Main Street USA
Before I go and talk about everything coming to this land, let’s just take a moment to pay our respects to those attractions, restaurants, and shops who will not be joining us on this adventure...
- Crystal Arts (Shop)
- Crystal Palace (Table Service Restaurant)
- Disney Clothiers (Shop)
- Main Street Athletic Club (Shop)
- Main Street Cinema (Shop)
- Main Street Gallery (Shop)
- Main Street Trolley Show (Street Performance)
- Main Street Vehicles (Transportation)
- Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire (Stage Performance)
- Move it! Dance it! Shake it! Play it! Street Party (Daytime Parade)
- Once Upon a Time Castle Projection Show (Projection Show)
- Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (Snack Location)
- Starbucks (Counter Service Restaurant)
- The Chapeau (Shop)
- The Plaza Restaurant (Table Service Restaurant)
- Tony’s Town Square Restaurant (Table Service Restaurant)
- Town Square Theater (Meet and Greet Area)
- Uptown Jewelers (Shop)
What if I was given the job of CEO of the Walt Disney Company? What would I do with the parks? Would I throw an abundance of IPs into Epcot? Would I remove classic attractions in Hollywood Studios to make more room for a Mickey Mouse ride? Well, I guess you’re going to have to see for yourself what I would do. This is Walt Disney World: A New Era part 1: Main Street U.S.A
The ferry slows to a crawl as the docking crew ties the ropes and lowers the exit ramp allowing the masses to flood the red brick pathway towards the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. You join the crowd, bumping and pushing your way down the pathway where you can finally see the beloved Main Street Train Station up and running once again. Your bags have already been checked at the TTC, so with that, you make your way right through the entrance, scanning your magic band along the way.
You enter through the left hand tunnel, entering directly in front of the unchanged
City Hall. You survey your surroundings, spotting the
Main Street Fire Station with a new banner flying over the door that reads “
Kingdom Keepers” having replaced the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom that was there last time you visited.. Sitting behind the Fire Station, you notice a brand new polished sign that reads “
Harmony Barber Shop” with the
Dapper Dans outside in the middle of a performance. Meanwhile, closer to the
Train Station, the giant
Flagpole remains standing, housing the
Flag Retreat later on in the day. However, in front of the flag, you see something that you remember, but not in this place: The
Partners Statue. You wonder why the statue made its way up to the hub, prompting you to question what else has changed.
However, it isn’t until you spot a portly man wearing a sash that reads
Mayor that you notice one of the impressive changes that came to Main Street U.S.A. As you speak to the Mayor, one of the
Citizens of Main Street, He lets you know about a brand new exhibition about their town founder opened up at the old Town Square Theater. He recommends that you check it out, so, taking his word, you make the short walk across the hub to the old theater where you see a massive sign with bright yellow letters atop a crimson background that reads “
Main Street Theater Presents: The Walt Disney Story.”
You climb the marble steps, entering into the theater which held the Mickey Mouse and Tinkerbell meet and greets last you visited. The old queue for the meet and greets was now a fully fledged museum dedicated to artifacts relating to Walt Disney and his life. Many of the objects include those that were once featured at the One Man’s Dream attraction in Hollywood Studios. Featured artifacts include Walt Disney’s desk, an original Abraham Lincoln animatronic, and many models, from models of the worldwide parks to a model of Walt’s boyhood home.
As you trek through the museum, you eventually reach the most recent artifacts, from the latest D23 expo: a model of the new and improved Magic Kingdom. As you admire the model, a cast member comes on the loudspeaker and welcomes everyone to the Main Street Theater and the Walt Disney Story. With that, you enter the theater and take your seat, the cast member telling you to move all the way across your row to make room for others. As you take your seat, you look forward, facing a massive cinema screen.
An old timey countdown appears on the screen as early 1900’s film music begins to play. The screen flickers, bringing forward a large title screen reading, The Walt Disney Story. The title fades away into the hustle and bustle of the industrial city of Chicago in 1901 where Walter Elias Disney was born. However, Chicago is not the focal point for long as the scenes quickly transition over to the well-known boyhood home of Walt Disney: Marceline, Missouri.
Throughout the film, you notice one thing; they didn’t leave anything out. From Walt’s incredibly strict father, to his participation in World War I, all the way to his many failures. However, what surprises you, is that the film keeps in even the negative parts of Walt Disney’s story. Scenes include the Writer’s Strike and even the death of Walt’s mother. These parts were left out of the original attraction, and, while the positivity of the ride is heavily the theme, the negative and sad parts are present, making it more of a real life documentary than just an honor.
As the film wraps up, you arise from your seat, only to exit into what was once Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. However, what was originally a mediocre italian restaurant now seems to be a mix of a small gift shop and a meet and greet.
While meandering through the collection of Walt Disney and Mickey & Friends related souvenirs, you decide to enter a large corridor with a sign that read “
The Walt Disney Story Presents: Mickey and Friends.”
