I've had so much fun doing my "EPCOT Center: A New Generation" thread (http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/epcot-center-a-new-generation.902639/), that I've decided to do the same thing to the other four parks of the resort. So, as I promised at the end of that thread, here's the first. Here's my updated take on the Magic Kingdom...
A New Generation------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fantasy…Adventure…Magic…Wonder…
These four principles are just a select few of the many qualities that bring to life the magic of the Magic Kingdom, a realm unlike any other, a place where simple turn-of-the-century steam trains willingly enter the lair of a fire-breathing dragon. A place where American pioneers and British colonies brave the untamed wilderness, dreaming of success and prosperity. A place where majestic castles scrape the crisp Floridian skies and intergalactic travel is a thing of the modern world. A place where when you wish upon a star, your dreams really do come true.
However, in the present day, the fantasy seems a little...tarnished. A lot of the problem has to do with basic maintenance for the attractions, while other problems stem from the fact that space is not utilized at it's best potential. We're gonna fix that with this refurbishment. So, let's get started!
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“Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas.”
Having been aboard the Walt Disney World Monorail for quite some time now, we find ourselves soaring past Seven Seas Lagoon. 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 park gets closer and closer until we finally come to a complete stop at the Magic Kingdom monorail station, one of the monorail's six stops, this particular one located to the western side of the park's entrance. Gleefully heading down the ramp, we approach the main entry gates having already purchased our tickets. The park's turnstiles is the first of what will be many fanciful details located throughout the resort, the turnstiles graceful and elegant, made of wrought-iron and accented with gold. We pass through the turnstiles, a little bell sounding off as the Mickey head on the golden sphere turns green. What we find on the other side of the turnstiles is a truly stunning sight...
In front of us lies a beautiful flowerbed boasting a luscious floral arrangement of Mickey Mouse, very much so resembling the intros to his cartoons of the 1940's, a classic and welcoming image. Just above the flowerbed is Main Street Station, a train station boasting the appearance of a gingerbread-trimmed building of a turn-of-the-century Midwestern town. A clock tower is the most prominent feature of the station, the second being a large sign hung over the massive doorway reading "THE MAGIC KINGDOM", with the park's population and elevation level in smaller lettering below. The sound of an oncoming train can be heard approaching from around the corner of the park. In front of the station is a clean-cut track that plays home to the Walt Disney World Railroad, a vintage steam-powered railroad with intentions of embarking on a grand circle tour of the Magic Kingdom.
Each morning at park opening, a train pulls into the station, filled with countless Disney characters. From the moment the clock hits 9:00 A.M., the varied characters step down from the station and run into the park, being the first meet-n-greets of the day.
Intrigued by all the excitement and the sounds of distant cheerful music, we head straight towards one of the two tunnels located beneath the railroad tracks, each tunnel lined with intriguing posters beckoning guests to head towards the park's many dazzling attractions and entertainment and marked by a plaque reading "Here you leave today, and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy."
Perhaps you've dreamed of returning to an earlier time. A time of home-spun values and simple living. A time when electricity was born and a new century was about to begin. This dream takes shape and surrounds you here on...
What was America like at the turn-of-the-century? Perhaps it was something like this recreation of everyone's hometown. The sights and sounds of fun nostalgia are everywhere. 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. Rows of speciality shops carry a colorful variety of old-time merchandise. At night, the thoroughfare glows in the flickering light of gaslit 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.
Once through the tunnels, you'll find yourselves in Town Square. In the center of Town Square lies the American flag pole, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Town Square also boasts gigantic shade trees, as does the innermost ring of the Hub. Why? Because fireworks viewing is a secondary concern. A shady, park-like environment for most of the day trumps unobstructed viewing, as does the critical “curtain effect” a tree-filled hub provides. This, unfortunately, will cause the meet & greets that occur here to stop. But, despite that, you'll still be able to meet characters around the rest of Town Square. Characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Oswald, Chip and Dale, Mary Poppins,
See, what I'm trying to do is try to bring back that "roaming" character ideal that Disneyland has, and try to lessen the "set" ideal, so that's why you'll see all these characters here, as well as the occasional character or two in the entrance plaza (for this, I was inspired by Tokyo's set-up of having characters in the entry plaza. See here for details: http://www.charactercentral.net/L19...DisneyResort_TokyoDisneyland_WorldBazaar.aspx)
Once inside of Town Square, guests can find the spiraling staircases leading up to the Main Street Train Station. Once at the doors of the station, one can see far down to the opposite end of Main Street U.S.A. all the way to the inspiring and beautiful Cinderella Castle. If one has a good eye, one can see the Main Street Vehicles making their way down the street.
