Main Street U.S.A. concrete replacement project begins tomorrow

The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
DrewmanS said:
Agreed, but unfortunately times and people change. When MK opened, IASW was an E-ticket, now people expect big exciting rides. As a kid, I use to love the penny arcade, theater showing b/w Mickey Mouse cartoons, and the magic shop. Today, kids play photorealistic video games at home, there are multiple Disney channels to watch, and magic kits can be bought in any toy store.

[...]

You know what though, to my 6 and 8 year old boys, it is still the most magical place on earth. We go about once every two years and as soon as we get home they are talking about the next visit. With his iPod touch and all the modern technology at home, my 8 year old still gets an angelic smile when we ride IASW. Coming home with a new souvenir from the Emporium is probably as lasting a memory for him as a visit to MS was for me at his age.
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The first and last paragraphs seem to be mutually exclusive?

Because of changing needs and wants MS apparantly had to be demolished, but then you conclude that there are little changed needs and wants. Rendering it all a bit moot, and the destruction of MS an act of creative vandalism.
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Main Street, USA stopped working financially because Disney switched to a mall-based retail model that measures individual square footage versus the original method of looking at the bigger picture. The individual square footage is now profitable, but at the expense of other places. Spending did not drastically improve, it was just spread thinner. This can been seen in the disaster regarding sales on Buena Vista Street where people were far more interested in the unique, period appropriate items in the window displays than the generic Disney merchandise found within. Main Street, USA did not become irrelevant, it was made irrelevant by an inappropriate business model intended for a mall and not a theme park.
 
Donald96

Donald96

Well-Known Member
9396437576_bb5e2176c6_b.jpg

Disney also decided they like the look of brick, don't think it means anything but this is what they use on the Be Our Guest guide that they give you when you check-in.
 
wogwog

wogwog

Well-Known Member
Otamin said:
Are they going to flatten the street or simply have more ramps in areas?

It would be a shame if it became more like World Bazaar
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Not so much ramps, I understand, but lowering of the sidewalk to street level with ramps at the shop doors. The curbs will slowly disappear in sections. I was told the current plan is to remove curbs from Town Square and the first block of Main St.. They will need to allow for runoff of Florida rain similar to the drain at the Castle Hub and the Train Station. The black "stripe" between the street and the reddish sidewalk is actually a storm drain grate if you have never noticed. The natural slope from the center of Main St to the current curb should remain if for no other reason than maintaining the Trolley tracks and water drainage. To lower the tracks would be a nightmare. I hope they don't just rip the tracks out and abandon the little bit of Trolley service present today. I have heard talk of taking out the passing track section outside of Starbucks (I refuse to call it a bakery anymore) and going to a single track since they probably can never conceive of running two Trolleys ever again due to the ever present crowds. As it is the Trolley must have cast members clear guests out of the way of the horse even now. Main St. is already one giant sidewalk. The sight of Trolley cars and antique vehicles going down the street is relegated to a few hours after park opening now.
 
tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
lazyboy97o said:
Main Street, USA stopped working financially because Disney switched to a mall-based retail model that measures individual square footage versus the original method of looking at the bigger picture. The individual square footage is now profitable, but at the expense of other places. Spending did not drastically improve, it was just spread thinner. This can been seen in the disaster regarding sales on Buena Vista Street where people were far more interested in the unique, period appropriate items in the window displays than the generic Disney merchandise found within. Main Street, USA did not become irrelevant, it was made irrelevant by an inappropriate business model intended for a mall and not a theme park.
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Meanwhile, the little glass-blowing demonstrations in the Crystal Arts shop continue to attract crowds.
 
M

merry68

Active Member
wogwog said:
Not so much ramps, I understand, but lowering of the sidewalk to street level with ramps at the shop doors. The curbs will slowly disappear in sections. I was told the current plan is to remove curbs from Town Square and the first block of Main St.. They will need to allow for runoff of Florida rain similar to the drain at the Castle Hub and the Train Station. The black "stripe" between the street and the reddish sidewalk is actually a storm drain grate if you have never noticed. The natural slope from the center of Main St to the current curb should remain if for no other reason than maintaining the Trolley tracks and water drainage. To lower the tracks would be a nightmare. I hope they don't just rip the tracks out and abandon the little bit of Trolley service present today. I have heard talk of taking out the passing track section outside of Starbucks (I refuse to call it a bakery anymore) and going to a single track since they probably can never conceive of running two Trolleys ever again due to the ever present crowds. As it is the Trolley must have cast members clear guests out of the way of the horse even now. Main St. is already one giant sidewalk. The sight of Trolley cars and antique vehicles going down the street is relegated to a few hours after park opening now.
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I feel the daggers because of what I am going to say, but I am glad that the curbs will be down.

