Time period of Main Street

[mharrington]

Do we know the exact time period of WDW's Main Street? We all know that it's the Midwestern turn of the century at Disneyland, but what of WDW? The only thing I really know for certain is that it is supposedly themed to be along the Eastern Seaboard.

 

[WDWBusDriver]

Main Street U.S.A at WDW is also supposed to be modeled after a turn of the (20th) century midwestern town. Many say it's loosely based off of Marceline, MO.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

From what I understand it's early 20th century. Probably 1900-1920's. Theme is New England (eastern seaboard) along with some MO influences.

 

[TwilightZone]

Considering Main Street has a "poo river", it takes place around the time there were no toilets.

 

[WDWBusDriver]

Considering Main Street has a "poo river", it takes place around the time there were no toilets.

Please note, the "poo river" is not located on Main Street U.S.A. It is located in Liberty Square.

Liberty square has a time period over 150 years before the time period of Main Street U.S.A.

 

[peter11435]

Considering Main Street has a "poo river", it takes place around the time there were no toilets.

Main Street does not.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Main Street does not.

At least not one that is supposed to be there. All the main streets look basically alike from the outside even in Paris. So I would have to go with the early 1900's. Or what Walt would have modeled it on.

 

[lazyboy97o]

“Turn of the century” really is the best description. It’s not like later projects with a backstory that set a rather specific time and place. The land is telling a story of change and progress and therefore a variety of seemingly contrasting imagery is used to convey that message.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

From what I understand it's early 20th century. Probably 1900-1920's. Theme is New England (eastern seaboard) along with some MO influences.

I'd say it is meant to generally convey the era between the Columbia Exposition (1893) and the outbreak of World War I in 1914; which coincides with the popularity of ragtime music, the rise of the automobile, as well as Roy's and Walt's respective childhoods. But probably more specifically 1910-1914 as indicated by Pooh.sHoneyHuntTDL.

Unlike the architectural styles at DL, which are a little more unified in style and supposedly based off of old Old Town Fort Collins (Colorado), WDW Main Street features a variety of styles from what I've read. I'm not aware of Marceline having really provided a lot of architectural influence for either. Even in pictures from it's heyday, you really don't see buildings like those on MS in Marceline. It was merely the inspiration for the Main Street USA concept. It's important to remember that when DL was built in 1955, grandparents of that era were Walt's age or older so there was a segment of guests that really did have fond memories of that era. Similarly, grandparents of that era. especially out west, would've grown up hearing stores from parents or grandparents who would've even found Frontierland somewhat real and familiar.

 

[TwilightZone]

Main Street does not.

Please note, the "poo river" is not located on Main Street U.S.A. It is located in Liberty Square.

Liberty square has a time period over 150 years before the time period of Main Street U.S.A.

d'oh!

 

[marni1971]

The Emporium in Orlando was “established in 1871”

 

[Minthorne]

You are all wrong. It is clearly 1950's -60's architecture from the Themepark Period.

 

[larryz]

Main Street does not.

It does when the horse-drawn vehicles go by...

 

[mharrington]

On a slightly unrelated yet still somewhat related matter (if that's even possible), I found some images of the vehicles with license plates on them that apparently say FLA 1915, like this one:

Is that supposed to be a real license plate? And is 1915 allegedly the year this Main Street is set in? Is it possible that this Main Street is Florida at the turn of the century?

 

[lazyboy97o]

On a slightly unrelated yet still somewhat related matter (if that's even possible), I found some images of the vehicles with license plates on them that apparently say FLA 1915, like this one:

Is that supposed to be a real license plate? And is 1915 allegedly the year this Main Street is set in? Is it possible that this Main Street is Florida at the turn of the century?

You’re not going to be able to determine one place or year. You will find other references that would point elsewhere.

 

[ChrisFL]

At least not one that is supposed to be there. All the main streets look basically alike from the outside even in Paris. So I would have to go with the early 1900's. Or what Walt would have modeled it on.

Note about this is that Paris WAS supposed to get a 1920's-1930's art deco themed land, designed by a familiar face for some people here at WDWMagic...Eddie Sotto. Sadly, it was going forward and then Eisner changed his mind and Eddie went on to design the land that Paris has now which is similar to the other U.S. parks.

 

[mharrington]

Note about this is that Paris WAS supposed to get a 1920's-1930's art deco themed land, designed by a familiar face for some people here at WDWMagic...Eddie Sotto. Sadly, it was going forward and then Eisner changed his mind and Eddie went on to design the land that Paris has now which is similar to the other U.S. parks.

The reason Eisner changed his mind was because he thought the 1920s design glorified gangster life (it's the Roaring '20s after all, the time of the Prohibition era), something that seemed unfit for something as wholesome as this park.

 

[TwilightZone]

The reason Eisner changed his mind was because he thought the 1920s design glorified gangster life (it's the Roaring '20s after all, the time of the Prohibition era), something that seemed unfit for something as wholesome as this park.

I'm kinda glad Eisner decided that. Sure it would have been cool, but something's nice about regular old main street.

Plus could you imagine what that version of main street would become, guest wise, after great gatsby (the movie) popularized "gatsby parties"?

 

[ChrisFL]

I'm kinda glad Eisner decided that. Sure it would have been cool, but something's nice about regular old main street.

Plus could you imagine what that version of main street would become, guest wise, after great gatsby (the movie) popularized "gatsby parties"?

Like the ones they have at The Edison in Disney Springs now?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The Emporium in Orlando was “established in 1871”

And the 2001 expansion took place in 1901. "a new building for a new century" or something like that.