Mayor Weaver and the other residents of Main Street mingle with the guests, making sure that they are enjoying their day. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the Main Street Philharmonic marching band making their way down the street, or the Dapper Dans singing near the storefronts, or the energetic young performers on the trolley, who sing the songs of the season...literally.
To the left in the Town Square Plaza, lies City Hall, the park's guest relations and information location. To the right of City Hall lies the Main Street Firehouse, the home-base location for the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom interactive game. Across the way lies the Town Square Exposition Hall, where Walt Disney: One Man's Dream has been relocated from Disney's Hollywood Studios. The re-vamped historical attraction features original artifacts from Disney's life, state-of-the-art animatronics that Disney had worked with, history of the Walt Disney World resort, models of several park icons, including the Fantasyland Expansion and the Disney's Hollywood Studios renovation, as well as a twenty minute video of the history of Walt Disney's life, narrated by Julie Andrews and Walt Disney himself! The area also features a giant mural from the days when the Exposition Hall played host to "The Walt Disney Story", featuring characters from every single Disney animated film ever made, including some that aren't even fully animated, like Song of the South and Pete's Dragon.
To the left of Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, Tony's Town Square Restaurant is located. Town Square then empties out into the central street of the park, leading down towards Cinderella Castle. On the right side of the street is The Chapeau, selling hats and all sorts of headgear. You can even get mouse ears personalized here! On the opposite side is the Main Street Confectionery, which offers some of the sweetest treats in the entire resort!
Over on the left side of the street, off by the Firehouse, the Harmony Barber Shop is located, tucked away in the corner of Main Street. On the right of the Barber Shop is the Emporium. Along the side of the building are six window displays, each one displaying a scene from a Disney movie. On the outside of the window is a plaque with a brief description of the story. The current window displays have been removed and replaced with new displays. These new displays will be done in the same style as Disneyland's Enchanted Window displays (which are animated to display two scenes). Viewing them from left to right we have “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Peter Pan,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Toy Story,” and “Tangled.”
Here are the scenes that will be displayed:
"Snow White": Scene 1--The Silly Song; Scene 2: The Prince awakening Snow White
"Peter Pan": Same as Disneyland's, which you can see below:
"The Little Mermaid": Scene 1: "Under the Sea" (same display as currently is); Scene 2: "Kiss the Girl"
"The Lion King": Scene 1: Mufasa's ghost appearing in the clouds; Scene 2: "Circle of Life"
"Toy Story": Same as Disneyland's.
"Tangled": Scene 1: Rapunzel painting in her tower; Scene 2: "I See the Light"
As for the shop itself, it doesn’t even feel as though you are on Main Street USA, but rather, in a very well-themed shopping mall. So with that, I'd revert the Emporium back to its original state and open some new stores. Having several smaller stores as opposed to one large store would fit better thematically with Main Street and also allow for a greater variety of merchandise. Also, as much as practicable, technology must defer to the time-period being presented in each environment. This means no Starbucks digital menu boards, nor any modern pics of food photo-shopped onto any menu, big or small (save possibly Tomorrowland where such tech would exist - although I find the practice of showing photos of food on menus anywhere very off-putting). Exit signs should be done in period style (cases) and fonts. No modern slat-wall shelving for merch – instead use period shelving. Have historic lighting dominate (no track-lighting) so as to take attention away from what modern lighting is necessary.
The Emporium currently boasts houseware, generic Walt Disney World merchandise, media items, photo and video necessities, snowglobes, walls of plushes, towels and other types of merchandise.
Today, on the right side of Main Street while walking towards the castle, there is a small side street known as Center Street. There use to be a continuation of Center Street on the left hand side as well, known as West Center Street, but this was removed in order to expand the Emporium. I would restore Center Street on this side because it 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 allusion that Main Street USA is bigger than it actually is, adding some depth to the area.
