Surprise! I'm doing another post this week!
Why, you ask? Well, to be honest, I'm also surprised I'm doing this. But, recently, I was doing some thinking about one of the lands of this Mirror-A Magic Kingdom -- Fantasyland -- and about character limits. When I did my original MWDW, Fantasyland took two posts to describe. I think the character limit broke somewhere in the middle of the Enchanted Forest section. Why would that concern me? Well, for MWDW-A, Fantasyland has an additional section, so if I stick with what I have planned -- two posts to describe Fantasyland -- I think I will go over the character limit and have to make another post; and I want to make sure that my last major post in this thread comes on October 1, the day Walt Disney World turns 50.
Therefore, I have decided to split Fantasyland up into three sections, and move Central Plaza up early. Plus, it seems only fitting, given that, as I said earlier, Central Plaza is an extension of Main Street, U.S.A. So, without further ado, let us continue our tour!
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Central Plaza
Like Disneyland before it, Main Street, U.S.A. leads into the heart of the park: Central Plaza, also known as “The Hub”. Shooting out from here like the cardinal points of a compass are paths leading to the other six magical realms of the Magic Kingdom: Adventureland, Frontierland, Hollywoodland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland*, all of which are easy to find, easy to enter, and each a complete and different thematic destination. The popular tunes from the expansive Disney songbook provide an orchestral backdrop for the color and excitement of the Plaza.
* Of course, Frontierland and Hollywoodland aren’t accessible via Central Plaza. You have to travel through either Adventureland or Liberty Square to reach Frontierland, and then travel through Frontierland to reach Hollywoodland.
Central Plaza itself is an island, surrounded on all ends by a calm river. The Plaza is kept separate from Adventureland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland by a unique bridge, each designed and themed to their land of origin. For example, the bridge from Liberty Square is built of wood and stone, and is adorned with small candle-lit streetlamps (lit every night by authentic lamplighters), while the Fantasyland bridge -- the one leading into the northeastern side of Fantasyland -- is built entirely from medieval stone and mortar, with snarling gargoyles keeping watch. In 2015, the southern end of the Plaza was expanded to include lush fountains, colorful gardens, spacious lawns and shaped topiaries, all of which provide a quaint atmosphere. And with no shortage in picnic tables, benches or shaded trees (which are equipped with “twinkle lights” that provide a dream-like effect at night), the Central Plaza is an ideal place to relax and take in the scenery.
Central Plaza is an off-shoot to turn-of-the-century Main Street, U.S.A. The Main Street Vehicles make stops here, right nearby Cinderella Castle. Likewise, several musical groups associated with Main Street often perform in Central Plaza, including the Magic Kingdom Philharmonic, the Main Street Trolley Show and the Dapper Dans, who often travel past on their bicycle built for four. And on special occasions, the Castle Forecourt Stage is set up in front of Cinderella Castle. Normally, this stage only comes around for Halloween and Christmas, to perform shows during the respective holiday parties: the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular and Celebrate the Season, the latter of which even features live musical accompaniment!
The Plaza Popcorn Wagon is one of several colorful snack wagons stationed throughout the Magic Kingdom. Like the Tokyo Disney Resort in Chiba, Japan, each popcorn wagon is unique for its special flavoring. Such flavors include Butter (Main Street), Ghost Pepper, Lemon Pepper and Curry (Adventureland), Cheddar Bacon, Garlic Parmesan and Barbecue (Frontierland), Oscar Gold Caramel (Hollywoodland), White Cheddar and Red, White and Blue (Liberty Square), Honey and Cinnamon (Fantasyland), and Rocketship Ranch and Venus Vegan (Tomorrowland). And that’s not to discount the many churro, turkey leg, ice cream, and cotton candy carts also found throughout the Magic Kingdom.
Standing proudly in the dead-center of Central Plaza, Partners is a storied tribute to Walt and his most treasured creation, Mickey Mouse. Walt and Mickey, hand-in-hand, look down Main Street, U.S.A., a timeless capture of a “man and his mouse”. A plaque at the base of the sculpture reads “We believe in our idea: a family park where parents and children could have fun — together.” - Walt Disney.
