Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know about Main Street USA in WDW

[Rebekkap]

This was great, can't wait for part 2!

 

[smraynor]

This was great, can't wait for part 2!

I'm hoping Part II is up in the next week or so.

Thanks!

 

[Joshuy]

I'm trying to visualize but I'm not sure if I follow.

I was thinking that the buildings towards the castle are shorter than the ones towards the train station/front to elongate main street as you are walking into the park towards the castle but shortening main street as you are walking out? I'm can't remember where I heard that.

 

[hops&dreams]

Excellent - Bookmarking on my phone to read during waits next week!

I work in the AEC industry and love reading the stories behind design. Well done!

 

[DisneyFive]

Nice read. Thanks for the work you put into it.

Dan

 

[smraynor]

I was thinking that the buildings towards the castle are shorter than the ones towards the train station/front to elongate main street as you are walking into the park towards the castle but shortening main street as you are walking out? I'm can't remember where I heard that.

Ok...I understand. That is in fact true but for some different reasons according to my research. Several of the buildings in the Town Square area (City Hall, Confectionary, etc) are taller and more standard scale so that they visually block the area behind the Magic Kingdom. Specifically you don't want to see the Contemporary in the Main Street area. I don't think it was to accentuate the forced perspective.

 

[smraynor]

Excellent - Bookmarking on my phone to read during waits next week!

I work in the AEC industry and love reading the stories behind design. Well done!

Thanks! Out of curiousity...what is AEC?

 

[minniemous]

Love it! Thank you. Main Street is my favorite part of Disney and I just love the details you provided and look forward to part two! I still have the Main street music playing in the background!

 

[smraynor]

Love it! Thank you. Main Street is my favorite part of Disney and I just love the details you provided and look forward to part two! I still have the Main street music playing in the background!

Thank you! For what its worth I'm playing the Main Street BGM right now as well.

 

[Squirlz]

What a fun post! Can't wait to see everything in more detail when I go next week! Is it true the the forced perspective is also lengthwise (ie it seems longer to go into the park than walking out of the park)? I heard that once. That the walk out is meant to seem shorter but the walk in is meant to seem longer to enjoy more?

This is true.

I have heard that going in is up hill slightly
and going out is then down hill slightly

And yes, this is why.

 

[hops&dreams]

Thanks! Out of curiousity...what is AEC?

Architecture, engineering, construction. In short, the building industry. I'm an architectural designer. I design elements that go on or near buildings, site amenities, etc.

 

[RubySue]

Well done, thanks!

I live in Fort Collins, CO. You can still see some of the similarities between Fort Collins "Old Town" and Mainstreet, Disneyland.

 

[misskari]

This is great! Thank you for doing this!

 

[Bullseye]

Great job! Really good stuff...

Love that bit about the tunnel at MK being like the lights going down at the movie theatre...it's so true once you clear the tunnel you feel like you just walked into a movie scene.

 

[Joshuy]

Ok...I understand. That is in fact true but for some different reasons according to my research. Several of the buildings in the Town Square area (City Hall, Confectionary, etc) are taller and more standard scale so that they visually block the area behind the Magic Kingdom. Specifically you don't want to see the Contemporary in the Main Street area. I don't think it was to accentuate the forced perspective.

Cool. Thanks!

 

[GDUL]

Excellent! Very well done!

 

[Emma1987]

Loving your site!! I love all this kind of stuff

 

[smraynor]

Architecture, engineering, construction. In short, the building industry. I'm an architectural designer. I design elements that go on or near buildings, site amenities, etc.

So we are probably in agreement that Disney has the best designs and urban planning ever!

 

[smraynor]

Loving your site!! I love all this kind of stuff

I genuinely appreciate that! I like to write about Disney things...particularly the creative process that goes into the parks. My poor wife and kids have to sit in various parts of the Magic Kingdom and listen to me go on about the design and history.

 

[minniemous]

I genuinely appreciate that! I like to write about Disney things...particularly the creative process that goes into the parks. My poor wife and kids have to sit in various parts of the Magic Kingdom and listen to me go on about the design and history.

Haha, I would love that tour! Walt and his team just got that Main Street right. Amazing how it can make you so nostalgic for a time period you never experienced first hand. It really feels like when you come out of that tunnel someone just said action! It is just perfect.

Every time we go to Disney I say I just want to take time and explore main street thoroughly. I went this last time with some fun facts in hand to look for special aspects about the street and buildings but we did not get the time I had hoped for. We were there 10 days too!

I think approaching it building by building like you are working on will be really interesting. I look forward to it.