West Center Street features an amalgam of shops, including the New England Clock Shop and the extremely beautiful Greenhouse Flower Shop, an outdoor area located in the center of West Center Street selling beautiful flowers and plants. There were also facades for a Chinese Hand Laundry, the Livery and Champion Cyclery.
West Center Street also features an all-new shop: The Storybook Shoppe. The legacy of Disney is built upon stories, and there is no better place to find books filled with all the best Disney tales than right here! This colorful shop offers a wide selection of Disney books for children of all ages. And not only that, the shop is every child's dream: a pleasant toy store filled with window displays and a wide collection of toys, books, models, and hobbies. Memorabilia involving Walt Disney and his many hobbies can be found on display, a distant partner shop to One Man's Dream. This is a great shop for those whose budgets keep them away from the high priced glass shop across the street.
On the right-hand side of West Center Street is the Disney Clothiers store, which features clothes for everyone, for any occasion. Walt Disney World based t's seem to be the most popular, while the Disney Princess section is also popular.
Replacing the Main Street Athletic Club (or Hall of Champions, depending on how you prefer to call it) is the return of its original tenants: the Penny Arcade and the House of Magic.
On the corner of the store, guests can find Casey's Corner, a quick-service restaurant where guests can have classic ball-game foods, while watching some of Disney's sports-related short cartoons. Outside of the restaurant is a seating area.
On the opposite side of the street, right past the Confectionery, is the Main Street Cinema, which showcases some of Disney's classic cartoons, such as Steamboat Willie, Flowers and Trees and Plane Crazy. The Art of Disney display from inside of the cinema has been removed and replaced with seats, making the theater a quiet get-away, to enjoy some of the earlier masterpieces of Disney animation.
Nearby is Uptown Jewelers, which sells fine jewelry, china, clocks, Disney figurines and pins. Outside of the shop, back on the street, the street then has a small alcove to the right, namely, East Center Street, where silhouette designers and portrait drawers are located to create a drawing for you. Like West Center Street, East Center Street features multiple different shops, including Sherman Music Co., a music shop decorated with always active period radios and plenty of CD's and DVD's to sell, and WED Photography, a photographer's studio selling a great stock of film and disposable cameras. This place is also an instant photo-processing center, and the place where guests can buy their pictures taken in a ride or by a PhotoPass photographer during their stay.
Right in the middle of East Center Street is the main entrance to the Edison Arcade, a turn-of-the-century, glass-roofed arcade with access to shops and attractions.
It is an elaborately-themed, climate-controlled bypass to Main St., replacing the lightly-dressed backstage walkway currently in use. Includes gas lamps and an upper level with wrought-iron spiral staircases.
Plus, the arcade will also block one really big eyesore. When you look at the Plaza Restaurant from the Tomorrowland side of the Hub, you see this...
Being within eyesight of the back of the building just ruins the illusion. The addition of the Edison Arcade would surely fix that up perfectly, since it stretches from the Plaza Restaurant to the Chapeau.
At the end of the alcove, another small seating area is located. Back down on the right side of the street, the Crystal Arts shop is located, which features crystalline, glass figures, sculptures and pictures. Next to Crystal Arts is the Main Street Bakery, which features a specialty breakfast, a small selection for lunch and pastries and desserts throughout the day, as well as Starbucks coffee. On the opposite side of the Main Street Bakery is the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. This place is quite possibly the best place to get some good ice cream throughout the entire resort and is typically always packed before the parade or fireworks.
The street comes to an end and then forms into the circular hub that centralizes the park. However, there are still a few more dining locations to be discovered. On the right side of the street, past the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, the Plaza Restaurant is found. The Plaza features a decent sized menu for its' small location. In front of the Plaza, is a pathway that leads down some steps and into another small seating area on the rivers surrounding the hub. Often times, the gardens and rivers of the parks are inhabited by some friendly critters, such as squirrels, rabbits and swans.
Nearby the Plaza Restaurant is an all-new restaurant: Walt's.
I think the introduction of a Club 33 type experience would be a popular addition to the resort. Florida obviously doesn't have as strong a local crowd as Disneyland, but its attendance levels are so high that this should work just as effectively if altered. I don’t think it should be or have to be as expensive. This would definitely not be the major investment of Club 33, instead just a cost significant enough to make it exclusive but still something an annual passholder could consider. It would still have an exclusive atmosphere however.
