This wouldn’t happen to be a placeholder would it?Here is a map signifying where everything is in Disney Square:
However, do note that in MWDW 3.0, the PeopleMover does not stop here at the Transportation Station.
So, does the Red Line not go through the Contemporary Resort property?
First, that was the map I used for MWDW-A last summer, back when I thought a two-lane PeopleMover -- with one lane serving the eastern half of the resort and one lane serving the west -- was needed. Apart from that, the layout remains very much the same.
/Disneygang-57bbb6295f9b58cdfdb108ab.jpg)
Well, I've been real excited to share this with you all. And now that the weekend is over, I finally can! Let us finally start to explore Walt Disney World's first theme park!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Magic Kingdom
Having been aboard the Monorail for quite some time now, we find ourselves soaring past the Seven Seas Lagoon and through the Contemporary, one of the most thrilling experiences in all of Walt Disney World. 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 crown jewel of the Walt Disney World Resort, the Magic Kingdom is where the magic of dreams coming true begins. Inspired by, and building upon, the legacy of its Californian counterpart, the Magic Kingdom is a remarkable design in immersion and focus on the Guest Experience. If there’s one thing that the Magic Kingdom prides itself over, it’s the fact that everything is a form of storytelling. We, the audience, will physically experience one adventure after another, seldom as spectators, but almost always as “participants” in the drama. As I described earlier, the Magic Kingdom, like its fellow parks, is a seamless, thematic epic. The harmonic blend of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy act in compliment of the wild animals, alien creatures, and storybook castles waiting beyond the front gate.
The park gets closer and closer until we finally come to a complete stop at the Magic Kingdom monorail station, located to the western side of the park’s entrance (with the PeopleMover station on the eastern side). Walking down an entry ramp, we approach the main entrance, having already purchased our tickets. Filling our ears as we approach the entrance plaza are the instrumental strains of many classic Disney songs. The most current entrance music loop debuted in 2005, in time for the Happiest Homecoming on Earth, and is, for the most part, the same music loop that entertained visitors to Tokyo Disneyland from 2001 to 2020. However, there are two notable changes: First, since Honey, I Shrunk the Audience opened at EPCOT instead of here at the Magic Kingdom, the show’s exit music was replaced by an arrangement of “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”, the venerable theme from the Carousel of Progress. And second, in 2020, as part of Disney’s initiative to further distance themselves from the highly-controversial Song of the South, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” and “Ev’rybody Has a Laughing Place” were removed and replaced with new tracks, and a few other tracks were replaced here and there, as well. The current entrance loop is, as follows…
- “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Mary Poppins
- “Winnie the Pooh” – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Randy Newman, Toy Story
- “Beautiful Beulah” – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Summer Magic
- “All in the Golden Afternoon” – Sammy Fain and Bob Hilliard, Alice in Wonderland
- “Hooray for Hollywood” (2:27 on) – Richard A. Whiting and Johnny Mercer, The Great Movie Ride
- “Painting the Roses Red” – Sammy Fain and Bob Hilliard, Alice in Wonderland
- “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” – Frank Churchill and Anne Ronell & Ted Sears, Three Little Pigs
- “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” (fades out at 2:50, before narration starts) – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Carousel of Progress
- “Woody’s Roundup” – Randy Newman, Toy Story 2
- “You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!” – Sammy Fain and Sammy Cahn, Peter Pan
- “Come Again” – George Bruns and Tom Adair, Country Bear Jamboree
- “Minnie’s Yoo-Hoo” – Carl Stalling and Walt Disney, Mickey’s Follies
- “Mickey Mouse March” – Jimmie Dodd, The Mickey Mouse Club
- “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room” – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, The Enchanted Tiki Room
- “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee” – Leigh Harline and Ned Washington, Pinocchio
- “When You Wish Upon a Star” – Leigh Harline and Ned Washington, Pinocchio
- “Hip-Hip-Pooh-Ray!” – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- “Be Our Guest” – Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, Beauty and the Beast
- “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Mary Poppins
- “I Wanna Be Like You” – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, The Jungle Book
- “Grim Grinning Ghosts” – Buddy Baker and Xavier Atencio, arranged by John Debney, The Haunted Mansion
- “Belle” – Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, Beauty and the Beast
- “Little Black Rain Cloud” – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- “Yoda’s Theme” – John Williams, The Empire Strikes Back
- “It’s a Small World” – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, arranged by John Debney, “it’s a small world”
- “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” – George Bruns and Xavier Atencio, Pirates of the Caribbean
- “Heigh-Ho” – Frank Churchill and Larry Morey, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- “Hakuna Matata” – Elton John and Tim Rice, The Lion King
- Fantasyland Castle Medley (fades out at 5:32, before it reaches the point where the medley repeats)
- “When You Wish Upon a Star” – Leigh Harline and Ned Washington, Pinocchio
- “Once Upon a Dream” – Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky and George Bruns & Sammy Fain and Jack Lawrence, Sleeping Beauty
- “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” – Mack David and Jerry Livingston & Al Hoffman, Cinderella
- “Someday My Prince Will Come” – Frank Churchill and Larry Morey, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The park’s turnstiles is the first of what will be many fanciful details located throughout the resort – graceful and elegant, made of wrought-iron. We hand our ticket to a smiling Cast Member and pass through the turnstiles, a little bell sounding off as we enter. What we find is a truly stunning sight…
Main Street, U.S.A.
