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

[HMF]

People do realize that Main Street in the Magic Kingdom parks are romanticization's not historically literal re-productions, right?

 

[DrStarlander]

People do realize that Main Street in the Magic Kingdom parks are romanticization's not historically literal re-productions, right?

I think nearly everyone in this thread is aware of this

 

[Kamikaze]

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Is all that 1970s pink and gray concrete looking cheap and out of date?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.

Its not supposed to be a modern main street.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Its not supposed to be a modern main street.

That’s some deep insight.

 

[DrStarlander]

Its not supposed to be a modern main street.

Correct. The small towns in America that are replacing asphalt streets with brick are not doing it to look "modern." They're doing it to evoke a bygone era and add charm.

 

[networkpro]

Not exactly sure where you were goin’ with this. Are you talkin’ about the town centers makin’ a comeback, or the suburban areas…or both…?
We live near a few, have been to many others, and they are thriving, so we’re seein’ both hat and cattle.
Also, as far as hats and cattle go, we have a family farm in south-central Texas, about 7 miles outside of my Pops hometown. My cousin, her husband and their 3 sons began running about 40 head of cattle on it again recently (the last herd was sold off during the drought several years ago).
They do wear cowboy hats, btw.
Along with leasing much of the farmland out to neighbors, we also have an oil well on that farm, and their fixin’ to drill another one on the back 40 (200 acres).
So, we not only have hat and cattle, but oil as well…pun intended…!!!!!

We sold what's left of our place west of Ft Wort outside of Weatherford when they put a downtown bypass though our north pasture. The remainder 170 acres was ringed with subdivisions when we sold. They forced out the local cattle sales barn for apartments as well as the slaughterhouse. We still have a hundred acres out in Jack County, but even that is getting subdivisions in the area. We have all the mineral rights and wells, but the influx of urban and city folks has changed it to costumes instead of living it. Not enough subsurface water for the population trying to use it just like San Angelo before the irrigation failed.

 

[donaldtoo]

We sold what's left of our place west of Ft Wort outside of Weatherford when they put a downtown bypass though our north pasture. The remainder 170 acres was ringed with subdivisions when we sold. They forced out the local cattle sales barn for apartments as well as the slaughterhouse. We still have a hundred acres out in Jack County, but even that is getting subdivisions in the area. We have all the mineral rights and wells, but the influx of urban and city folks has changed it to costumes instead of living it. Not enough subsurface water for the population trying to use it just like San Angelo before the irrigation failed.

I can see that happening up in that area, although, other than the occasional layover at DFW, we haven’t been up that way in over 2 decades.
The town my Pop is from is Poth, Texas, which has a population of about 2K. No suburban sprawl there. The farm is about 7 miles outside of town.
My Mom is from Shiner, Texas, of Shiner Beer fame, with a similar population count, and no suburban sprawl there either.
My grandparents owned 2 farms just outside of Shiner. The main farm was about 250 acres, the smaller one, down the road, was about 50 acres.
After my grandparents passed, the main farm was sold outright, mineral rights and all.
The smaller farm was also sold, but the mineral rights were retained, as there was already an oil well on it.
I wouldn’t call either Main Street in Poth or Shiner “revitalized”, but they’re definitely not trashed, either. Definitely no drug dealers, no prostitutes, etc. They’re just solid small towns with “salt-of-the-earth” folks.
Anyway, I’ve seen plenty of it respected, and yes, it can definitely be exploited.

As a side note…
IIRC, Harper Goff did most of the first renderings of MSUSA for Disneyland, and they were mostly based on his memories of his hometown of Fort Collins, Colorado…?!!!

 

[Kamikaze]

Correct. The small towns in America that are replacing asphalt streets with brick are not doing it to look "modern." They're doing it to evoke a bygone era and add charm.

The buildings in the photo you attached are modern.

They aren't going to do bricks in the street at WDW no matter what.

 

[Kamikaze]

That’s some deep insight.

Thanks. Clueless Joe Jackson over here seems to think that it needs to be updated to keep with 'trends' instead of staying the representation of exactly what it is supposed to be.

 

[WondersOfLife]

....Where's that dude who said I was arrogant for assuming that average people dont appreciate the art of theming in theme parks? I wanna talk.