Walt's replaces the Tomorrowland Terrace. That spot never felt right since it was Tomorrowland themed but almost entirely in the Hub area. This definitely fixes that problem.
The architecture would flow from the style of Main Street with a bit more sophistication. The restaurant features a Victorian décor in keeping with the feel of Main Street while also including numerous photographs celebrating Walt Disney’s life and works. The restaurant is actually divided into five rooms, one for each of the five original lands of Disneyland--Main Street, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. This restaurant would be a much needed addition to the Magic Kingdom and give an upscale alternative for adults looking for a more quiet dining experience.
The restaurant's lobby features an old piano, a fancy elevator, and and entrance to a botique called Lillian’s (named so in honor of Walt’s wife). As you head to the dining rooms on the second floor, you go up a staircase that documents historic moments in Walt’s life and in the building of the Walt Disney Company and Disneyland. At the top of the stairs you’ll find the main dining rooms. All of the rooms are very lushly decorated, with plenty of details to help you remember which land you’re in. The Adventureland room has a mini pirate ship, for example!
But the crown jewel of the restaurant is a rotunda with large windows looking out to the hub. This dining room would have a great view to castle and the nightly fireworks, making this club even more special. This restaurant would be a much needed addition to the Magic Kingdom and give an upscale alternative for adults looking for a more quiet dining experience. The pathway leading past Walt's continues to Tomorrowland.
On the opposite side of the street, past Casey's Corner and the park's Baby Care Center/First Aid, is the Crystal Palace, an elegant, but casual location for breakfast, lunch and dinner, that also serves as a character dining location for Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet.
From there, the path continues on towards Adventureland.
The last beep of the motorcars and clang-clang-clang of the trolley are behind us now, for we have just stepped foot into The Hub, the heart and soul of the Magic Kingdom. The Hub serves as the primary access point to the the other five lands of the park: Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
Front and center, we find the ever-symbolic "Partners" statue, a lasting bronze tribute to Walt Disney and his partner-in-crime, Mickey Mouse. The statue is surrounded by gigantic trees and beautiful gardens, decorated with flowerbeds, fountains, trees and little statues of some of your favorite Disney characters. The waters of the castle's moat encircle the perimeter of the Hub, gently rolling into larger bodies of water within nearly every land. The Main Street Vehicles make stops just near the castle bridge.
These gardens are an ideal place to watch the parades or the fireworks. They'll also be used for random character appearances, a good way to meet various--and rarely-seen--characters.
Longtime visitors may notice that the stage in front of the castle has been removed (a temporary stage will be erected in September and removed in January, so that way the shows at the Halloween and Christmas parties can still play). However, during the rest of the year, entertainment can still be found, because occasionally, the Main Street Philharmonic or some other form of street performers will delight guests. Here's an example: Tokyo's marching band performing in the forecourt area.
On our Main Street, the stage is set for Cinderella Castle, a focus for the wonder that is the Magic Kingdom, and Walt Disney World in general. Cinderella Castle is a fairytale brought into the world of reality, magical, romantic, and breathtaking. Its many towers scrape the sky while the mighty drawbridge beckons guests to enter. The surrounding moat is filled with water, water poured in through numerous lion heads sculpted into the bottom perimeter of the castle. The Disney family crest rests proudly above the castle's entrance, a tribute to the man responsible for this dream come true. Trinkling streams (Almost miniature waterfalls) pour into the river on either side of the castle, coming in from forested rivulets. Inside the castle, several glass-tiled mosaics depict the story of Cinderella. It's a truly magical sight. Cinderella Castle creates the perfect image to end Main Street U.S.A.
Off to the left of the hub, the sound of distant drumming can be heard, as the trees and vegetation clear out of the way to produce the torch-lit entrance way into Adventureland...
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Well, there we have it--Main Street, U.S.A.! I certainly hope you enjoyed the post, and stay tuned for Adventureland! See ya real soon!