Another quadrant of the Plaza plays host to the famous Plaza Rose Garden, a peaceful and tranquil path, where hundreds upon thousands are in bloom, chief among them roses. In fact, among these roses is one named for First Lady Barbara Bush! Not only that, there are shady trees, topiaries shaped like Mickey and Minnie, and an elaborate lawn, the perfect place for couples to exchange nuptials come nightfall. The Plaza Rose Garden is also a good place to meet up with your Disney friends. Throughout the day, various Disney friends make meet ‘n’ greet appearances here and throughout the Plaza. You never know who you’re gonna meet here!
The lavish Crystal Palace overlooks the western half of Central Plaza, nestled quietly between Casey’s and the entrance to Adventureland. Inspired by Victorian greenhouses of the late 1800s, the Crystal Palace brims with light, topiaries and tropical palms, not forgetting a collection of crystal-chandeliers and whirring ceiling fans. The Crystal Palace offers elegant buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all of which offer a chance to dine alongside the gang from the 100 Acre Wood: Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore.
And in-between the Crystal Palace and Casey’s, held within a small, out-of-the-way garden is a pavilion serving as the home of two important park amenities: the Baby Care Center and First Aid Station.
On the other side of Central Plaza, just in-between the Central Plaza entrance to the Discovery Arcade and the entrance to Tomorrowland, is Walt’s - An American Restaurant. Walt’s is one of the most acclaimed restaurants to come out of Disneyland Paris. This is a luxurious restaurant featuring upscale American classics in an upscale setting inspired by the original Disneyland. It’s pretty much Club 33 in everything but exclusiveness. As such, the Imagineers decided to bring the restaurant state-side, replacing the Plaza Pavilion in 1993, a year after Disneyland Paris first opened its gates. It turned out to be a good idea in the end, because it helped to give Main Street a bit of feng-shui, with both this and Crystal Palace flanking the street.
Drenched in dazzling décor, this two-story Victorian manor offers the finest in upscale American fare. Upon entering Walt’s, you find yourself in an extravagant lobby, decorated with a grand piano, a bust of Walt, and relics from the pre-animation days, like a Zoetrope. The staircase leading up to the second floor even has pictures of some of Walt’s biggest achievements! As you can see, the lobby alone is gorgeous and has a ton of cool details. Even if you aren’t able to score reservations, it’s worthwhile to pop inside to check out the various pieces of Disney history on display. You probably won’t be able to go upstairs without dining at Walt’s. But once you get upstairs, it's a whole ‘nother ball game. Within the fanciful estate, silk draperies, ornate floral carpets, crystal chandeliers, silk woven draperies, beveled mirrors, polished brass fixtures and tufted velvet furnishings compose a lavish sight for the senses, all within nine unique dining rooms -- three on the first floor, six on the second floor. Live musicians often accompany a luxuriant dinner by candlelight, often intertwined with a hint of romance.
The nine rooms of Walt’s are, as follows:
- Walt Disney’s Room (First Floor): Reflecting on Walt Disney’s early days, the décor is themed around his childhood in Marceline, Missouri -- the town that served as the biggest inspiration for Main Street.
- Lillian Disney’s Room (First Floor): Marked by a fireplace and fine china, this room highlights Walt’s wife. Photographs of the couple line the walls.
- Main Street Room (First Floor): Meant to further showcase the connection between Marceline and Main Street, this room features Herb Ryman’s designs for Main Street framed on the walls, and a model of the Main Street train station.
- Fantasyland Room (Second Floor): Gothic-inspired, this room features artwork themed around Disney’s fairy tales and the stories represented in Fantasyland (i;e sculptures of famous Disney princesses and heroes, concept art for Fantasyland characters, art inspired by Fantasyland rides), as well as a gilded portrait of Dorothea Redmond’s concept art for Cinderella Castle.
