Main Street U.S.A. hub redevelopment at the Magic Kingdom

[tirian]

I've said it many times before and am happy to say it again: this hub renovation is going to be a vast improvement for the MK. I'm concerned about the lack of trees in the smaller circle, but overall, this new hub is much needed and will feel like a French garden. It'll be lovely.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

I've said it many times before and am happy to say it again: this hub renovation is going to be a vast improvement for the MK. I'm concerned about the lack of trees in the smaller circle, but overall, this new hub is much needed and will feel like a French garden. It'll be lovely.

My thoughts as well. Something a bit more substantial around the Partner's statue would really help restore the park-like ambiance the Hub used to have. Hopefully the new planters around the outer ring have some bigger "trees."

 

[Otamin]

My thoughts as well. Something a bit more substantial around the Partner's statue would really help restore the park-like ambiance the Hub used to have. Hopefully the new planters around the outer ring have some bigger "trees."

I wouldn't hold my breath, but I'd like to see this.

The view looking down Main Street is one of my biggest issues, and helps cement the concrete feel of the park nowadays.

There's no going back to what was there before, but hopefully we'll see something a bit better than what we have now.

 

[halltd]

I've tried to follow along with all updates in this thread, but didn't see any pictures of the actual bypass lately. I figured people would have taken pictures over the holiday season since I'm assuming they used it then. I just went back and searched through the beginning of December and still didn't see any. Am I missing something or did no one take any?

 

[jmuboy]

I agree that the new hub will look nice. But I too hope the "outer" (ie -new) ring road in the hub will have some larger trees. Not the shrubs they have near the Partners statue.

 

[WDWtraveler]

I've tried to follow along with all updates in this thread, but didn't see any pictures of the actual bypass lately. I figured people would have taken pictures over the holiday season since I'm assuming they used it then. I just went back and searched through the beginning of December and still didn't see any. Am I missing something or did no one take any?

The Main Street bypass is unremarkable, so I didn't take any photos. The back of the existing buildings got a fresh coat of paint. The original cast member asphalt parking area got some new curbs and more green lattice barriers were added to channel the guest traffic. Service areas and delivery truck lanes were blocked by the usual large movable planters with tall shrubbery to block views.

Here is a view of the Town Square gate to the bypass next to Tony's Restaurant. Photos taken Friday, Jan. 16.

The "hub" gate is in the background of the below photo, to the left of The Plaza Restaurant. Part of the bypass has the green lattice barriers seen on the gate here.

 

[Unplugged]

View attachment 79813

Thanks for the post. You know, as dumb as this may sound, this one spot of the park has always bothered me. The transition from Main Street architecture to Tomorrowland just seems so rough and abrupt, so when I saw this photo my first thought was "Horray, a minor exterior retheme to tie into Main Street better!". Then I back tracked the details and thought "Of course. Stupid me. Disney loves their bathrooms.) The whole Tomorrowland Terrace (TT) on the East side just seems so out of balance as the Crystal Palace is to the West side, it TT should be the final Main Street architecture. Oh well, it's not up to me so I'll go back to my corner.

 

[LL2WDW]

Thanks for the post. You know, as dumb as this may sound, this one spot of the park has always bothered me. The transition from Main Street architecture to Tomorrowland just seems so rough and abrupt, so when I saw this photo my first thought was "Horray, a minor exterior retheme to tie into Main Street better!". Then I back tracked the details and thought "Of course. Stupid me. Disney loves their bathrooms.) The whole Tomorrowland Terrace (TT) on the East side just seems so out of balance as the Crystal Palace is to the West side, it TT should be the final Main Street architecture. Oh well, it's not up to me so I'll go back to my corner.

Yes! I've dreamed of an overhaul of this corner of the park. The restaurant should stay, but it should be re-themed as a Jules Verne-esque vision of tomorrow. From the Main Street side, it would be a period appropriate cafe themed in a steampunk interpretation of the future. From the Tomorrowland side, it would almost be a tongue-in-cheek cafe themed to what the "ancestors" thought could be their future.