A New Generation
Fantasy…Adventure…Magic…Wonder…
These four principles are just a select few of the many qualities that bring to life the magic of the Magic Kingdom, a realm unlike any other, a place where simple turn-of-the-century steam trains willingly enter the lair of a fire-breathing dragon. A place where American pioneers and British colonies brave the untamed wilderness, dreaming of success and prosperity. A place where majestic castles scrape the crisp Floridian skies and intergalactic travel is a thing of the modern world. A place where when you wish upon a star, your dreams really do come true.
However, in the present day, the fantasy seems a little...tarnished. A lot of the problem has to do with basic maintenance for the attractions, while other problems stem from the fact that space is not utilized at it's best potential. We're gonna fix that with this refurbishment. So, let's get started!
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“Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas.”
Having been aboard the Walt Disney World Monorail for quite some time now, we find ourselves soaring past Seven Seas Lagoon. 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 park gets closer and closer until we finally come to a complete stop at the Magic Kingdom monorail station, one of the monorail's six stops, this particular one located to the western side of the park's entrance. Gleefully heading down the ramp, we approach the main entry gates having already purchased our tickets. The park's turnstiles is the first of what will be many fanciful details located throughout the resort, the turnstiles graceful and elegant, made of wrought-iron and accented with gold. We pass through the turnstiles, a little bell sounding off as the Mickey head on the golden sphere turns green. What we find on the other side of the turnstiles is a truly stunning sight...
In front of us lies a beautiful flowerbed boasting a luscious floral arrangement of Mickey Mouse, very much so resembling the intros to his cartoons of the 1940's, a classic and welcoming image. Just above the flowerbed is Main Street Station, a train station boasting the appearance of a gingerbread-trimmed building of a turn-of-the-century Midwestern town. A clock tower is the most prominent feature of the station, the second being a large sign hung over the massive doorway reading "THE MAGIC KINGDOM", with the park's population and elevation level in smaller lettering below. The sound of an oncoming train can be heard approaching from around the corner of the park. In front of the station is a clean-cut track that plays home to the Walt Disney World Railroad, a vintage steam-powered railroad with intentions of embarking on a grand circle tour of the Magic Kingdom.
Intrigued by all the excitement and the sounds of distant cheerful music, we head straight towards one of the two tunnels located beneath the railroad tracks, each tunnel lined with intriguing posters beckoning guests to head towards the park's many dazzling attractions and entertainment and marked by a plaque reading "Here you leave today, and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy."
Perhaps you've dreamed of returning to an earlier time. A time of home-spun values and simple living. A time when electricity was born and a new century was about to begin. This dream takes shape and surrounds you here on...
What was America like at the turn-of-the-century? Perhaps it was something like this recreation of everyone's hometown. The sights and sounds of fun nostalgia are everywhere. 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. Rows of speciality shops carry a colorful variety of old-time merchandise. At night, the thoroughfare glows in the flickering light of gaslit 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.
Once through the tunnels, you'll find yourselves in Town Square. In the center of Town Square lies the American flag pole, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Town Square also boasts gigantic shade trees, as does the innermost ring of the Hub. Why? Because fireworks viewing is a secondary concern. A shady, park-like environment for most of the day trumps unobstructed viewing, as does the critical “curtain effect” a tree-filled hub provides. This, unfortunately, will cause the meet & greets that occur here to stop. But, despite that, you'll still be able to meet characters around the rest of Town Square. Characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Oswald, Chip and Dale, Mary Poppins,
Bert, Mr. Penguin, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket and Cruella de Vil.
See, what I'm trying to do is try to bring back that "roaming" character ideal that Disneyland has, and try to lessen the "set" ideal, so that's why you'll see all these characters here, as well as the occasional character or two in the entrance plaza (for this, I was inspired by Tokyo's set-up of having characters in the entry plaza. See here for details: http://www.charactercentral.net/L19...DisneyResort_TokyoDisneyland_WorldBazaar.aspx)
Once inside of Town Square, guests can find the spiraling staircases leading up to the Main Street Train Station. Once at the doors of the station, one can see far down to the opposite end of Main Street U.S.A. all the way to the inspiring and beautiful Cinderella Castle. If one has a good eye, one can see the Main Street Vehicles making their way down the street.