What was America like at the turn-of-the-century? Perhaps it was something like this recreation of everyone’s hometown. The nostalgia of Main Street, U.S.A. hits us right out of the gate… literally. Once through the ornate turnstiles, we glimpse the sight of a turn-of-the-century train station, fronted by a beautiful flower bed, complete with a floral depiction of Mickey Mouse’s smiling face right in the middle. A window in the center of the station is dedicated to the man who started it all, Walt Disney. It was installed in 2001 to mark Walt’s 100th birthday. Below, a sign reads: “THE MAGIC KINGDOM – WALT DISNEY WORLD – POPULATION: 600,000,000 – ELEVATION: 108 FT.”
Suddenly, we hear the familiar call of a steam whistle. A beautiful steam engine chuffs its way along the track, halting with a hiss. The beauty and grandeur of steam travel is captured in the romance and excitement of the Walt Disney World Railroad, a grand-circle tour of the Magic Kingdom.
From aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad, we view the many sights and sounds along the rails, giving us a sneak peek at what the Magic Kingdom has in store: an ancient jungle, a bustling circus, a burning settler’s cabin and the distant excitement of Tinseltown. All the things we see are pointed out to us by a heard-but-not-seen old-timer, who fully embodies the traveling vagabond “everywhere-I-hang-my-hat-is-home” spirit.
“Your attention, please. The Walt Disney World Railroad is now boarding for a grand circle tour of the Magic Kingdom, with stops at Main Street, U.S.A., Frontierland and Fantasyland. All aboard!”
Trains are scheduled to arrive every 5 to 10 minutes at most times throughout the day, and travel clockwise around the park. The four meticulously restored, working narrow-gauge engines are named for the people who helped make this place possible: the Walter E. Disney, the Lilly Belle, the Roger E. Broggie and the Roy O. Disney.
In addition to all the wonderful sights visible from the Walt Disney World Railroad, there are two special places that one can only visit by riding this train. Between Frontierland and Fantasyland, the rockwork of Columbia Gorge on the edge of the Rivers of America gives way to Constellation Point.
Mainly consisting of fiber-optic effects and ethereal arrangements of Disney music, Constellation Point – which takes place inside two massive tunnels – takes us past, well, constellations of classic Disney characters; specifically, those we shall meet in Fantasyland. In addition, Constellation Point gives us sneak peeks at the rides whose buildings border the tunnel. As we enter the first tunnel, we find ourselves in an underwater fantasy. The sunlight shines down on the water, creating a mesmerizing effect. We can see Atlantica in the distance to the left of the train, and a screen to the right features the silhouette of Ariel swimming past. We can even hear Ariel’s voice, seemingly calling out to us.
A brief respite back out into the fresh air gives us views of the Golden Age of Hollywood on the left side of the train and views of a provincial French village – as well as a majestic castle – to the right side. The rockwork surrounding the castle leads into another constellation tunnel, where we can see a sleeping Winnie the Pooh floating off into his dreamland.
Between the Fantasyland and Main Street stations, a daring view awaits: the City of Tomorrowland. This epic diorama runs quite the gamut. Once we pass by Space Mountain, we enter the diorama, not leaving until we’ve crossed the bridge over the Cast Member parking entrance. In this diorama, we find ourselves in a city not unlike the one seen in the sci-fi masterpiece Metropolis. Deco-Tech and futuristic technology, represented in static models and in special projections, fill our field of vision on both sides of the train. It should look like we are passing right through an early 20th century science-fiction movie! And at the end of the tunnel, we are brought from the future back to the past. We have arrived back at Main Street Station.
Excitement mounting, we pass underneath the train station through one of two tunnels located on either side of the flower bed. A plaque above each tunnel bears the inspired phrase:
“HERE YOUAn iconic attribute to any Magic Kingdom, posters line the tunnel walls, offering a taste of the coming attractions and adventures – not unlike the posters found in the lobby of a movie theater. Each tunnel has different posters, so it’s not uncommon to see hardcore Disney fans start the day by entering through one tunnel, and end it by exiting through another, just so they can see them all.
LEAVE TODAY
AND ENTER
THE WORLD OF
YESTERDAY,
TOMORROW
AND FANTASY.”
Beyond these tunnels is Main Street, U.S.A. itself…
The sights and sounds of fun nostalgia are everywhere...and I do mean 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 specialty shops carry a colorful variety of old-time merchandise. At night, the thoroughfare glows in the flickering light of gas-lit 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.
