Main Street - favorite spot

[emmagator]

We usually find ourselves spending little time on Main Street. On our upcoming trip, we've decided to give it some proper attention. Just curious if there are any Main Street fans out there who have a favorite spot where they like to spend time? We'll be without the kids for the first time, so our agenda is wide open.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just find a spot on a bench and hang out for a bit. Have some popcorn, Hop on the double decker bus and sit back down again. Get a photo with Mickey or Minnie.

I love hanging out on Main Street and plan some time each trip to just hang out in the Hub and soak in the atmosphere.

 

[Congo Queen]

Oh Main Street has many charms. I am sure you will get lots of good ideas from this thread. I will pitch in with the fact that its a great location for street entertainment. The Fire House Five, Dapper Dans and the Disneyland Marching Band all play Main Street several times throughout the day (find exact times on the entertainment schedule.) These are very talented groups who know how to engage a crowd and put a smile on your face. They add immeasurably to the ambiance of Main Street IMHO - a feeling of hopefulness, excitement but also security, and a satisfying continuity with idealized past that is accessible in the present. Have fun!

 

[Mabel67]

Make sure to check out the awesome window displays, especially at the Disneyland Emporium. Always fascinating.

 

[22Tink]

We love browsing the shops on Main Street. It's fun to see the window displays and watch the candy makers in the candy shop window. There's also usually characters and entertainment to see. Even if you don't care to meet the characters it's fun to watch them interact with other guests. Grab a Starbucks and a sweet treat and find a bench to relax on while you take in the atmosphere!

 

[audrianna890]

I know it's kinda a bit off Main Street, but we love getting food at the Jolly Holiday Bakery (the Jolly Holiday combo is delicious!) and sitting at one of the tables and just watching everything going on. It's a good vantage point because you can see Main Street AND you can see the castle, so you see a lot of characters coming out and going back in. Plus, you can usually catch the Dapper Dans around that area too.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

I love me some Main Street Cinema.

 

[WonkaKid]

Try to grab a seat on the porch and people-watch for a while. I do that every few months. Also, I love watching them make caramel apples in the candy shop across from the porch. I also like to watch as they dip/candy-garnish the cones at Gibson Girl. Both of those have the advantage of being air conditioned and out of the sun . Be sure to look for the anomaly in the red/white light bulbs that hang just outside of the Coca-cola/Refreshment Corner.

 

[Angrose]

If you are going between now and Halloween, you will love looking at all the carved pumpkin decorations on the buildings and in the shop windows. Some of them are really cute and funny. Pop into the Fortuosity shop to see all the ravens that have taken over. The enchanted windows at the Emporium are also a favorite of mine. Enjoy!

 

[azdisneylover]

We enjoy having a late breakfast or an early lunch at Carnation Cafe. There is seating both inside and out. Good food and a great location too!

 

[emmagator]

Try to grab a seat on the porch and people-watch for a while. I do that every few months. Also, I love watching them make caramel apples in the candy shop across from the porch. I also like to watch as they dip/candy-garnish the cones at Gibson Girl. Both of those have the advantage of being air conditioned and out of the sun . Be sure to look for the anomaly in the red/white light bulbs that hang just outside of the Coca-cola/Refreshment Corner.

Thanks for the tips. We'll definitely get some porch time in. Curious about the lighting anomaly at Coke Corner.

 

[WonkaKid]

Curious about the lighting anomaly at Coke Corner.

Take a look. Might be a little tricky to find but shouldn't take more than a minute or two .

 

[Jedi Mouse]

We've been taking time to enjoy the Main Street Vehicles. It's a great way to enjoy the magic of Main Street.

We especially love the Horse Drawn Street Cars, they usually only have a few people on them. We have also found the cast members to be especially friendly. They love to talk about the horses and their individual personalities as well as tell funny stories about guests not noticing the huge lumbering beasts approaching them as they walk down Main Street.

 

[wench]

Disneyana!!!

 

[Diszona]

I love the Penny Arcade. I remember loving it as a kid at WDW and now that the Magic Kingdom's Main Street has become so homogenized with so much of the old charm removed it is nice to have it at Disneyland to bring back some of my memories as a kid (even if it is in a different park in a different resort on a different coast).

 

[julesann]

Last time I was there (a year ago this month) my dd and I (she was 23) sat in chairs on on Main Street enjoying an ice cream cone and watching folks walk out of the park (it was at the end of the evening). It was utter perfection...one of those precious moments. I think I will try to spend time each visit sitting and absorbing the delights of Main Street...such a wonderful way to be in the moment and appreciate a simple joy.

 

[Robinjay]

Disneyana!!!

I could spend an hour and a fortune in here! There are always great treasures to be found as well for purchase that are hard to find elsewhere. I just picked up some great Space Mountain t-shirts that were left over from D23.

Another favorite is the lobby for Great Moments With Mr Lincoln. They have the Disneyland Story and some great Disneyland memorabilia. I could spend an hour hanging out in here as well. Plus there is air conditioning!!!

 

[Robinjay]

I love the Penny Arcade. I remember loving it as a kid at WDW and now that the Magic Kingdom's Main Street has become so homogenized with so much of the old charm removed it is nice to have it at Disneyland to bring back some of my memories as a kid (even if it is in a different park in a different resort on a different coast).

They still have the electric current machine from when I was a kid. We would hold hands and then hold on to the machine and pay the fee. We then would get shocked. There are far fewer arcade games now, but I am happy there are still some around. Great Main Street Memories. We would also watch the penny machines. Or get our fortunes read. So cool!

 

[SteveMP]

I love the Penny Arcade. I remember loving it as a kid at WDW and now that the Magic Kingdom's Main Street has become so homogenized with so much of the old charm removed it is nice to have it at Disneyland to bring back some of my memories as a kid (even if it is in a different park in a different resort on a different coast).

That was one of our faves at DL as a kid. We would go for field trips in school, and me and my friends would hang out there(back in the good old days when all the shops were seperate, and the "penny arcade" was actually the penny arcade.) and the coffee shop which is now a starbucks. I also still like the magic shop.

 

[wench]

I could spend an hour and a fortune in here! There are always great treasures to be found as well for purchase that are hard to find elsewhere. I just picked up some great Space Mountain t-shirts that were left over from D23.

Another favorite is the lobby for Great Moments With Mr Lincoln. They have the Disneyland Story and some great Disneyland memorabilia. I could spend an hour hanging out in here as well. Plus there is air conditioning!!!

Ok, now you’re making think about air conditioning on Main Street. There is a spot near the entrance of the magic shop where you get the best blast of a/c. On a hot day I could stand there for 10 minutes straight just soaking it in.

And while on the subject, just the fact that there is a magic shop on Main Street is so fricken cool. That just proves once again that DL is in fact the best Disney park. But it just kills me that I can’t buy the cool old collectibles in the case. Oh well, more money for Disneyana!