To the left in the Town Square Plaza, lies City Hall, the park's guest relations and information location. To the right of City Hall lies the Main Street Firehouse, the home-base location for the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom interactive game. Across the way lies the Town Square Exposition Hall, where Walt Disney: One Man's Dream has been relocated from Disney's Hollywood Studios. The re-vamped historical attraction features original artifacts from Disney's life, state-of-the-art animatronics that Disney had worked with, history of the Walt Disney World resort, models of several park icons, including the Fantasyland Expansion and the Disney's Hollywood Studios renovation, as well as a twenty minute video of the history of Walt Disney's life, narrated by Julie Andrews and Walt Disney himself! The area also features a giant mural from the days when the Exposition Hall played host to "The Walt Disney Story", featuring characters from every single Disney animated film ever made, including some that aren't even fully animated, like Song of the South and Pete's Dragon.
To the left of Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, Tony's Town Square Restaurant is located. Town Square then empties out into the central street of the park, leading down towards Cinderella Castle. On the right side of the street is The Chapeau, selling hats and all sorts of headgear. You can even get mouse ears personalized here! On the opposite side is the Main Street Confectionery, which offers some of the sweetest treats in the entire resort!
Over on the left side of the street, off by the Firehouse, the Harmony Barber Shop is located, tucked away in the corner of Main Street. On the right of the Barber Shop is the Emporium. Along the side of the building are six window displays, each one displaying a scene from a Disney movie. On the outside of the window is a plaque with a brief description of the story. The current window displays have been removed and replaced with new displays. These new displays will be done in the same style as Disneyland's Enchanted Window displays (which are animated to display two scenes). Viewing them from left to right we have “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Peter Pan,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Toy Story,” and “Tangled.”
Here are the scenes that will be displayed:
"Snow White": Scene 1--The Silly Song; Scene 2: The Prince awakening Snow White
"Peter Pan": Same as Disneyland's, which you can see below:
"The Little Mermaid": Scene 1: "Under the Sea" (same display as currently is); Scene 2: "Kiss the Girl"
"Toy Story": Same as Disneyland's.
"Tangled": Scene 1: Rapunzel painting in her tower; Scene 2: "I See the Light"
As for the shop itself, it doesn’t even feel as though you are on Main Street USA, but rather, in a very well-themed shopping mall. So with that, I'd revert the Emporium back to its original state and open some new stores. Having several smaller stores as opposed to one large store would fit better thematically with Main Street and also allow for a greater variety of merchandise. Also, as much as practicable, technology must defer to the time-period being presented in each environment. This means no Starbucks digital menu boards, nor any modern pics of food photo-shopped onto any menu, big or small (save possibly Tomorrowland where such tech would exist - although I find the practice of showing photos of food on menus anywhere very off-putting). Exit signs should be done in period style (cases) and fonts. No modern slat-wall shelving for merch – instead use period shelving. Have historic lighting dominate (no track-lighting) so as to take attention away from what modern lighting is necessary.
The Emporium currently boasts houseware, generic Walt Disney World merchandise, media items, photo and video necessities, snowglobes, walls of plushes, towels and other types of merchandise.
Today, on the right side of Main Street while walking towards the castle, there is a small side street known as Center Street. There use to be a continuation of Center Street on the left hand side as well, known as West Center Street, but this was removed in order to expand the Emporium. I would restore Center Street on this side because it 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 allusion that Main Street USA is bigger than it actually is, adding some depth to the area.
West Center Street features an amalgam of shops, including the New England Clock Shop and the extremely beautiful Greenhouse Flower Shop, an outdoor area located in the center of West Center Street selling beautiful flowers and plants. There were also facades for a Chinese Hand Laundry, the Livery and Champion Cyclery.
On the opposite side of the street, right past the Confectionery, is the Main Street Cinema, which showcases some of Disney's classic cartoons, such as Steamboat Willie, Flowers and Trees and Plane Crazy. The Art of Disney display from inside of the cinema has been removed and replaced with seats, making the theater a quiet get-away, to enjoy some of the earlier masterpieces of Disney animation.
Right in the middle of East Center Street is the main entrance to the Edison Arcade, a turn-of-the-century, glass-roofed arcade with access to shops and attractions.
Plus, the arcade will also block one really big eyesore. When you look at the Plaza Restaurant from the Tomorrowland side of the Hub, you see this...
