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

[wogwog]

Don't know the number. From a quick glance at the photos, it looks like 2 poles per section pointing towards the hub's inside traffic paths on each side (not the exterior circle). I'll take a look when I'm in the park next. I agree with you, fwiw.

I counted ten. Might be more coming. All firmly set in concrete. None will telescope.

 

[note2001]

Artificial grass has holes in the backing for drainage. Water goes through it into the ground just like with regular grass. No need for special drainage unless you are doing a sports field that needs to handle a couple of inches an hour of rain and stay playable.

Such as those Florida Summer/Fall rainstorms?
I'm sure Disney thought of everything when installing the turf. If they didn't think of it on their own, those selling it to them did.

 

[MrMorrowTom]

The new west section is beautiful. Strolled through it today, people laying in the grass with little kids running around. It was a good idea that they went with the turf, at first I was skeptical about it but it looks good. Plus it will with stand all the traffic and weather.
As for the east section I saw them rolling out the turf over there today. Shouldn't be much longer before it opens.

 

[motox7]

Photo update as of Thursday, Feb 26. While the construction walls came down earlier this week, today was only the second day Plaza Gardens West were open to guests. WDWMagic has posted a great video and pictures. Here are a few photos of guests enjoying the area later in the day. Some guests were even picnicking on the grass. Even though it rained just a day ago, the grass was dry. Perhaps there is a drain system under the artificial grass.

The restrooms at the base of Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant are indeed open. Here is a photo of the large planter being constructed in front of the restroom entrances. The white color and concrete shape/form match the existing shapes around Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant.

View attachment 84502

Is it just me or wasnt there a planter in this exact spot and a couple years ago they got rid of it and leveled it. Now they are rebuilding it again? lol

 

[ToTBellHop]

Is it just me or wasnt there a planter in this exact spot and a couple years ago they got rid of it and leveled it. Now they are rebuilding it again? lol

I'm pretty sure you are right--used to have a pretty big tree. This planter is much taller though.

 

[Cesar R M]

you can schedule time with any character you want as many as you want for parties... weddings.. other events and or just to spend time with characters without having to deal with 100 other people... lol

thats awesome, now I understand how the guys from the convention I attended had characters.. LOT of them.
even with suits I never seen before.

(have a mickey mouse at Cochlear Celebration 2015 Convention, and the Mickey with Minnie in suits I had never seen before)

I used to go to the character department in the tunnels all the time and talk with the people who work in that area...

former castmember?

 

[peter11435]

Is it just me or wasnt there a planter in this exact spot and a couple years ago they got rid of it and leveled it. Now they are rebuilding it again? lol

It was removed as part of the hub expansion project to open up the pathway to ease congestion during construction. It was always intended to return later in the project.

 

[erclvrb18]

thats awesome, now I understand how the guys from the convention I attended had characters.. LOT of them.
even with suits I never seen before.

(have a mickey mouse at Cochlear Celebration 2015 Convention, and the Mickey with Minnie in suits I had never seen before)
View attachment 84569

View attachment 84570


former castmember?

I used to work in disney's convention center so I've most definitely seen a lot of different versions of mickey and minnie from nurse and doctor to princess and race car driver hehe....

my fav moments of working were wondering if mickey was gonna be there that day or not lol

I remember one time walking on stage and being right in the footsteps of mickey as he was going somewhere and seeing all the kids in shock cause they were not even at the parks yet lol

 

[articos]

I counted ten. Might be more coming. All firmly set in concrete. None will telescope.

Thanks! I believe for the sections that are complete, what's in is what's going in, but there's still the rest of the work to go. Even with more to come, I do think they'll fade into the background once everyone is used to the new hub, however.

 

[wogwog]

Thanks! I believe for the sections that are complete, what's in is what's going in, but there's still the rest of the work to go. Even with more to come, I do think they'll fade into the background once everyone is used to the new hub, however.

We can hope. At least they are smaller than the BAH that just died.

 

[articos]

Using @photoflight 's photos as a guide I was able to come up with this diagram.
View attachment 84542
Blue dots are existing new lights. Green are existing old lights. Red are the previous locations of old lights that have since been removed.

These photos show the old a new lights currently in place, staring at Casey's and going clockwise around the Hub.
View attachment 84543 View attachment 84544 View attachment 84545 View attachment 84546 View attachment 84547 View attachment 84548 View attachment 84549 View attachment 84550 View attachment 84551

Nicely done, thanks. Ok, so the ones in the center by the fountain are a bit glaring, but the others are backed by trees and should fade back a bit. Looking at this, I'd expect 4 more towers, plus what's going to be integrated into the new turrets.

 

[Next Big Thing]

All of this looks great except there's no excuse for the lack of benches. They've added all of these super wide open walkways and areas, they can fit a bench or two in there.

There is plenty of seating all around the area. It's just in the form of wide planters rather than benches.

That means not only more seating than benches would allow for, but it's in theme.

 

[Next Big Thing]

I have a problem with it being reserved specifically for fast pass.

That's just ridiculous

During the day it's not

 

[PhotoDave219]

During the day it's not

I wonder how hot that artificial grass will be at 2PM in August?

 

[WDWLover#1]

thats awesome, now I understand how the guys from the convention I attended had characters.. LOT of them.
even with suits I never seen before.

(have a mickey mouse at Cochlear Celebration 2015 Convention, and the Mickey with Minnie in suits I had never seen before)
View attachment 84569

View attachment 84570


former castmember?

I last saw those when new fantasyland had its grand opening

 

[Next Big Thing]

I wonder how hot that artificial grass will be at 2PM in August?

If people stop sitting on it, it's probably scolding hot.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Was thinking same thing lol,,,while I dont mind the grass areas, I cant see the Disney of today keeping up with all the trash people will constanly be littering and leaving behind on the grasses. The Disney of the 80s, yes.

I take offense to this as a Custodial CM. We do the best we can and the parks would be pig stye if we didn't have the proper procedures in place that we currently do.

MK is the most attended park in the world, not everything is going to be gotten to immediately, but we do our absolute best to make sure we attend to everything in a timely manner and keep the park looking show ready.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Anybody want to bet on how long it will take before people are standing on them to see parades?

no need, it's already happened.

 

[Cesar R M]

I take offense to this as a Custodial CM. We do the best we can and the parks would be pig stye if we didn't have the proper procedures in place that we currently do.

MK is the most attended park in the world, not everything is going to be gotten to immediately, but we do our absolute best to make sure we attend to everything in a timely manner and keep the park looking show ready.

hang on, you work as custodial CM ? or you worked in the past?

 

[Next Big Thing]

hang on, you work as custodial CM ? or you worked in the past?

Yes, I do. I enjoy it a lot too, actually. The amount of guest interaction and freedom to roam is something I love and (for the most part) nothing is ever THAT nasty. The chemicals supplied make for easy and quick clean ups and don't involve actually touching the spill in most cases.