Main Street U.S.A.

Music for Main Street Meet Me Down on Main Street

Ah, Main Street. It's not really one of Disneyland's "lands" but it is one of the most important and certainly favorite places in the park. You can't miss it. As you enter Disneyland after waiting in line to get through the gate, the area opens up and in front of you is the famous flower bed with Mickey Mouse's face in it. Perhaps a band is playing. Above and in front of you is the Main Street Station with the trains moving in and out throughout the day. To your right and your left are to tunnels under the railroad tracks. The tunnels have posters in them that are sort of "previews" of what is in store for you during the day. It doesn't matter which tunnel you take, they both lead out onto Main Street.

Main Street has many stores, all what you would find on a town's Main Street. There's the Emporium, the Candy Store (um, um! Stop and see what they're making today!), a Watch Store, the Penny Arcade, different cafés and much more. Most of the stores connect to each other on the inside so you can walk up one side of the street inside the stores and not miss anything. Even if you're not planning on buying anything, it's a must. It's also a great way to escape the sizzling summer heat or the long midday lines.

Main Street U.S.A. is based on the Main Street or at least Walt's remembrance of it, in Marceline, Missouri circa 1910. Marceline is located in north central Missouri and was the boyhood home of Walt. Walt wanted everybody to experience Marceline, a place that was very near and dear to Walt. Walt said many of the most important experiences happened to him when he was in Marceline: He saw his first movie and sold his first drawing. Main Street was built so your direction was focused onto the famous castle in the distance, but we'll talk about that later. As you walk up and down Main Street, try to notice the little stuff. That's what makes it really special. All the detail work in Disneyland is very good and one can hardly see it all in one trip. I've been many times and I'm still seeing new things! Up in the second story of many of the shops are names of important people in Walt Disney's life or the building of the park. Stop a while and listen to the dentist office or the piano teacher's home (by the lockers and lost and found.) If you think you smell some peppermint or other smells on Main Street, you're right. There are scents coming from the street and you'll get a different smell for a different season. It's nothing real strong. Just a slight whif.

Attractions

Disneyland Railroad -

Main Street Cinema -

Main Street Vehicles,

The Walt Disney Story featuring "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" -

Stores

Restaurants

SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT MAIN STREET: Everyone notices the fire station on the left as they come in (or on the right going out.) There's the fire truck and that's all most people see. Look above the station. There's a small window. You can see it in the picture of the station above. That is Walt's personal apartment, the only place where someone has spent the night in the park. I wish I could go in there! On the other hand, it's a piece of history that is probably left like it is.