Time seems to soften amid the orchestral rhythm of ragtime and the clopping of horse hooves. As the stress of contemporary life gives way to the quaint charms of yesteryear, we find ourselves in a little town at the turn-of-the-century. Main Street, U.S.A. is a sparkling thoroughfare presented in the style and architecture of a street not unlike what you’d find in the history books of the early 1900s, taking inspiration from not only Walt’s boyhood home of Marceline, Missouri, but also taking influences from around the country, such as New England and the Midwest. All around us is the color and excitement of a town at the start of a bold new century, at a time when electricity, transport and communication are about to change everything we know about the way we live our lives.
Our time on Main Street, U.S.A. begins in Town Square, the civic hub of transportation and gathering. In the center of Town Square is Elias Park. Well-kept lawns and vibrant planters surround a tall flagpole, from which the Stars and Stripes proudly wave. A Magic Kingdom tradition since 1971 is the moving, yet understated, Flag Retreat Ceremony held every evening, just before sundown, at the base of the flagpole. Sat beneath the cool shade of tall trees, aptly placed benches provide ample seating for the ongoing entertainment throughout the day.
Of course, no Town Square would be complete without an appearance or two from the world famous Disney Characters. Throughout the day, starting promptly at 9:00 a.m., Mickey and the gang – that’s Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Oswald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale – are there, eager to welcome guests to a day of fun and excitement here at the Magic Kingdom! Although their main meet ‘n’ greet location is right here in Town Square, they also make occasional appearances in the other areas of the park – with the notable and deliberate exception of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – in appropriate costumes (safari gear for Adventureland, Western cowboy gear for Frontierland, colonial attire for Liberty Square, either sorcerer outfits or royal attire for Fantasyland, Tinseltown finery for Hollywoodland, and astronaut suits for Tomorrowland).
In Town Square, the Main Street Vehicles are the major ways to get around. We can board an old-fashioned Fire Engine, Paddy Wagon, Horseless Carriage, Limousine, Jitney, Omnibus, or Horse-Drawn Trolley, for a one-way trip to the center of the Magic Kingdom via Main Street, U.S.A. To choose a mode of transportation, each vehicle has a designated stopping zone marked by a decorative sign.
The Chamber of Commerce offers Disney’s “Package Pickup” service. City Hall is the home of Guest Relations. Friendly cast members are always on hand to answer questions, provide touring tips, make reservations and assist visitors with special needs. The adjacent Fire Station provides a glimpse at a period facility of the sort, housing a real fire engine. A Locker Facility can also be found in Town Square, on the first floor of the train station.
Like the various Main Streets of the real world, Main Street, U.S.A. is populated with “real,” believable people – a concept Disney calls “Streetmosphere.” The so-called Citizens of Main Street walk the street in stride, a living snapshot of the optimism, humor and pride of the American Dream. Among the many Citizens, the ever-friendly Mayor is always ready with a smile and a joke; the local Fire Chief and Police Chief are always looking out for danger (although in the Magic Kingdom, the only dangerous thing is someone not having fun); and a Suffragette frequently marches the streets, rallying people to support the cause.
A band concert in the park was a common civic diversion of small town American life at the turn-of-the-century. The Walt Disney World Marching Band hearkens back to that time with their daily concerts in Town Square. The iconic program includes energetic musicians, synchronized marches, popular songs of the early twentieth century, and songs of the Disney canon. The world-famous Dapper Dans often perform up and down Main Street to welcome us as we enter the park. Their four-part harmonic repertoire includes barbershop ballads as well as many memorable tunes from the world of Disney. At certain times throughout the morning, the Main Street Trolley Show makes its way “right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A.”, as a chorus of energetic youths set the mood for the fun and excitement ahead of us.
On a morning like today, when Main Street is open early to guests, we are invited to leisurely wander through the area as we anxiously await for the rest of the Magic Kingdom to open, and experience its shops, exhibits and attractions, including round trips on the Walt Disney World Railroad and the first showing of Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.
Walt Disney might have done more to touch the hearts and minds of millions of Americans than any other man in history. He brought joy, happiness, and a universal means of communication to people of all nations. Certainly, our world shall know but one Walt Disney. In 1973, two years after the Magic Kingdom first opened its gates, The Walt Disney Story, a film created by Jack Boyd and Bill Bosche, opened within the walls of the Town Square Exposition Hall. This was a film in which Walt’s life story was illustrated via a living photo album, complete with Walt himself narrating! But in 2001, for the “100 Years of Magic” celebration, it was announced that the nearly 30-year-old film would be replaced with a newer film, and the attraction itself would receive a whole upgrade!
Just beyond the entrance, a number of scale models, statuettes and artwork harken to the man behind the mouse. The teal and white color scheme of The Walt Disney Story has been replaced by red carpeting and golden walls. Even the plaques detailing the exhibits have changed to fit the theme, with wooden panelings and old-timey fonts. And speaking of exhibits, there’s a vast wealth of unique things on display: models, artwork, costumes, authentic movie and theme park props, awards, even a few working animatronics – for example, there’s a bird from the Tiki Room you can try your hand at controlling, and there’s even the famous “Dancing Man” display that inspired Walt to make Audio-Animatronics in the first place! In fact, with the changeover, Theater 1 was completely gutted to make way for an expanded exhibit space, thus leaving Theater 2 as the only theater used.
