Above the tunnel entrance is the only ride you'll see before you enter the park - a steam locomotive. This symbol of America's past is a clue, a foreshadowing of the scene to come. The Train Station also acts as a curtain, hiding the activity and buildings within the park until the right moment of discovery. Every visitor enters the Magic Kingdom through the tunnel. It's the gatekeeper, a transition from the outside world to the magic land beyond. As you pass through the tunnel you go from a world of reality into a world of dreams. Like in a theater, the lights dim just before the movie flashes onto the screen. The crowd around you is excited. Young children run past you in anticipation. At the other end of the tunnel you enter back into the daylight and find yourself in Act One, Scene One of Disney's Magic Kingdom. As the story begins, you're on Main Street, USA, at the intersection of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Upbeat and familiar music plays in the background. To your left are the Welcome Center, City Hall, restrooms, and a Fire Station. Since this is a "movie" what else would you expect to smell and see popcorn. Sure enough you'll find a popcorn on Main Street.
Disneyland Popcorn Stand near front gate
Fun Fact: The second floor of the Disneyland Fire Station was Walt Disney's private apartment. He supervised the building and operation of Disneyland from there until his death in 1966. Traditionally a light in the apartment's window burns continuously as a memorial to Walt. IN the Magic Kingdom the Fire Station is designated No. 71, the year the Magic Kingdom was opened.
Disneyland Fire Station
The activity in Town Square is brisk and busy, but not tense. A crowd gathers by the Welcome Center, next to the City Hall, for a tour. You might notice that the tour guides wear polo outfits. Since polo was one of Walt's favorite pastimes, Walt's wife, Lillian, designed these outfits for the guides. They are one of the few park uniforms that have remained essentially unchanged though the years. As you might suspect, the Town Hall is where you can get information and make reservations for tours, restaurants, and shows. If today is your birthday, stop in and tell them. They'll give you a birthday button and cast members all around the park will welcome you with "Happy Birthday" all day long. Since there are benches and restrooms next to Town Hall, it has become a popular meeting place for friends and families. (May you should designate this as a place to meet if you get lost.)
Disneyland City Hall
On the opposite side of Town Square is an "Exposition Hall." The exhibits change here but it has housed a tribute to Walt and a Photo Center. Places in Town Square, and sometimes the hall has background scenes where you can take photographs. Don't be surprised to find characters such as the seven dwarfs from Snow White greeting visitors in Town Square. This is just one of many opportunities for you to take your picture with characters from Disney's animated features - so stock up on film (or batteries for your digital cameras) while you have the chance!
With so much activity going on you might forget about breakfast. However, if your stomach is growling and you are at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, consider taking in a meal at Tony's Town Square Restaurant located next to the Photo Center. This restaurant is a tribute to The Lady and the Tramp movie. Before you enter, look on the steps outside the restaurant. Set in the cement, you'll find two sets of paw prints inside a heart. Once inside the restaurant, look for a large statue of Lady and the Tramp in the center of the main dining room. For a relaxing meal, this is the place to come. Tony's opens one hour before the park, which allows you to get a good start on the day. (It is also open for lunch and dinner.) Make reservations (407-939-3463) to insure that you'll get a table at the time you want.
When you exit Tony's you might hear the whistle from a steam locomotive announcing the arrival of a train. Look just above the tunnel where you entered and you'll see the Main Street Station. The locomotive pulls in with its steam rising and its wheels clanking to a halt. It's an authentic sight and sound from America's past. (We'll learn more about the train later.) In the middle of Town Square a flagpole proudly waves Old Glory. Along the street that circles the flagpole an old horse-driven trolley clanks along at a leisurely speed, stops, and allows passengers off and on. Choose one-way transportation from five types of turn-of-the-century public transportation: a horse trolley, omnibus, jitney (a small bus), horseless carriage, or fire engine. (Choices differs at Disneyland and World) These vehicles circle the flagpole and then travel down Main Street to the park hub, and back again. This is Main Street.
Disneyland Main Street BuildingExperiencing Main Street
As you walk or ride down this street, take a moment and look at each building. Notice their rich architectural detail and quaint features. For example, you might notice that the windows on the second floors of these buildings include the names and fanciful occupations of the designers and builders of the park. Like the opening credits in a movie, they scroll past you as you walk down the street. See if you can find a Window containing the name "M.T. Lott Real Estate Investments." This was the name Walt used when he was buying the land in Florida for his future park. (Read the name fast and you get "Empty Lot.") At WDW also look for Roy E. Disney's name on the windows above the Crystal Arts building. Roy E. Disney is the grandson of Walt and the son of Roy O. Disney (Walt's brother and partner). Roy E. currently served as Vice Chairman of the Walt Disney Company and was the inspiration behind the release of Fantasia 2000.