 

[roj2323]

Yes! I've dreamed of an overhaul of this corner of the park. The restaurant should stay, but it should be re-themed as a Jules Verne-esque vision of tomorrow. From the Main Street side, it would be a period appropriate cafe themed in a steampunk interpretation of the future. From the Tomorrowland side, it would almost be a tongue-in-cheek cafe themed to what the "ancestors" thought could be their future.

I really like this idea. I'd like it even more if they enclosed a potion of it with glass and gave it AC on the upper terrace by the bathrooms and inner terrace twords the moat. The lower terrace currently used for desert parties should be left open air.

 

[MissM]

I'd like it even more if they enclosed a potion of it with glass and gave it AC on the upper terrace by the bathrooms and inner terrace twords the moat.

Though it's open-air it DOES have a/c. It's noticeably cooler within the seating area then it is in the general walkways.

 

[marni1971]

The Terrace, or Plaza Pavilion as it was called, was added July 1973 as a later addition to the park. Originally there was a grassed area with trees to make a better transition.

And it was proposed in the early 90s to become Jules Verne themed as part of the 94 makeover. Called the Astronomers Club with a retro-future design to blend from Victorian to Future. Sadly the project didn't stretch this far.

 

[note2001]

The Terrace, or Plaza Pavilion as it was called, was added July 1973 as a later addition to the park. Originally there was a grassed area with trees to make a better transition.

And it was proposed in the early 90s to become Jules Verne themed as part of the 94 makeover. Called the Astronomers Club with a retro-future design to blend from Victorian to Future. Sadly the project didn't stretch this far.

A retro steam punk style would have been cool.

 

[marni1971]

A retro steam punk style would have been cool.

it wasn't that extreme. More a smoother transition from the Victorian facade of The Plaza Restaurant into Tomorrowland 94s Sci Fi future.

 

[wdwmagic]

Though it's open-air it DOES have a/c. It's noticeably cooler within the seating area then it is in the general walkways.

Yep it is surprisingly effective considering its open.

 

[Rasvar]

I'm glad they saved the shrub dragon on the east bank near Tomorrowland!

You mean the shrub dragon that was originally on World Dr near Topiary Lane on the way to the Contemporary. So sad that Topiary Ln no longers has a topiary.

 

[wdwmagic]

PHOTOS - Much of the central hub area completely cleared as part of hub redevelopment project

 

[RayTheFirefly]

Wow. Let's hope that what they're doing there will be a quick concrete replacement. I was in MK a few days ago, and it really has gotten to be distracting, the amount of walls. I don't mind walls, as I know they mean progress, but the extent and duration of this particular project is a little much, IMO.

 

[Prince Thomas]

Hi my Disney friends!!! Does anyone know what it will look like or how much they will have done when i visit for the 1st week in March? Thanks in advance xo

 

[JediMasterMatt]

Hi my Disney friends!!! Does anyone know what it will look like or how much they will have done when i visit for the 1st week in March? Thanks in advance xo

Well, this thread is quickly approaching its one year anniversary and you can argue (quite successfully) that there hasn't been much to show for the pace of this project thus far. If I were you, I would have the expectation that the Hub area will look in worse shape than it currently does now. Refurb on the Castle side of the street will be underway by then with the show stage and lighting rigs/turrets. The permits run through towards the end of the year.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

This project is a mess and it will continue to be so as the pace hasn't been frantic. Remember the axiom for project management: Quality/Fast/Cheap - you can only pick two of those three. Guess which one was TDO's first choice?

 

[danlb_2000]

Hi my Disney friends!!! Does anyone know what it will look like or how much they will have done when i visit for the 1st week in March? Thanks in advance xo

The section closest to Main Street should be done or almost done by then since they have announced that the Fastpass+ viewing areas there will be open last week of February. As for the rest of the hub I would expect a lot of construction to be going on at that point.