- Adventureland Room (Second Floor): Marked by artifacts from Africa and Asia, Marc Davis’ artwork for Pirates and Jungle Cruise, and even replicas of the José, Fritz, Pierre and Michael animatronics!
- Tomorrowland Room (Second Floor): The walls here are decorated with artwork from Tomorrowland throughout the years, as well as models of Space Mountain, Astro Orbiter, and even a golden Nautilus atop the fireplace!
- Seven Seas Lagoon Room (Second Floor): A small room featuring artwork inspired by the three hotels along the Seven Seas Lagoon: the Contemporary, the Polynesian Village and the Grand Floridian. There’s even photos of the hotels that inspired them!
- Liberty Square Room (Second Floor): Adjacent to Frontierland, this small room features original concept art for the Haunted Mansion, Liberty Square, and its predecessor, Disneyland’s Liberty Street. A miniature statue of Sam Eagle (he of America Sings, not of The Muppets) is prominently displayed.
- Frontierland Room (Second Floor): Basically one giant tribute to Marc Davis, this upscale Western library-inspired room features sketches from the Country Bear Jamboree and Thunder Mesa. The animatronic Hoot Gibson that used to be part of The Walt Disney Story was moved here.
Right next door to Walt’s, located at Number 33 Main Street, U.S.A., is one of the Disney Parks’ “best-kept secrets”. A simple green door with “33” marked in gold next to it has long since been a place of wonder and mystery for Disney park fans around the world, for beyond that door lies… Club 33.
Big thanks to @spacemt354 for this amazing concept art!
In the late 2010’s, it was decided to bring Club 33 to other Disney parks around the world. To that point, Walt Disney World’s Club 33 would, fittingly enough, be in the Magic Kingdom. And since the Magic Kingdom doesn’t have a New Orleans Square to it -- and since Port Disney was still on the drawing board at that time -- the Imagineers decided to put the Club right next door to Walt’s namesake restaurant. The private, two-story club is exclusive to members only, and has a waiting list that runs well past a decade in length. Members pay a mere $25,000 just to sign up -- not to mention yearly payments anywhere from $10k to $15k -- entitling themselves entrance to the four parks of Walt Disney World (and not to mention an annual dose of 50 Park Hopper tickets to give to their loved ones), exclusive entertainment amenities, access to a private bar and dozens of other unique privileges. In addition, there are large windows in the lounge area of Club 33, providing excellent views of Central Plaza and Cinderella Castle -- a view only amplified by the nightly fireworks (as seen in the picture above).
By day, we line up at the curb of Central Plaza to see and hear the astonishing sights and sounds of the Remember the Magic Parade, a traditional cavalcade of favorite Disney friends, colorful floats and high-stepping dancers. Created in 1996 for Walt Disney World’s 25th anniversary, Remember the Magic is a celebration of all magic and imagination, ever evolving and changing through the years. The unbridled enchantment and vivid pageantry of fantasy winds its way through the park in a thrilling spectacular. The beloved parade features glorious, state-of-the-art floats, colorfully costumed performers on stilts, audience participation… and even a steampunk, mechanical, fire-breathing dragon! The current version of the parade runs from January through August, only unavailable for the 4th of July, and for the Halloween and Christmas seasons, when America on Parade, Mickey’s Boo to You Halloween Parade and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade respectively take to the streets.
As night falls, we line up at the curb once more for the illumination, mystery and illusion of SpectroMagic. Since the original Main Street Electrical Parade debuted in 1972, the world-famous concept of an “electric light parade” has since entertained audiences the world over. In fact, this vivid spin-off of the Main Street Electrical Parade has been delighting guests now for 30 years, having debuted in 1991 for Walt Disney World’s 20th anniversary. In this all-electric pageant hosted by Jiminy Cricket himself, over a half a million twinkling lights enthrall the senses in a “glimmering, shimmering, carouseling” world of vivid dreams, familiar characters and spectacular music.