At the rear of the museum is the entrance to the theater; warmly-lit, with curtains hanging over the automatic doors. An elaborate mural is prominently featured on the wall nearby the theater. Originally, the mural was painted by Bill Justice, but that was removed for the 100 Years of Magic Celebration and replaced with this piece, but that was soon removed in 2022 and replaced in 2023 with an all-new mural painted by Manuel Hernandez. Inspired by two of his works – Celebration and The Big Five-Oh! – this new mural celebrates 100 years of The Walt Disney Company by having characters from every all 62 Disney Animated Canon films released throughout Disney’s first 100 years in the business, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Wish, as well as a few familiar Pixar faces and live-action faces, gathering in Central Plaza for a grand nighttime celebration. Expect to see friends like Dumbo and Mary Poppins soaring near a glimmering Cinderella Castle, the Disney princes and princesses waltzing to the strains of music courtesy of the Seven Dwarfs and Miguel Rivera, Baloo and Mowgli enjoying a nighttime cruise along the rivers, Winnie the Pooh and his Hundred Acre Wood friends picnicking, and of course, Mickey and the gang in the center of the Hub, taking in all the wonder.
It is here in this theater, of course, that we watch a film about the life of the man who started it all, narrated by Julie Andrews…and Walt himself!
Upon exiting the theater, guests find themselves in the attraction’s post-show area, “The Legacy Continues.” This is an exhibit space offering guests a glimpse at Disney’s achievements post-Walt, via facts and trivia, movie props and costumes, even a wildebeest mask used in The Lion King on Broadway. There are also scale models of the four icons of Walt Disney World’s theme parks – Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, the Tree of Life and Pharos Lighthouse; not to mention scale models of Disneyland Paris’ Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Tower of Terror.
But that’s not all! When the film switched from The Walt Disney Story to One Man’s Dream, they also turned the Disneyana Collectibles shop held within the building into The Disney Gallery. In a private collection of portraits, paintings, caricatures and sculptures, The Disney Gallery serves as a showcase for the artwork of Walt Disney Imagineering and Animation, past and present. Special displays show rare storyboards from the Walt-era films, and Q&A sessions with Imagineers and artists happen on the occasion. Plus, if your wallet’s fat enough, you can purchase some of the items on display! Among the items on sale are paintings, limited-edition prints, cels, figurines and the much-coveted Walt Disney Classics Collection.
Located to the left of the Exposition Hall is Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. To many Disney fans, this name may sound familiar. This is because this restaurant is inspired by the same Tony’s restaurant that served as the setting of one of the most iconic scenes in Disney history: the moment when Lady and Tramp fell in love on that “lovely bella notte.” Inside this beautiful restaurant, you'll find all sorts of Italian treats: pizza, paninis, antipasto, sausage, seasonal soup, salads, scampi, chicken parmesan, fettuccine, and, of course, spaghetti and meatballs. Plus, there’s plenty of vino and birra to spare; and quite a few authentic Italian desserts.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Our tour of the Magic Kingdom has officially begun! What did you all think of Town Square? And did you notice any of the hints at what lies in store here? Feel free to leave any feedback you have! Oh, but don't think we're fully done with Main Street. We still need to head down the street itself, which we shall do on Wednesday!
By the way, the introduction to this post -- with the girl eagerly spotting the Magic Kingdom -- came from an early version of @MANEATINGWREATH's Dream Resort thread. I thought it would be nice to include as a tribute to his work, given that Mirror Disneyland 3.0 is his final work here on the forums, and that his work would go on to inspire my own dream resort threads.
I'm sorry, but "Hooray for Hollywood" is serving as the only musical representative of Hollywoodland in this loop. Besides, I want to keep the number of songs the same. 30 songs in the video, 30 songs here.
Does this mean that Walt avoids his death and lives past 1966, or is this just talking about his 100th birthday in general?
At least you could put two extra songs "Smile Darn Ya Smile" and "Maroon Cartoon Theme" please?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From Town Square, we head down Main Street itself, a charming collection of storefronts and restaurants leading up to the park’s Central Plaza. Just like all the other Main Streets before it, the ground floor buildings are built on a 9/10 scale, with the second and third stories progressively smaller – forced perspective at work. Like the credits in a movie, the windows on Main Street are used to honor those who have contributed to the creation and development of the Magic Kingdom. Amidst the patriotic bunting, swaying trees and musical stylings of Scott Joplin and George Gershwin, we embark on a nostalgic stroll down Main Street. Here we experience the simpler pleasures of small town America as it were in the turn-of-the-century.
As with every other Main Street in the Disney pantheon, we begin with the lavish Emporium, the largest mercantile in the park. Owned and operated by Osium “Osh” Popham (the character Burl Ives played in the lesser-known Disney musical Summer Magic), this superstore evokes the charm and elegance of a turn-of-the-century department store, with stained-glass decor, gas chandeliers and sweeping rotundas in presentation of the goods and wares of a childhood dream. The clanging of cash registers matches the measured pace of the passing Main Street Vehicles. Countless clothing racks and near-infinite rows of display cases offering headwear, toys, pins, snacks and souvenirs line the tiled floor.
