Main Street, U.S.A. enhancements

[DarylF]

I've just been toying with a few ideas for some Main Street, U.S.A. additions, and am curious what all you had to say on the matter.

First off, I would like to point out that when DL opened, Main Street took guests back approximately 50 years in time to small town America. Now, in 2005, DL visitors are transported back 100 years. Over the years, many (most?) of the original stores were replaced with what is currently in the park: that is, modern day shops with modern day product. In many respects, we only get a "taste test" of what 1900 was actually like. So how can we reclaim the true Main Street, U.S.A? Have we, the park going public, become bored with our heritage? Do we actually want an historical, working Main Street? It is safe to assume that a vast majority of the guests today were never around in 1900, so what is the best way to capture a feeling of nostalgia?

Could Main Street, U.S.A. be updated? A 1950's Main Street? Once again, todays guests will be taken back 50 years in time.
Soda shops. Old time service stations. A 5 & dime store!
There was once a restaurant on the NE corner of Town Square... could a cafe be re-built there, capturing the flavors of the beloved Monorail Cafe?
How about adding a building addition behind the Main Street Cinema, and create a themed restaurant similiar to the Sci-Fi Drive In Diner at WDW? Or a 50's Prime time Cafe!! (the proximity of these restaurants could mean a shared kitchen)

Additionally, Disneyland Paris has two pedestrain corridors running the length of Main Street alongside the rear walls of the buildings... brilliant for rainy day access or avoiding Parade crowds!

Lets toss some ideas back and forth on how Main Street could be enhanced.

(I would like to point out that Main Street is probably my favorite area of the park. I would not want to see removal of the Main Street Vehicles, nor the Steam Trains.... time pardox, anyone?)

[Hyperbole]

I for one would hate to see Main Street re-themed.

While your idea of a 1950's street would be visually appealing and lots of fun (think Hill Valley in Back to the Future), I don't think any major changes to Main Street are appropriate. Walt designed Main Street to reflect the town he grew up in, to bring back memories of his childhood. Loosing his touch would be a tragedy!

[HarajukuBoy]

i would like to see the shops reflect the time period of main street. i know disney is trying to squeeze every last penny out of us with plush and clothing, but i'd much rather browse through shops offering one-of-a-kind merchandise.

[Jspider]

I think our Mainstreet is pretty good as is

assuming they keep the theator and keep an exibit or attraction in Lincoln

I do think Liberty Square or street should be considered for the area behind mainstreet though it would greatly help with traffic flow but I'll save that for a post of my own

the time period as is is fine

I like how it's down with the vehicals and lamps and everything

the stores could use more uniqueness but that's a problem surrounding the park in general and honestly I think other lands could use unique merchendise even more then Mainstreet

[pussnboots]

I love the Disneyland Paris arcades and once you've seen them, you'll forever miss them in the other parks, but I do wonder if such a thing would be even remotely plausible in the oh-so-cramped Disneyland. Is there any room between Main Street and Aventureland for instance?

Some more minor changes I would like to see... Hmmm. Well, some of the building facades seem to be a bit less... Ornate than the MK/DLP ones. The Emporium for example. Though one could argue that altering them would be sacrilegious, or that they've gone way overboard on the Victorian touch in WDW, rendering DL's nice and modest in comparison. But the DL Main Street facades always seem a bit... Flat to me. Like old film sets, where you expect everything to be painted on and held up by support beams.

[Lady Peg]

I agree with leaving Main Street as is! After all, this is reflecting Walt's hometown atmosphere! Maybe a little more diversity in the merchandise selection would be nice, but don't change the buildings and vehicles! It's part of the magical transition from now to the Magic Kingdom!

[Jspider]

I love the Disneyland Paris arcades and once you've seen them, you'll forever miss them in the other parks, but I do wonder if such a thing would be even remotely plausible in the oh-so-cramped Disneyland. Is there any room between Main Street and Aventureland for instance?

Some more minor changes I would like to see... Hmmm. Well, some of the building facades seem to be a bit less... Ornate than the MK/DLP ones. The Emporium for example. Though one could argue that altering them would be sacrilegious, or that they've gone way overboard on the Victorian touch in WDW, rendering DL's nice and modest in comparison. But the DL Main Street facades always seem a bit... Flat to me. Like old film sets, where you expect everything to be painted on and held up by support beams.

they've always seemed just about right to me

I've always thought WDW's Mainstreet looked just a bit big for something that's supposedly small town America

[Adventurer]

A 1950's Main Street? No thank you. That would be Sacrilege. What they need to do is bring back all the stuff they took out to put in more freaking plush shops. Bring back the Magic Shop, etc.