As you wind down the corridor, you enter into a large room with multiple photo spots. In the photo spots, you notice a multitude of your favorite characters. Of course, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, and Dale are all present, however, you’re shocked to notice some of the new characters present.
Standing in their own meet and greet areas are Clarabelle Cow, Pete the Cat, Horace Horsecollar, and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. You decide that because there isn’t a long line to make your way and get your pictures with the characters.
You exit the meet and greet area out of a side door near the Confectionery. You decide to make your way out of Town Square and down Main Street itself, beginning by looking on the left hand side. There, you notice that, while the
Emporium remained, all of the window displays had been changed. As opposed to Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and Aladdin, there have been new ones installed.
The replacements focused more on less princess-y movies. One of the displays was of The Lion King, focusing on the end scene with Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Sarabi, and Zazu sitting on Pride Rock, being observed from below by multiple different animals and by the spirit of Mufasa.
The Second display featured the 2013 hit film Frozen. It focuses on the panaway scene of the frozen palace courtyard with Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven all skating on it. Snow is painted on the window and lights are flashing behind making it appear as if it is snowing.
The third display included a scene from the film Winnie the Pooh. It features an up close still of Pooh hanging onto a balloon in an attempt to get “Hunny” from a beehive. In the background sit Pooh’s 100 Acre Wood Friends such as Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, and Owl.
The fourth display includes the characters from Tangled, including Rapunzel swinging down from her tower using her hair with Pascal on her head. Down at the base of the tower, Flynn and Maximus await her.
The fifth display features Quasimodo ringing the Bells of Notre Dame in the church tower. Next to him is Esmeralda, Phoebus, the Gargoyles, and Djalia. Frollo looks on from a secret doorway behind the bell.
The final display features the most famous love scene in Disney and a tribute to the now defunct restaurant Tony’s Town Square Restaurant: Lady and the Tramp. The scene is, of course, Lady and Tramp sharing a spaghetti noodle.
Across the street, you notice the
Main Street Confectionery, which seems to have been left mostly alone. For that reason, you decide to continue making your way up Main Street. As you continue up Main Street, you notice more and more new shops. Next to the Confectionery on the right hand side, sits the
Disney Gallery of the Arts. You enter the new shop only to notice it is reminiscent of the Art of Disney over at Epcot. Models, paintings, drawings, crystal arts, among other things are sold here.
On the left hand side, next to the Emporium, you notice that there is a new shop with a sign that reads
Lillian’s Boutique. You enter this shop to notice that it a store selling all kinds of clothing and apparel items dedicated specifically towards the Disney Parks for men, women, and children.
Walking through the doorway into the next shop, they call the
Main Street Pin Shop. This shop, of course, is entirely dedicated to the collectible Disney pins, boasting the largest collection in the parks aside from the trading post at Disney Springs. Across the street, you see a new sign, looking like an old school movie house, with a big set of letters that reads
Main Street Cinema. You cross the street and enter, only to realize it is a legitimate cinema, with a large screen that continuously plays old Disney cartoons mixed with newer Mickey Mouse shorts and the occasional full-length Walt Disney Pictures feature.
As you cross the street again, you notice two short streets cutting between the buildings. You decide to take the right street first which reads “Theater Alleyway.” In here, you notice that the
Main Street Show Theater has been completed and is boasting a stage show retelling of
Mary Poppins. You decide there isn’t time to fit in a show right now, so instead, you return to Main Street.
You decide to come back to the other street later (because it’s pretty big and I want to do it as its own topic). And instead, continue down the street. On the right hand side after returning, is the
Main Street Bakery. You enter and the woman at the counter explains to you that they continue to serve Starbucks coffee, but have returned to making their own pastries because of a new deal struck by the new CEO.
Across the street, next to the other alleyway, is a new shop called
The Hatbox, and specializes in selling all types of headwear, from hats to bows to Mickey Ears. Next to it, is a new arcade, called the Main Street Arcade, full of all kinds of games, including old arcade games from the 1950s, and newer-age games from the 1980s to the 2000s.
Across the street from the arcade, you notice a new shop called
Yesterland Gifts. It peaks your interest and you scoot across the photopass photographers to enter. Inside is a set of merchandise from old and defunct attractions, including ones closed earlier in Disney’s lifetime, such as Horizons to a newer removals, such as The Country Bear Jamboree.
You leave Yesterland through the right hand side, entering through the new replacement for Plaza Ice Cream Parlor,
The Main Street Soda Shoppe. Themed like a 1950s drugstore soda fountain, this location still serves many ice cream sundaes, cones, and sandwiches, but now also specializes in Malt Milkshakes and mix-flavored sodas, such as Cherry and Vanilla Coke.
Across the street and next to the arcade, you notice
Casey’s Corner. While the theme has ultimately remained unchanged, the building expanded, moving closer towards where Crystal Palace once was. Also, above the outdoor seating, a tent colored with red and white above them.