Per tradition, storefront windows display vignettes from animated classics of Walt’s time, all brought to life with animated figures and unique lighting and effects. A golden plaque in front of each display briefly retells the story of the film. Here are the six films represented in the windows, and the scenes presented therein.
Come Christmastime, these displays are swapped out with displays telling the story of Mickey’s Christmas Carol.
Moving further down the street, Sherman Music Co. – which replaced the original New Century Clock Shop in 1986 – is unique in its display of phonographs, radios, grand pianos, and brass horns. Instruments of all variety and origin are for sale, along with the world’s largest library of Disney sheet music. In addition, this shop displays a surplus of music-themed wares. CDs and records can be found here, as an old phonograph plays some classic music from the turn-of-the-century, mixed in with a ragtime arrangement of the occasional Disney tune here and there, particularly tunes written by the shop’s namesake, the Sherman Brothers. The popular “Walt Disney World Forever” kiosks allow for us to instantly download or create personalized playlists with selections chosen from various Disney World attractions, both operating and defunct, as well as classic songs from the Disney movies and television shows.
The Kodak Camera Center sits opposite the Emporium. The storied camera store offers hour-long film development, cameras for rent, PhotoPass souvenirs and on-site photo experts. Patrons can also pose for a souvenir portrait in late 19th century/early 20th century costumes in the attached photo parlor. The music of a restored, antique player piano carries into The Chapeau, found right next door, a haberdasher’s paradise of hats and headgear, most notably the famous “mouse ear” hats, as designed by famous artist Roy Williams and first worn by the Mouseketeers of The Mickey Mouse Club.
Moving further east from The Chapeau, you’ll find the southern entrance to the Discovery Arcade. Running the length of Main Street’s eastern side, this glass-roofed arcade is an eternal tribute to those who had imaginative, and sometimes bizarre, ideas and inventions for the future. From ingenious patents to dreams of a utopian world, it’s all here to see, with startling posters depicting what prominent American cities could look like in the future and display cases filled with visionary gadgets. The turn of the century gave those of the time a feeling that anything “can, and will” be achieved by man. The Discovery Arcade pays homage to these great minds, from their ingenious yet humble patents to their wildest dreams of futuristic cities. The Discovery Arcade is a nod to the never-built Edison Square concept made for Disneyland in California. While less ambitious, it does portray the charm of early 20th century living and offers a fun glimpse into what people of the time were using to improve their lives. It also acts as a nice sister attraction to the Carousel of Progress just minutes away in Tomorrowland, which Edison Square ultimately morphed into.
Among the items on display here are a player piano, an x-ray machine, a brownie camera, a projection camera (like the one they use at the Main Street Cinema), an early vacuum cleaner, a gas turbine, a bicycle, laminated glass, a wind turbine, a ballpoint pen, a Marconi radio, and models of a zeppelin and the plane used in the historic Kitty Hawk flight. Not only that, but there are also relics and models from the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, which piqued the imagination of a young Walt Disney, given that his father worked for it. But perhaps the most beautiful element of the Discovery Arcade is the Winter Garden. Accessed from Center Street, directly in the middle of the arcade, this natural arboretum includes trees, bushes and fountains.
Heading up Main Street from the Camera Center, the intoxicating aroma of sugar, vanilla, butter and caramel leads all eager nostrils to the Main Street Confectionery, the place to go to satisfy your sweet tooth. And boy, oh boy, have we picked a good time to visit! You see, the Confectionery recently hosted the Sweetest Spoon Showcase, a competition for all aspiring home confectioners. The six winners of this year’s competition – who can also be seen among the Citizens of Main Street Streetmosphere troupe – are presenting their blue-ribbon baking to all of us. In addition to these winning goodies, freshly baked treats, caramel apples, gargantuan candy bars, cotton candy, chocolate rabbits, popcorn mixed with chocolate and other sweet treats, and more decadent delicacies line the shelves of this confectionery dreamworld. Front and center, a large replica of Cinderella Castle is displayed, built entirely from gingerbread. The glass-walled kitchen looks into the live “performance” of skilled candy makers at work.
Nearby, the distinctive sound of cartoon merriment can be heard in all its ragtime charm from inside the Main Street Cinema. Beneath a vibrant, lightbulb-illuminated marquee, make your way inside an elegant Victorian-inspired building that recalls the great motion picture houses of yesteryear. Inside the theater, you can enjoy some classic Disney shorts that play on a never-ending loop, such as Steamboat Willie, Plane Crazy and Flowers and Trees. It’s the perfect way to get away from the crowds and just take a load off for a while! Moving on from the Cinema, we have Uptown Jewelers, which sell fine jewelry, china, clocks, Disney figurines and pins; as well as the Wonderland of Wax Candle Shop, which, like its Californian counterpart, has remained perfectly intact throughout the entire history of the Magic Kingdom. The scent of candle-wax and vanished flame fills the air; candles of every shape, size and color line the shelves and counters.