The original post in this thread is why I have no faith in the longterm future of the integrity of the quality that is (or... was...) Disney Parks. Because THIS is what the average, non crazy disney park fan, is saying.

 

[John park hopper]

We sold what's left of our place west of Ft Wort outside of Weatherford when they put a downtown bypass though our north pasture. The remainder 170 acres was ringed with subdivisions when we sold. They forced out the local cattle sales barn for apartments as well as the slaughterhouse. We still have a hundred acres out in Jack County, but even that is getting subdivisions in the area. We have all the mineral rights and wells, but the influx of urban and city folks has changed it to costumes instead of living it. Not enough subsurface water for the population trying to use it just like San Angelo before the irrigation failed.

This happening all over the country and when farm land is gone how will we feed the 450+ million people in this country. Imported food--- bad idea when the dollar is no longer the world currency.

 

[JIMINYCR]

This happening all over the country and when farm land is gone how will we feed the 450+ million people in this country. Imported food--- bad idea when the dollar is no longer the world currency.

They got the time frame a bit too early. But as they say.... Todays Science Fiction is tomorrows Science Fact.

 

[Robbiem]

I agree that MK’s main street feels much more theme park land than some of the others. Its not as bad as Tokyo where the roof canopy makes you feel like you are in a mall but its no where near as good as hong kong or Paris especially where Main Street was one of my favourite lands in the whole park rather than just a place to shop and watch the fireworks

 

[jah4955]

I agree that MK’s main street feels much more theme park land than some of the others. Its not as bad as Tokyo where the roof canopy makes you feel like you are in a mall but its no where near as good as hong kong or Paris especially where Main Street was one of my favourite lands in the whole park rather than just a place to shop and watch the fireworks

I'm intrigued you said Hong Kong. Based on photos I've seen the last 20 years, it seemed, at least on the outside, to be a clone of Disneyland (CA). Curious what struck you?

Thank you for letting me ask!

I've heard from all accounts Paris is amazing (as in all their lands)

 

[Ayla]

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

Have you ever just walked on a brick street? LOL It is dangerous!

 

[Robbiem]

I'm intrigued you said Hong Kong. Based on photos I've seen the last 20 years, it seemed, at least on the outside, to be a clone of Disneyland (CA). Curious what struck you?

Thank you for letting me ask!

I've heard from all accounts Paris is amazing (as in all their lands)

Hong kong just felt nice. It might be the Disneyland design but it felt more cute and the brick pavement etc just made it feel more quality or realistic compared to the concrete of Florida. The fact that its newer, less crowded (when i went) and very well kept just made it feel better

Paris was great designwise all over but main street really stood out for me in a way it doesn’t in the other castle parks I’ve been to.

 

[HMF]

Hong kong just felt nice. It might be the Disneyland design but it felt more cute and the brick pavement etc just made it feel more quality or realistic compared to the concrete of Florida. The fact that its newer, less crowded (when i went) and very well kept just made it feel better

Paris was great designwise all over but main street really stood out for me in a way it doesn’t in the other castle parks I’ve been to.

Mostly because of all the billboards and other touches @Eddie Sotto and company gave it to feel more real and authentic.

 

[Spectro shire]

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).

It's concrete at Magic Kingdom because that's just how they did it back then. Here's Disneyland in the 1970s -- concrete:
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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.
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Another look at that town in Maryland. They don't get 17 million visitors, but they do get brick.
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Main Street in the MK looks better than the main street in MD so keep it like it is.

 

[Tigger&Pooh]

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

...and using wheelchairs, ECVs, crutches, etc.

A recreation of turn of the century Marceline -- should they choose to do that -- could involve simulated dirt using textured and stained concrete with wagon ruts and horse hoof imprints (all typical for thematic paving in modern theme parks)

One of the biggest complaints about WDW is the textured walkways at DAK. WDW has a very big following within the disabled community and I think there would be quite an uproar if Main Street at MK were made as challenging as AK paths.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Have you ever just walked on a brick street? LOL It is dangerous!

Especially when they crack, have movement and become moved out of place. Oh by the way.... WDW removed all those special guest paid for paving bricks because they had not only faded but had become a tripping hazard. Remember???