Fun Fact: You might also notice, if you look closely, that the second stories on the buildings are shorter than the first floors, and where there is a third floor, it is even shorter. This Hollywood technique is called "forced perspective" and it provides an optical illusion that makes you think the buildings are taller than they really are.
As you walk down Main Street, notice the Main Street Cinema (Disneyland) located on the right side of Main Street just down from the square. Many of Walt Disney's early Mickey Mouse cartoons run continuously here.
About halfway down Main Street, you'll find a cross street, called Center Street. (Actually two dead-end streets, one on each side.) Turn in to the street on your right (as you face the castle) and find the windows marked "Singing Lessons" and "School of Dance." Listen closely near the windows and you'll hear the humorous ranting and raving of the singing and ballet instructors. Those who rush down the streets of the Magic Kingdom often miss out on these little cubbyhole events. Disney put them there for the enjoyment of those who take pleasure in discovering the unexpected.
Fun Fact: Every building along Main Street flies an American flag. These poles are, in fact, lightning rods.
A little farther down you'll find it hard to pass by the Main Street Bakery. The smell of freshly baked pastries fills the air. Look under the overhang in front of the shop. You'll see a vent where the aroma is carefully released for the pleasure and enticement of those walking by. Perhaps you'll forgive this bit of American ingenuity and be among the many visitors who make a stop in this very popular store to sample their rolls, cookies, scones, cakes, cinnamon treats, and other pastries.
Disneyland Bakery
Because it was so dear to his heart, Disney designed Main Street to resemble his own boyhood hometown of Marceline, Missouri. Early versions of Main Street included shops you'd find in any hometown - clothing stores, shoe shops, a bank, a sweet shop, a butcher, and even an insurance office. (The barbershop is one of the few original shops that still remain.) Things change over time and the current stores mostly offer three essential items to Disney visitors - food, clothing, and souvenirs. Now is not the time to stock up on these items. The adventure has just begun, and you'll return to Main Street again before the final credits roll.
Disney Tip: If you purchase merchandise anywhere in the park, check with the store clerk to see if you can have it sent to your Disney Hotel room (if you're staying in a Disney resort) or sent to the front gate for later pickup.
Walking down this slice of the American past gives you a chance to go back to those days long ago when America was still in its youth. It was a time when inventors created new gadgets to light the night sky, brought entertainment to the silver screen, and created motorized transportation that changed the landscape of America forever. Take some time to enjoy all of the sights and sounds on Main Street. Is that four-part harmony you hear? It must be Dapper Dan's Barbershop Quartet crooning toe-tapping turn-of-the-century melodies. Are those the mellow vibrations of a saxophone? That would be the Rhythm Rascals Dixieland Jazz Band. If music makes you hungry then make your way to Casey's Corner at the end of Main Street, order a hot dog with all the fixings, and enjoy watching the pianist tickle the ivories of the old snow-white upright. (Entertainment is different at each park.)
Disney worked hard to make the architecture authentic. In fact some pieces are from actual "Main Streets" salvaged from real towns -- such as the gas lamps that line Main Street -- which Walt located and purchased from a town that was "updating" their streets. Here's a picture of one of those lamps (decorated for Christmas.)
Disneyland Gas Lamp on Main Street
Perhaps the spoken word is more to your liking. Is a bit of thespian whimsy what you're looking for? Then watch for the antics of the Main Street actors. You'll know them when you see them -- the Mayor, the Town Gossip, the Socialite, and the Reporter. Watch out, or you may be drawn into the comedy. Check the schedules at the end of the chapter for specific times when these groups perform. Or, since times occasionally change, pick up a flyer at any of the Main Street shops to check out the current schedule.
At WDW, on the far left end of Main Street you'll find another popular restaurant. The Crystal Palace is a white Victorian building snuggled under a canopy of palm trees and surrounded by flowers. This grand restaurant offers an excellent character buffet all day long featuring Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore. Reservations are recommended. Once you've taken in Main Street, and you pass the last building, stop for a moment and look to your right on the second floor of the Ice Cream Shop (across from the Crystal Palace). On the window facing the castle you'll find the name of Walter E. Disney. Just like in a movie, the director's name is listed last in the opening credits. But the adventure doesn't end here.
There's something wonderful in the distance -- a fantasy castle with tall spires and flags waving from every turret. What's in the castle? What new adventure does it represent? Without realizing it, you're drawn away from Main Street and into scene two.
Continues...
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©Alan C. Elliott, 2007