The soft glow of gas-lit street lamps mark Center Street, the dead-center of Main Street, U.S.A. Center Street 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 illusion that Main Street is bigger than it actually is, adding some depth to the area. Furthermore, Center Street is also home to some of Main Street’s other prominent businesses, and we can often hear their proprietors at work. For example, fittingly located right next door to Sherman Music Co. is Miss Sara’s Piano School, and we can hear three of her students at work. But be warned – Miss Sara can get quite strict sometimes. Across the street, above the toy shop (more on that later), you’ll find proprietors offering singing and dancing lessons, and we can hear the sounds of singing and tap-dancing from within. Other proprietors on West Center Street include a Chinese Hand Laundry, but the windows are closed there, so we can’t hear anything, a Livery, from which we hear the sound of horses neighing, and the Champion Cyclery, where the finest bikes in all Main Street are built. We can hear the machines rumble, as well as the familiar ding of a bicycle bell...and even a child giving one of the newly-made bikes a test run! On East Center Street, we find the Hotel Marceline, from which we can hear one tenant showering, brushing his teeth and shaving; as well as the office of Dr. E.S. Bitz, who apparently specializes in “Painless Dentistry”…although, the sounds of drilling and screaming seem to indicate that what the doctor really specializes in is false advertising.
Here on Center Street, the streets are wide open and merchants take use of the beautiful weather to sell wares outside. Along the western side of Center Street, you’ll find perhaps the most beautiful sight in all the Magic Kingdom: the outdoor wares of the Greenhouse Flower Shop. There isn’t a wilted petal in sight (because the flowers displayed outside are plastic). The flowers are always fresh. And yes, you can purchase your own flowers and plants here. Although most business occurs within the Greenhouse store, many people are more familiar with the vibrant colors of this outdoor marketplace. Also located along West Center Street is the Harmony Barber Shop. This real, working barbershop is the place to go if your hair needs a little trimming. It’s also quite the popular place to go for “baby’s first haircut.” Founded by the Dapper Dans themselves, they’ll often pop by to serenade those getting, or awaiting, a haircut of their own.
East Center Street, meanwhile, is the place where portrait drawers are located to create a drawing for you. At the end of this alcove, a small seating area is available for you to rest a spell. In addition to Wonderland of Wax, there are a few more shops to be found here; the first of which is the famous Hallmark Card Shop. Founded in 1910 by Joyce Hall, Hallmark is the oldest and largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. Main Street’s own Hallmark store delves in the sale of greeting cards, picture postcards, toys, gift wrap, candies, and Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, a holiday staple. So beloved is this store that the Magic Kingdom could not bear to part with, hence why it moved across the street to this new location in 1985.
Picture taken by shyguy of RCT3/Planet Coaster fan site shyguy’s World
The Hallmark Card Shop is flanked on both sides by two unique stores. On the right-hand side, towards the northern center of East Center Street, familiar-looking dolls are displayed in the storefront windows at Davis, Crump, Carlson, Gibson & Blair – Toymakers to the World, a shop named after the six people responsible for giving us the iconic look of “it’s a small world”: Marc and Alice Davis, Rolly Crump, Joyce Carlson, Blaine Gibson and Mary Blair. As the music of many a classic Disney animated film fills our ears, we find an offering of turn-of-the-century toys, as well as Disney-themed toys, children’s books, music boxes and stuffed animals. Above the shelves of the store, we find a vast collection of scenes and figures from the classic Disney movies, many re-used from past Emporium window displays, and a model train chugging along the perimeter of the store. As for the other store neighboring Hallmark, well, we’ll get there later.
Moving on from West Center Street, we’ll find Disney Clothiers, boasting the largest Disney wardrobe in town. A seamstress is always on hand to make repairs and special souvenirs from scratch. Oh, and by the way, the Disney Clothiers building also features a door that supposedly leads to the Magic Kingdom Casting Agency. We can’t go in, but the door itself is a popular photo-op spot. Next door, the Penny Arcade features a number of vintage arcade cabinets from the turn of the twentieth century, including the turn-the-crank kinetoscope movies, mechanical fortune tellers, and various other tests of strength and skill. One will not find a single video game inside the Penny Arcade. All the coin-operated conveyances are of the mechanical variety. Next door to that, House of Magic acts as Main Street’s leading purveyor of fine magic tricks, gags and novelties; and master magicians are often seen performing sleight-of-hands and other tricks for passers-by.
Walt Disney was passionate about the value of books, so it is only natural that The Storybook Store take up residence on Main Street. This is your small, friendly neighborhood bookstore of yesteryear. The reading selection includes bestsellers, classics, magazines, and perhaps the world’s finest assortment of Disney-related books anywhere: Walt Disney World travel guides, books about Imagineering, history books, Walt Disney biographies, Japanese manga, behind-the-scenes documents, photo books, and books for children and adults about Disney films. And the interior of the shop itself is loosely inspired by the Madison Public Library, as run by Marian Paroo in the classic 1962 movie musical The Music Man.