Now if the look could be more aesthetically pleasing, then I would be happy. Even though the Princess Mud Wrestling afternoon extravaganza sounds very fun!!

How long will this concrete project last, is there an approximate end date?
 
wogwog

wogwog

Well-Known Member
merry68 said:
I feel the daggers because of what I am going to say, but I am glad that the curbs will be down.

Now if the look could be more aesthetically pleasing, then I would be happy. Even though the Princess Mud Wrestling afternoon extravaganza sounds very fun!!

How long will this concrete project last, is there an approximate end date?
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The initial announcement said "late September." That would be for all the curbs from the front of the park to half way down Main St to Center St.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...crete-replacement-project-begins-tomorrow.htm

But that is Mickey time. So...
 
hpyhnt 1000

hpyhnt 1000

Well-Known Member
Sigh...

From Disney's standpoint, its understandable why the curbs would be removed, but yet another argument in the case that humans are devolving and the parks are being catered to the lowest common denominator. For 40 years the curbs were fine but now suddenly they arent. Can't risk that lawsuit by Joe Schmo and family because they let little Timmy run wild all over until he tripped and broke his ankle on the curb.

On a more practical note, no curb is going to mean less comfortable parade viewing - no more "bench seating" in the front row.
 
ToTBellHop

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
hpyhnt 1000 said:
Sigh...

From Disney's standpoint, its understandable why the curbs would be removed, but yet another argument in the case that humans are devolving and the parks are being catered to the lowest common denominator. For 40 years the curbs were fine but now suddenly they arent. Can't risk that lawsuit by Joe Schmo and family because they let little Timmy run wild all over until he tripped and broke his ankle on the curb.

On a more practical note, no curb is going to mean less comfortable parade viewing - no more "bench seating" in the front row.
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But sitting on the ground does provide a nice glute stretch so you can continue your day nice and spry.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
hpyhnt 1000 said:
Sigh...

From Disney's standpoint, its understandable why the curbs would be removed, but yet another argument in the case that humans are devolving and the parks are being catered to the lowest common denominator. For 40 years the curbs were fine but now suddenly they arent. Can't risk that lawsuit by Joe Schmo and family because they let little Timmy run wild all over until he tripped and broke his ankle on the curb.

On a more practical note, no curb is going to mean less comfortable parade viewing - no more "bench seating" in the front row.
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If I were a betting man I would have to say that the primary motivation is the ending of "bench seating". I don't think to many lawsuits get very far if you are unconscious enough to not know how to step off a curb. That and easier access to people in chairs and (ahem) scooters to get right up on the sidewalk. Won't that be fun?
 
wogwog

wogwog

Well-Known Member
hpyhnt 1000 said:
Sigh...

From Disney's standpoint, its understandable why the curbs would be removed, but yet another argument in the case that humans are devolving and the parks are being catered to the lowest common denominator. For 40 years the curbs were fine but now suddenly they arent. Can't risk that lawsuit by Joe Schmo and family because they let little Timmy run wild all over until he tripped and broke his ankle on the curb.

On a more practical note, no curb is going to mean less comfortable parade viewing - no more "bench seating" in the front row.
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Placing tongue in cheek. Curb removal is part of MyMagic Minus. Disney is making it safe to walk around the MK with no fear of tripping on a curb while the guest has their eyes on their dumb phone all day.
 
unkadug

unkadug

Follower of "Saget"The Cult
wogwog said:
Placing tongue in cheek. Curb removal is part of MyMagic Minus. Disney is making it safe to walk around the MK with no fear of tripping on a curb while the guest has their eyes on their dumb phone all day.
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This alone is a major turn off to me about MM+...

We already have enough people ignoring the real world while their nose is stuck in their smart phone all day long.
 
Animaniac93-98

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
I once saw one of Disney's bulky strollers fall smack down backwards when somone tried to push it of a MS curb. I would agree with the guess that curb removal is in part for better stroller access.
 

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