But that’s not all -- two very special shows serve to end a day at the Magic Kingdom. First, in Once Upon a Time, Mrs. Potts, the matronly teapot from Beauty and the Beast, shares bedtime stories with Chip, taking them on a magical trip through the most adventurous scenes from favorite Disney films: Cinderella, Tangled, Peter Pan, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Alice in Wonderland and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, all naturally leading up to a climax inspired by the story that Mrs. Potts and Chip know best ... because they lived it. The show uses projection-mapping technology to cover every nook and cranny of Cinderella Castle in vibrant images that appear almost three-dimensional. But of course, that’s just the precursor to something truly amazing…
Utilizing the finest in pyrotechnic and digital technology, Disney Enchantment, created especially for the 50th Anniversary Celebration, captivates spectators of all ages in a street-to-sky spectacular beyond imagination. One minute, we’re standing on Main Street, U.S.A., the next, we’re transported into the timeless tales of Disney, featured through state-of-the-art projections -- not just on Cinderella Castle, but stretching all the way down Main Street -- and enhanced by choreographed spotlights, brilliant lasers and plenty of awe-inspiring fireworks. Paired with an emotional score, the show drives home the message that anyone can grab hold of their dreams and make them come true. Disney Enchantment celebrates 50 years of the magic of Walt Disney World in an immersive spectacular, harmoniously uniting the past, present and future of the Walt Disney Company.
Here in Central Plaza, the stage is set before Cinderella Castle, a focus for the wonder that is the Magic Kingdom…
Cinderella Castle is a fairytale world resplendent with pomp, circumstance and pixie dust. It is a fanciful icon with its roots engraved in pure fantasy, an everlasting symbol of peace, friendship and the power of imagination. The architectural style is a composite of French and Bavarian influence from the Middle Ages. The 189-foot tall spires appear to be even higher through the visual technique of forced perspective, with larger stones placed near the base, and progressively smaller ones toward the top. Hues of white, blue, silver and gold illuminate and reflect in the sunlight, a tasteful complement to the spiraling-turrets and vertical orientation. A magnificent stained-glass window reflects upon the surrounding landscape. The lush greenery and peaceful waterways of the Central Plaza help to make Cinderella Castle even more picturesque.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and welcome to the Magic Kingdom! All of us here are glad to have you as our guests on this special day. Whether this is your first visit or your one-hundredth, we know that there are many memories to be shared with friends and family, just waiting to be discovered. As Roy Disney said on Opening Day, ‘May Walt Disney World bring joy and inspiration and new knowledge to all who come to this happy place … a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn -- together.’ From all of us here at Walt Disney World, we hope you enjoy your day here in the Magic Kingdom! And now, for your safety and the safety of others, we ask that you please walk slowly and carefully to your first destination. Have a great day!”
At precisely 8:55 a.m., our Disney friends appear in the castle’s forecourt for a special ceremony. With the aid of Mickey Mouse, the Mayor of Main Street (or otherwise, the Fire Chief, or even one of the Dapper Dans), the Trolley Show dancers, and even a specially-chosen guest family, we are invited to help make a little magic to officially open the Magic Kingdom for the day, with the magic being made precisely at 9:00, the time the park officially opens! One thing is clear: Our time at the Magic Kingdom has just begun, and there are hundreds upon hundreds of great adventures and stories just waiting for us to discover!
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And with that, we have Central Plaza! What do you think, everyone? Not many changes from the original version, apart from the addition of the newly-announced nighttime show, and the addition of the opening ceremony. Then again, Central Plaza doesn't need that many changes. It's perfectly beautiful, no matter what. So, now that Central Plaza is out of the way, expect a swift return to the usual once-a-week format here on this thread. Join me next Friday -- July 2 -- as we take a trek through a most exciting area of the Magic Kingdom.
Oh, and regarding the opening ceremony, if the description is any indication, my idea is basically to utilize the original
train station ceremony that played from the mid-2000s to 2017, when the new castle ceremony took over -- the reason why, I have heard, is that it was getting too cumbersome to get that many people in to view the train station show; and they feared it would be a potential safety hazard -- but to set it around the castle. I may do a supplementary post at some point detailing the logistics. I'm not sure yet.