street from 1900 was. Plus Main Street USA doesn't just consist of dirt.

 

[DrStarlander]

It would be great if it wasn't that it is supposed to represent a common main street around the beginning of the 20th Century. And to be honest is it way more spruced up then any actual main street from 1900 was. Plus Main Street USA doesn't just consist of dirt.

Are we in agreement that brick was used for streets at the turn of the century? Disney's Main Street is not, of course, an "average" or "common" town (it's got a fancy train station, Exposition Hall, and Crystal Palace), so it would make sense to have brick streets, yes? Which is likely why Disney's other (not Magic Kingdom) Main Streets already have so much brick?

I agree, if you want to keep it current with today

transient homeless

fentanyl zombies

etc.

While I understand it's an opportunity for humor, and I can appreciate cynical jabs at modern society as much as anyone, it's not really related to my point, which is: Many small towns have been investing in revitalization projects of their small town Main Streets which includes enhanced paving and street surfaces that are charming and evocative of the turn of the century -- including brick. This is happening across the country. Therefore, does it makes sense for Disney to take a look at the 1970s pink and gray concrete at Magic Kingdom and if [insert small rural town that doesn't get 17 million paying visitors a year] can upgrade its street to be charming, appealing, and historic, maybe Disney should too (and to match the quality of other Disney's Main Streets around the world in this regard)?

 

[NelsonRD]

Are we in agreement that brick was used for streets at the turn of the century? Disney's Main Street is not, of course, an "average" or "common" town (it's got a fancy train station, Exposition Hall, and Crystal Palace), so it would make sense to have brick streets, yes? Which is likely why Disney's other (not Magic Kingdom) Main Streets already have so much brick?



etc.

While I understand it's an opportunity for humor, and I can appreciate cynical jabs at modern society as much as anyone, it's not really related to my point, which is: Many small towns have been investing in revitalization projects of their small town Main Streets which includes enhanced paving and street surfaces that are charming and evocative of the turn of the century -- including brick. This is happening across the country. Therefore, does it makes sense for Disney to take a look at the 1970s pink and gray concrete at Magic Kingdom and if [insert small rural town that doesn't get 17 million paying visitors a year] can upgrade its street to be charming, appealing, and historic, maybe Disney should too (and to match the quality of other Disney's Main Streets around the world in this regard)?

I believe the choice for the pink and gray concrete was in partnership with Kodak to develop a color and texture that was attractive and not too hot for the Florida summer heat.

 

[KaliSplash]

Plus brick streets would make it harder for pushing stollers, etc.

 

[DrStarlander]

I believe the choice for the pink and gray concrete was in partnership with Kodak to develop a color and texture that was attractive and not too hot for the Florida summer heat.

Interesting. I think the overall color would be similar to the pink concrete with brick, and there would be more texture -- perfect for today's modern high-fidelity digital imaging (vs. 1970s Kodak photography).

Plus brick streets would make it harder for pushing stollers, etc.

It's concrete at Magic Kingdom because that's just how they did it back then. Here's Disneyland in the 1970s -- concrete:

Since then, Disneyland has been upgraded with brick (because, you know, it's Disneyland). And all the other castle parks have...brick. It's not about strollers or anything. It's just that Magic kingdom is a product of 1971.

Another look at that town in Maryland. They don't get 17 million visitors, but they do get brick.

 

[WorldExplorer]

Makes sense and looks good to me. I don't think they'll bother, but it does seem like it would be nice if they did.

I'd be interested in hearing about any real American Main Streets that give Disney a run for their money.

My town's main street does not have brick, but our soft pretzels and candy store are 100% better.

If you don't mind me asking, are you American?

 

[John park hopper]

I agree, if you want to keep it current with today, it would need at least one storefront abandoned with broken glass, one going out of business sign, one rundown business, more pot holes, broken street lamps, transient homeless, one liquor store and a pizzeria.

Don't forget the piles of garbage and the drug dealers and hookers

 

[donaldtoo]

There are sooo many small town centers here in Texas that have been revitalized, or never lost their charm in the first place.
Many, now, are surrounded by vast suburban areas because of so many people moving here, but the town centers maintain their charm.
People love it that way.
No boarded up buildings, no graffiti, no lounging drunk on the corner swiggin’ a 40 ouncer at 3a, no crack dealers, etc.
I like to think that “Main Street” is makin’ a comeback in this country…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Don't forget the piles of garbage and the drug dealers and hookers

Do drug dealers and hookers even do good business in a small town, where everybody knows everybody else…???
Oh, wait, never mind…they’re all usin’ the same drug dealers and hookers, so nobody cares…!!!!!!!

 

[JIMINYCR]

OMG... Please just leave MK alone. There's nothing wrong with it as is. Because we know ANYTHING Dis touches to "make it better" ruins it. At least some part of WDW has to remain original.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

OMG... Please just leave MK alone. There's nothing wrong with it as is. Because we know ANYTHING Dis touches to "make it better" ruins it. At least some part of WDW has to remain original.

Tell that from the emporium all the way to Casey's that...They use to be seperate store venues...

 

[marni1971]

Plus brick streets would make it harder for pushing stollers, etc.

No problem in Paris and Hong Kong.

 

[DrStarlander]

If you don't mind me asking, are you American?

Yes

OMG... Please just leave MK alone. There's nothing wrong with it as is.

There's a lot at Magic Kingdom that is dated and tired. Just like Disneyland has been upgraded over the years (the aforementioned brick on Main Street, 1983 Fantasyland, the fantastic new 1990s Jungle Cruise building...), enhancing and updating things is part of operating a theme park for many decades.

I'm not advocating replacing Rivers of America with Cars, I'm talking about replacing pink concrete with brick.

Because we know ANYTHING Dis touches to "make it better" ruins it.

Well, yeah, lately they've been doing awful work. So I get the concern.

At least some part of WDW has to remain original.

Lots will remain original. But ugly, cheap, 1970s stuff is not worth clinging on to.

Makes sense and looks good to me. I don't think they'll bother, but it does seem like it would be nice if they did.

I agree, they may not bother. But they're replacing other tired paving with themed, textured paving in Adventureland, Frontierland, over at the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot. I think first impressions are particularly important and expectations of Magic Kingdom are sky high, so rather than updating paving deep in the park, I'd suggest they first update that initial landing point in the park.

 

[WorldExplorer]

Yes

Okay, thanks for responding, I was going to run defense against the doom and gloom if you weren't. I love small towns!

 

[DrStarlander]

Okay, thanks for responding, I was going to run defense against the doom and gloom if you weren't. I love small towns!

My family doesn't quite share my enthusiasm for driving around rural areas and stopping in random towns, but I absolutely love small towns. I also happen to be interested in community renewal projects and "improvement districts" and have worked in that field. I love seeing small towns work together to invest in their communities and lift themselves up.