On the edge of the northwestern side of Main Street, overlooking the Hub, is Casey’s Corner, a tribute to the golden age of baseball (the restaurant even gets its name from “Casey at the Bat”). In this candy-striped place, servers clad in baseball uniforms serve up classic ballpark fare: hot dogs, soft pretzels, French fries, peanuts, Cracker Jack, you name it, in addition to desserts and fountain drinks. Casey’s extends into an outdoor eating garden, where guests can enjoy their food under candy-striped umbrellas. A ragtime piano player is often on hand, playing the latest rags and ragtime arrangements of classic Americana and Disney songs.
Back on the other side of the street, moving northwards from East Center Street, is the Market House. Marked by a pot-bellied stove, this old-style shop offers all sorts of treats and snacks: cookies, candies, pretzels, cheese-flavored crackers and saltwater taffy. But the Market House’s biggest claim to fame is jar after jar of jellies and jams, all courtesy of Smucker’s. Not only that, but it’s here in this store that inquisitive guests can use an old-fashioned telephone to eavesdrop on the other end of a “party line.”
Heading towards the eastern end of Main Street, The Shadow Box Silhouette Studio is the place to go for a most unique souvenir. Talented artists are there to capture you and your family’s likeness in silhouette. Sharing building space with The Shadow Box, Crystal Arts sells exclusive Disney statuettes, glass miniatures, crystal castles, snow globes, dishware, music boxes, ornaments, and stylized silverware. Here, a talented glassblower creates hand blown souvenirs in full view of patrons, an attraction all its own. The Main Street Bakery is yet another good place to escape the hustle and bustle of Main Street, U.S.A. What’s on the menu here? Well, this is the in-park home of Starbucks Coffee, and in addition to that, the bakery offers a charming selection of dining options and bakery items.
The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor takes up residence next door. In this old-fashioned eatery, ice cream is the name of the game. Specialty sundaes, ice cream sodas, root beer floats and triple scoop cones abound. Serving as a fitting neighbor to the ice cream parlor is the Plaza Restaurant. With tufted velvet furnishings, silk woven draperies, ornate floral carpets, beveled mirrors and polished brass fixtures, the Plaza recreates the elegance and refinement of the Victorian age. Whether it’s a hearty breakfast, mouthwatering lunch, or a family dinner with decadent desserts, you’ll discover something for everyone on the Plaza’s vast menu.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And thus, our journey down Main Street comes to a close. Oh, but don't think we're fully done with Main Street. We still need to visit the Main Street-adjacent Central Plaza! Expect that post to come out this coming Saturday!
By the way, I'd like to point out that the concept for the Storybook Store came from @MANEATINGWREATH's Mirror Disneyland. It was too good not to use for this Mirror Walt Disney World, so all credit to him!
Essentially, Hollywoodland's main music loop will be the same music loop that plays on Hollywood Boulevard at DHS.
Sorry if I had asked this in an older MWDW, but does each color have their own corresponding flavor or is it akin to something like M&M's where all the colors are the same flavor? And how does this popcorn get its color? Is it candy coated?
And would the Society for Knowledge and Yearning per chance make an appearance in MWDW?
I don't know if I told you this before or not, but I always envisioned Red, White and Blue popcorn getting its color from food coloring. It would still taste just like regular popcorn.
Not sure yet. I have a specific idea for what I want to do with DisneySky in the Mirror universe (which, again, takes place in the universe that houses MEW's Mirror Disneyland 2021), but I want to run it by @D Hulk for permission first.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Leaving the temple behind and heading back to the Forgotten Kingdom mainland, we notice something new regarding the landscaping. From our standing point we can smell the scent of “paradise”, a very nice tropical smell of fruit, fresh foliage, and clean seawater. On the other side of the path we can see the looming figures of various works of architecture. Walking down the trail, we leave the jungle-like atmosphere of the Forgotten Kingdom behind. The jungle has become a tropical paradise, lining both sides of the path. A crystal-clear waterfall pours down into a rushing stream. Nearby, a band of Hawaiian shirt-wearing musicians play a collection of steel drums and maracas. This encourages us to move forward and towards the other side of the bridge. As we continue, a sign appears reading “WELCOME TO CARIBBEAN PLAZA.”
No longer are we in the dense rainforests of the Forgotten Kingdom. We are now in the tropical paradise that is the Caribbean. Spanish-style architecture overtakes the plaza as dock-side shops and taverns line the streets. The smell of saltwater and all the delicious foods of the nearby restaurants fill the air and further strengthen the atmosphere. Tropical music fills the air, a nice departure from the swinging sounds of the 1930s music we’ve been hearing. Along the mainland, you may come across quite a few interesting entertainers. The Bootstrappers, a motley band of musical pirates, bring a sense of atmospheric charm to the long-lost seaport. Familiar faces from the Pirates of the Caribbean film series – Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Hector Barbossa and Tia Dalma – can often be found wandering through Caribbean Plaza, as can Redd, a female pirate marked by her red hair. The Adventureland Steel Band is a Hawaiian-shirt clad steel-drum band, providing tropical tunes to all who care to listen. Inches away from the Steel Band’s stage is La Fuente de la Fortuna (“The Fountain of Fortune”), a fountain where you can toss pennies in to make a wish. All the pennies and coins thrown into the fountain are donated to charities.