At the end of the alcove, another small seating area is located. Back down on the right side of the street, the Crystal Arts shop is located, which features crystalline, glass figures, sculptures and pictures. Next to Crystal Arts is the Main Street Bakery, which features a specialty breakfast, a small selection for lunch and pastries and desserts throughout the day, as well as Starbucks coffee. On the opposite side of the Main Street Bakery is the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. This place is quite possibly the best place to get some good ice cream throughout the entire resort and is typically always packed before the parade or fireworks.
The street comes to an end and then forms into the circular hub that centralizes the park. However, there are still a few more dining locations to be discovered. On the right side of the street, past the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, the Plaza Restaurant is found. The Plaza features a decent sized menu for its' small location. In front of the Plaza, is a pathway that leads down some steps and into another small seating area on the rivers surrounding the hub. Often times, the gardens and rivers of the parks are inhabited by some friendly critters, such as squirrels, rabbits and swans.
Nearby the Plaza Restaurant is an all-new restaurant: Walt's.
Walt's replaces the Tomorrowland Terrace. That spot never felt right since it was Tomorrowland themed but almost entirely in the Hub area. This definitely fixes that problem.
The architecture would flow from the style of Main Street with a bit more sophistication. The restaurant features a Victorian décor in keeping with the feel of Main Street while also including numerous photographs celebrating Walt Disney’s life and works. The restaurant is actually divided into five rooms, one for each of the five original lands of Disneyland--Main Street, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. This restaurant would be a much needed addition to the Magic Kingdom and give an upscale alternative for adults looking for a more quiet dining experience.
The restaurant's lobby features an old piano, a fancy elevator, and and entrance to a botique called Lillian’s (named so in honor of Walt’s wife). As you head to the dining rooms on the second floor, you go up a staircase that documents historic moments in Walt’s life and in the building of the Walt Disney Company and Disneyland. At the top of the stairs you’ll find the main dining rooms. All of the rooms are very lushly decorated, with plenty of details to help you remember which land you’re in. The Adventureland room has a mini pirate ship, for example!
But the crown jewel of the restaurant is a rotunda with large windows looking out to the hub. This dining room would have a great view to castle and the nightly fireworks, making this club even more special. This restaurant would be a much needed addition to the Magic Kingdom and give an upscale alternative for adults looking for a more quiet dining experience. The pathway leading past Walt's continues to Tomorrowland.
On the opposite side of the street, past Casey's Corner and the park's Baby Care Center/First Aid, is the Crystal Palace, an elegant, but casual location for breakfast, lunch and dinner, that also serves as a character dining location for Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet.
From there, the path continues on towards Adventureland.
The last beep of the motorcars and clang-clang-clang of the trolley are behind us now, for we have just stepped foot into The Hub, the heart and soul of the Magic Kingdom. The Hub serves as the primary access point to the the other five lands of the park: Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
Front and center, we find the ever-symbolic "Partners" statue, a lasting bronze tribute to Walt Disney and his partner-in-crime, Mickey Mouse. The statue is surrounded by gigantic trees and beautiful gardens, decorated with flowerbeds, fountains, trees and little statues of some of your favorite Disney characters. The waters of the castle's moat encircle the perimeter of the Hub, gently rolling into larger bodies of water within nearly every land. The Main Street Vehicles make stops just near the castle bridge.
On our Main Street, the stage is set for Cinderella Castle, a focus for the wonder that is the Magic Kingdom, and Walt Disney World in general. Cinderella Castle is a fairytale brought into the world of reality, magical, romantic, and breathtaking. Its many towers scrape the sky while the mighty drawbridge beckons guests to enter. The surrounding moat is filled with water, water poured in through numerous lion heads sculpted into the bottom perimeter of the castle. The Disney family crest rests proudly above the castle's entrance, a tribute to the man responsible for this dream come true. Trinkling streams (Almost miniature waterfalls) pour into the river on either side of the castle, coming in from forested rivulets. Inside the castle, several glass-tiled mosaics depict the story of Cinderella. It's a truly magical sight. Cinderella Castle creates the perfect image to end Main Street U.S.A.
Off to the left of the hub, the sound of distant drumming can be heard, as the trees and vegetation clear out of the way to produce the torch-lit entrance way into Adventureland...
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Well, there we have it--Main Street, U.S.A.! I certainly hope you enjoyed the post, and stay tuned for Adventureland! See ya real soon!
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