Magic Kingdom's Main Street U.S.A. - Exploring the "World", One "Land" at a Time

Our exploration brings us to our final park, Magic Kingdom. Here you will find six lands with attractions sure to please every member of the family. 

Main Street U.S.A, the first land you enter in Magic Kingdom, is modeled after a typical small town in turn-of-the-century America. This land immediately transports you back in time. As you step through the gates of Magic Kingdom, you know that you have left the real world behind. With Cinderella Castle looming in the distance, Main Street U.S.A. can seem to excited guests like a beautifully decorated "walkway" to the magic. But before you make a dash for bigger adventure, slow down and take the time to appreciate the welcome Disney has given us with this land. There is much more to do and see here than you may know!

Most town services are run from Town Square and the same is true here on Main Street U.S.A. This is the spot you want to head to if you are need of any type of service. Guest Relations is located in City Hall, Package Pick-up is located in the Chamber of Commerce. You will also find restrooms, ATM and a defibrillator here. You can stop by the firehouse to learn a cool new game (more info later) and Harmony Barber Shop for a quick makeover! As the Magic Kingdom opens each morning, Town Square is filled with all your favorite characters and you may even find a few locals resting on benches around the area! From Town Square, you can also enjoy a ride on a double-decker bus or a horse-drawn carriage. And don't forget to stop by Town Square Theater to say hello to the one and only talking Mickey Mouse!

Guests pass through a tunnel under the Walt Disney Railroad Station to enter the Magic Kingdom. Main Street U.S.A. is the first stop for the Walt Disney Railroad. It also makes stops in Frontierland and Fantasyland. Did you know that this steam-powered railroad transports more than 1.5 MILLION passengers each year? The railroad has four locomotives, each named for those who contributed greatly to the Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney World. They are: Walter E. Disney, Lilly Belle, Roger E. Broggie, and Roy O. Disney. Each morning, our favorite Disney characters along with citizens of Main Street arrive at the station to welcome guests with a rousing rendition of "Good Morning". A must-see in my opinion!

This is probably my favorite place on Main Street! The Emporium is a mega-store that runs down the entire left side of Main Street U.S.A. Although they look like separate buildings from the outside, they connect inside to different rooms where you can buy just about everything and anything Disney has to offer. A shopper's paradise! 

One of the fun things about Main Street U.S.A. is the cast members in the period costumes. Some of them really play the part!! 

One of the latest additions to Main Street U.S.A. is the Sorcerers of Magic Kingdom game. You can stop by the firehouse for your free game cards and a tutorial on how to play. Sorcerer's of Magic Kingdom is an interactive game where Merlin recruits you as his newest apprentice and sends you throughout Magic Kingdom to battle Disney villains. Even if you don't play the game, the cards are cute collectible keepsakes, and they're free!

Aside from the standard souvenirs at the Emporium, Main Street U.S.A. is home to many specialty shops where you can find treasures you won't find anywhere else on property. The Chapeau is one of the few places left where you can still get embroidered ear hats. Crystal Arts features Arribas Brothers glassworks. Uptown Jewelers has snowglobes, frames, charms and pins. You can visit Main Street Gallery for books, posters, lithographs and more. Or try Main Street Athletic Club for sports apparel and equipment. Don't forget sweet treats at Main Street Confectionary or Disney Clothiers for great fashions. Plus find more Disney souvenir merchandise at Main Street Cinema and Disney & Co.

I'm sure we all know by now that the windows on Main Street are a tribute to all those who contributed to the success of "Disney". But how many of us really take the time to look at them all? I confess that I keep "meaning to" but more often than not, get swept away in everything else happening. If you want to learn more about the windows, check out this great article: http://www.mouseplanet.com/7095/Windows_on_Main_Street_Part_1

Main Street U.S.A. offers the full spectrum of dining for Disney World guests. From snacks to quick service, table service to character dining, there are enough treats here to please everyone. Choose from delicious snacks at Main Street Bakery (now featuring Starbucks coffee) and Plaza Ice Cream Parlor or tasty hot dogs and more at Casey's Corner. If you would like some casual sit-down dining, there is Plaza Restaurant or Tony's Town Square. And to enjoy a great all-you-can-eat buffet with your favorite characters from the 100-Acre Wood, choose the Crystal Palace. (Which just happens to be the very first character meal my family tried at WDW, shown here circa 2003!)

Main Street is the place to be for the best in entertainment and shows in Magic Kingdom. This is where you will see all of Disney's parades and shows running daily. Daytime you can see the Festival of Fantasy parade while nighttime features the Main Street Electrical Parade. Various times will also feature the Dream Along with Mickey show and the Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party. And, you can gather here nightly for the Wishes fireworks celebration. A recent upgrade to the hub area now provides more viewing areas for guest comfort.

Some Main Street U.S.A Fun Facts:
*Main Street was designed based on Walt's childhood memories of Marceline, MO
*The red walkways were Walt's idea of "rolling out the red carpet" for guests, but actually with much collaboration with the Kodak Company, it was determined that red would be the best color to highlight guest photos.
*If you are visiting Tony's Town Square restaurant, you will find a tribute to their two most famous patrons in the pavement to the left of the stairs.
*Notice the streetlamps on Main Street. The begin as gas lamps and progress to electric lamps as you get closer to the hub. You are symbolically moving through time.
*If you make a right at the end of Main Street, you can hear singing and dancing lessons coming from the second story windows.
*Look for a wall-mounted phone in the Market House and pick it up to hear a lively party line conversation.
*Patriotism flows with flags hanging on all the stores. But to avoid taking them down each night as required, only the flag on the main flagpole in Town Square is real.

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