Dominating Caribbean Plaza is Castillo del Morro, an empowered stronghold meant to protect the thriving seaport from unwanted visitors. A telescope can be seen from the top of the Torre del Cielo watchtower. Inside this fortress, you can take off to face these rogues yourselves, aboard one of Disney’s most beloved theme park attractions: Pirates of the Caribbean.
Most of the development of the Magic Kingdom was done in the wake of this ride’s premiere at Disneyland in 1967. And although the new attraction was a resounding success, it was decided not to bring it eastward, as Florida was quite close to the actual Caribbean, and they didn’t want to seem redundant. But when the park opened, the most common guest complaint was “Where is Pirates of the Caribbean?” And to say that the executives were shocked was quite the understatement. They didn’t know how beloved these buccaneers really were! Thus, the plans for Western River Expedition, Pirates’ intended Floridian equivalent, were put on hold so they could build a new version of Pirates, which opened in Adventureland on December 15, 1973.
As we step foot inside Castillo del Morro, we hear the sounds of footsteps running overhead, voices yelling commands in Spanish, and the deafening sound of cannon-fire. Unlike the ride’s Disneyland counterpart, we’re not going back in time to the days when the pirates attacked Puerto Dorado. We are there. In fact, as we approach an escape route, we can see a ship on the horizon. The pirates are coming…
There is an escape route ready for us, and a boat is on the water ready to take us out of the fort before the pirates arrive. Sailing silently through the mysterious caverns in the underbelly of the Castillo, we are greeted by several eerie reminders of past pirate attacks. The thunder of rampaging waterfalls can be heard on every side, skeletons hold sway over a mountain of pirate treasure, and a haunting voice issues an ominous warning of danger lurking ahead…
“Ye come seekin’ adventure with salty old pirates, eh? Sure you’ve come to the proper place. But keep a weather eye open, mates, and hold on tight. [...] And mark well me words, mateys: Dead men tell no tales!”
Making our daring escape via a waterfall, we find ourselves lucky to have escaped when we did. That pirate ship we saw in the queue, the feared Wicked Wench, has made its presence known; and we are suddenly caught in a crossfire between a stone-walled fortress on the right and the Wicked Wench on the left, the latter complete with bellowing Audio-Animatronics buccaneers and gunfire aplenty. After avoiding a barrage of flying cannonballs that land too close to our boat for comfort, we sail next into a seaport town where a few rum-fuddled looters ransack and burn the community, chase after and auction off valuable treasure, and sing and laugh to the iconic chantey, “Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me.” And finally, with the sight of pirates trapped in jail, jealously watching their companions enjoy the vast wealth of treasure, we sail quickly away before the pirates can break out.
When our pirate adventure comes to an end, we make a quick detour through the Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar, where glittering jewels, treasure chests, gold doubloons and treasure maps hint at the loot within. Toy rifles, fool’s gold, plastic cutlasses, hook-for-hand replacements, miniature telescopes, pirate hats, and eye patches are all for sale. One corner of the Bazaar is home to Laffitte’s Portrait Deck, where we can pose for a practical portrait…in full pirate array, no less!
Nearby is the Caribbean Arcade, home to one-of-a-kind, pirate-themed arcade games in beautiful wooden cabinets with rope edges. Such “retro” games include “Freebooter Shooter”, a shoot-em-up game with drunken pirate-targets, and “Whack-a-Croc,” inspired by the pesky crocodile that follows Captain Hook. Fortune Red, a mechanical pirate soothsayer with a disgruntled grin and finger pointed at the X on an unfurled treasure map, offers to tell our fortune at the drop of a coin, no doubloons necessary. Next door to that, The Pirate’s League is the place to go for all wannabe pirates and mermaids to learn the tricks of the trade, and to don the robes and make-up of a seafarer. Basically, this is a piratical equivalent to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique over in Fantasyland.
Located just across the way from the entrance of Castillo del Morro is El Pirata y El Perico (“The Pirate and the Parrot”), a quick service Spanish-inspired restaurant themed to an old tavern. The bill of fare is Mexican and Spanish-influenced entrees, including chicken, beef, tapas, vegetarian burritos, taco salad, empanadas and nachos.
A secret path nearby the restaurant leads into a hidden courtyard of Caribbean Plaza, where we find two more shops. First is The Golden Galleon, specializing in all sorts of nautical wares: items in gold and brass, spyglasses, ship’s wheels, mirrors, and even ships in bottles and scrimshaw! Then there is La Princesa de Cristal, which is, essentially, an Adventureland take on Crystal Arts on Main Street – both are Arribas Brothers locations, and both specialize in unique glassware and jewelry, and feature live glassblowing. However, La Princesa has its own unique merchandise option: crystal ships!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
With that, Adventureland is complete! What did you guys think? Please feel free to leave any thoughts or constructive criticism you have.
Now, the next two posts will be coming one after the other -- on the 24th and the 25th -- and those two posts will be covering the two sub-areas of "the wildest land in the wilderness", Frontierland! See y'all then!