As you enter the Castle Plaza, you notice the
Main Street Philharmonic playing in the gardens erected in the 2014 refurb. As you look around, it is almost as if everything was different. Looking towards the castle, it is impossible to miss the newest addition to Main Street:
The Walt Disney Carousel. The exact same carousel that was once called the Prince Charming Regal Carousel, has been moved around the castle and reconstructed in front on the Main Street Side. In front of it remains the photospot The
Sword in the Stone where children tried their luck at pulling out the Sword. For the one child per day that successfully pulled out the sword (as chosen by Merlin in a live show) got a sash and crown that they could wear so that the entire park knew they were royalty.
Over where the Plaza Restaurant used to be, you see a brand new restaurant with a large sign that reads “
Walt’s”. You approach the restaurant and see a large painted mural in the foyer, the painting includes all of the animated characters that Walt had created in his lifetime all standing with Walt. The hostess explained that there are 4 different rooms that guests can eat in. The First is Walt’s barn, a room themed to Walt’s boyhood home barn in Marceline, MO. Animatronics of cows and horses as well as farming tools, and things related to Walt’s childhood.
The second room in Walt’s is Walt’s studio, themed to the studios at Walt Disney Pictures Studio in Burbank, CA. Tables are themed to different stations in an animation studio, from drawing to cell inking, to storyboard. Each table also has a different project, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs all the way to the Jungle Book. During the course of the dinner, keep an eye on the walls as the sketches and paintings may come to life and put on a small show for you.
The third room is a train car, themed to the car that Walt came up with the idea for Mickey Mouse in. The windows in this room are animated, similarly to those in the Hogwarts Express over at Universal, making it appear as if the train is moving along throughout your meal. If you listen carefully, you may hear audio of Walt talking to his wife about his new character.
The fourth and final room is themed to the hub over at Disneyland. A Large replica of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle sits as the doorway to the kitchen while tables are seated as if you are eating directly in front of the castle in the hub. The sounds and music of Disneyland during Walt’s day are pumped in all around you, and if you pay attention, you may even hear Walt dedicate the park.
You step away and make your way to where Crystal Palace once was. Here, the building has changed to look like an arboreum or greenhouse sitting right on Main Street. You enter to see that it is now called the
Plaza Gardens Restaurant, and is a table service restaurant themed to a greenhouse, filled with tropical plants. It is no longer a character buffet either, now focusing on healthy meals, specifically for those with eating challenges, with the largest vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free menu on property. For guests with special eating challenges who are looking for somewhere with good and cheap options for them, the Plaza Gardens Restaurant is for them.
As you begin to make your way towards Adventureland, you seem to recall an alleyway that you missed, and begin to backtrack. You reach the alleyway which is somehow darker and gloomier than any other part of Main Street. A large victorian gate that was once to block off the alleyway has been pushed open, and at the end, you see it. Staring you down from the top of a hill.
And that’s where we’re going to wrap this edition up. I’ll update with the second part of Main Street soon, but I hope you enjoyed this and feel free to give your opinions on what you want to see throughout the park, any changes you’d make to Main Street, or what you think this secret alleyway is. Thanks and see you real soon!
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Here is a list of Everything we have covered in Main Street USA thus far. Unfortunately, I do not have the skills to make a map of it yet, so I will attempt eventually, but for now, here it is.
Town Square
- City Hall- Unchanged (Guest Relations)
- Dapper Dans- Unchanged (Street Performance)
- Flag Retreat- Unchanged (Street Performance)
- Harmony Barber Shop- Unchanged (Barber Shop)
- Kingdom Keepers- New (Interactive Game)
- Partner’s- New (Statue)
- The Walt Disney Story- New (Film)
- Walt Disney Presents: Mickey and Friends- New (Meet and Greet)
- Walt Disney World Railroad- Updated (Steam Train)
- Walt’s Gallery- New (Shop)
Main Street
- Citizens of Main Street- Updated (Street Performance)
- Main Street Arcade- New (Arcade)
- Main Street Cinema- New (Cinema)
- Main Street Philharmonic- New (Street Performance)
- Mary Poppins at the Main Street Show Theater- New (Stage Performance)
- Casey’s Corner- Unchanged (Snack Location)
- Main Street Soda Shoppe- Updated (Snack Location)
- Main Street Bakery- New (Counter Service Restaurant)
- Disney’s Gallery of the Arts- New (Shop)
- Emporium- Updated (Shop)
- Hatbox- New (Shop)
- Lillian’s Boutique- New (Shop)
- Main Street Confectionary- New (Shop)
- Main Street Pin Shop- New (Shop)
- Yesterland Gifts- New (Shop)
Castle Plaza
- Sword in the Stone- New (Photo spot)
- Walt Disney Carousel- New (Carousel)
- Plaza Gardens Restaurant- New (Table Service Restaurant)
- Walt’s- New (Table Service Restaurant)