A lot of theme park tourists are unaware that one of the cornerstones of the Disney park experience is unique to every location. Main Street, U.S.A., while often following a similar theme of celebrating America and Americana, has distinct differences at every Disney park. Just like the most die-hard Disney park fans feel the need to visit every Disney theme park, so should they feel the need to explore the various Main Streets. Read below about some of the reasons you absolutely must visit every Main Street, U.S.A.
1. Disneyland’s Main Street is inspired by Walt Disney’s hometown.
Image: Disney
Like 1955 animated film The Lady and the Tramp, the setting for the very first Main Street, U.S.A. is based largely on Walt Disney’s hometown Marceline, Missouri. It’s set around the year 1910, when Walt was about ten years old. Another major influence is Fort Collins, Colorado, the hometown of Harper Golf, an artist who worked on Main Street with Walt. One of the biggest appeals of the original Main Street is of course Walt’s personal apartment, even though it’s off-limits to visitors to preserve his memory. However, guests do get to enjoy the exterior with the lamp burning in the front window as a tribute to him. Walt Disney had a very special quote about what Main Street meant to him, or at least what the only one he’d live to see completed did.
For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of their grandfather’s youth.”
As the original Main Street and because of its close ties to Walt Disney himself, Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. is one of the most special versions on this list.
2. The Magic Kingdom Main Street is inspired by a number of American cities and towns.
Like Disneyland’s version, Disney World’s Main Street, U.S.A. has the decor of America during the turn of the century, but its influences are much more diverse. New England and Missouri are the big ones, but it goes beyond that, especially at the four corners area with four buildings with different architectural styles at the center of Main Street. This Main Street, U.S.A. is widely considered the “opening credits” of the Magic Kingdom. Because of his involvement after Walt’s passing, Roy O. Disney also has a statue with Minnie Mouse near the entrance that celebrates his contributions to the second Disney theme park. If you’re looking for a Main Street that best captures the United States as a whole, you have to visit the one at Walt Disney World.
3. Tokyo Disneyland’s World Bazaar has the most eateries.
Image: Disney
Tokyo Disneyland has something very much like Main Street, U.S.A. known as the World Bazaar. Its biggest appeal is the large number of restaurants it holds, which include a 1950s diner, Sweetheart Cafe and even the Great American Waffle Company. Tokyo Disneyland also has a cool glass Victorian-style conservatory roof to shield attendees from the sometimes-fierce weather in Japan.
4. Disneyland Paris’ Main Street is inspired by the 1920s instead of the turn of the century.
Image: Disney
While the buildings are near-identical to those at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, the Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris is mostly influenced by America ten years later. It’s based on a few trends at the time including the flapper era (when women wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz and were in general more rebellious), the ragtime era (named after the ragged rhythm style of music popular at the time), a love of baseball and the rise of automobiles. If you want a place like Anaheim’s Main Street but exploring a (still classic) period of America closer to present day, you can’t miss the Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Paris.
5. Hong Kong Disneyland’s Main Street has European influences.
Image: Disney
Hong Kong Disneyland has a Main Street, U.S.A. very much like the one in Anaheim, but there are a few key distinctions. The story behind the street is heavily influenced by European immigrants. Hong Kong’s Plaza Inn contains the same outer design as the one in the original Disneyland, but the theme is centered around an American couple that travelled to Hong Kong, falling in love with its culture and cuisine. They supposedly returned to create Hong Kong Disneyland’s Plaza Inn, which is full of decorations they acquired during their travels. Another difference from the other Main Streets is the use of wood instead of stone to construct the buildings. This is particularly special for Hong Kong residents because of how rarely wood is used there. If you want to see Americana presented by a distinctly foreign perspective, you have to visit the Main Street, U.S.A. in Hong Kong Disneyland.
6. Shanghai Disneyland’s Mickey Avenue will be inspired by different eras of Disney’s history.
Image: Disney
They’re going to be doing a version of Main Street, U.S.A. that’s pretty different from what we’re used to at Shanghai Disneyland, which is opening in 2015. Instead of focusing on Americana, the area will represent various memorable eras of the Walt Disney Company itself. For the people in love with Disney history (like me and I’m sure a lot of you) this sounds like something truly spectacular.
7. They all have different attractions.
Image: Disney
This is an obvious reason to visit every Main Street, U.S.A., but it’s worth noting. Like all of the various versions of Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, and New Orleans Square, the Disney parks offer up different forms of entertainment at all the Main Streets. The Animation Academy and Art of Animation attractions only found at Hong Kong is a perfect example of that, and ones I’m personally kean on attending!
8. They all have different histories.
This isn’t quite as noticeable at first when you visit the various Main Streets, but the history of the Disney parks is such a big part of what makes them special. All of the versions of Main Street, U.S.A. have been home to different special moments. Soak in the magic of Disney and the magic of shared memories when you visit the many versions of Main Street, U.S.A.
