Should DL re-do Main Street every 10 years?

[spidey_99]

Walt always talked about how Disneyland was created so youths could savor and be inspired by the future & older generations could visit the park to feel nostalgia for their own past.

With that in mind,and as I get older,I wonder if every 10 years they should re-do Main Street to reflect the current aging generation's memories of their own youth. So when I'm 60, Main Street would be like the 1970/1980's.Am I smoking crack? I sure would miss the 1890s/1900's Main Street but at the same time, wouldn't changing it keep in the tradition of what Walt wanted?

Spidey

 

[CrazyDuck]

I like Main St. the way it is. I wasn't around in the early 1900's so it is nice to visit. I have already lived Main St. in the 1980's, and it's not that great!

 

[iKristin]

So ten years from now the streets will be covered with trash and there will be no trees or animals anywhere near by lol. I don't like that idea...I like it the way it is That's my favorite part of Disneyland

 

[darph nader]

I'm with CrazyDuck on this one. A simpler time.

 

[Leofoenget]

no

 

[InLikeSin]

Agreed! Main Street is perfection, my favorite place to just be in all of Disneyland.

 

[spacemermaid]

No, because Main Street was made to be reminiscent of Mr. Disney's childhood "Main Street", which was pleasantly absent of traffic jams, graffiti, and the odd crackpipe or 2 dropped on the sidewalk. If I want to remember my 80's childhood, I can go to Tomorrowland...they're bringing back Captain EO; now the Rocket Jets just need to go back up high where they belong.

 

[LuLusApple]

Change mainstreet? I am not sure that was his intention
mainstreet is America from 1890-1910 at the crossroads of an era. It was inspired by Walts hometown Marceline Missouri, mainstreet is the essence of hometown America that greeted the dawn of the 20th century. Not from your time or my time but Walts time.
So nope, keep it it's perfect I don't want to see 70s disco dancers and hotpants lolol

 

[Belle Ella]

So ten years from now the streets will be covered with trash and there will be no trees or animals anywhere near by lol. I don't like that idea...I like it the way it is That's my favorite part of Disneyland

Here, here!

 

[spidey_99]

Well again, I love Main Street as well. Not saying it's a bad part of DL...one of my faves.

I am just thinking about Walt's famous speech when DL opened:

"To all that come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America... with hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."

So just reading that and it got me wondering: in 1955- when it opened- the place I assume Walt referred to where 'age relives fond memories of the past' was Main Street. In 1955 a mid aged or old aged person would have been a child in/around the time Main Street is set.

So while I understand his intention was to create his old home town, it seems his intention was also to allow age to 'relive fond memories'...and as generations die out, the young folks become the old folks (duh) and Main Street is not a fond memory for them...I mean, it IS in terms of a fond memory of coming to the park and enjoying it THAT way But you know what I mean, yes?

As for the 70's/80's having crack pipes, just like Walt's old town was made as an intentionally idyllic/nostalgic view of his childhood town, I am assuming the redo's would take a similar (i.e. non realistic) view of the past.

Not trying to sell anyone on it...just curious and wondering what Walt would want today.

Spidey

 

[kailuagirl]

No, I love the way it looks and I love how no matter how long it's been since I've been there I still get goosebumps when I enter main street and all my prior memories come flooding back! I always get tears.

 

[DanT]

NO

 

[blackjackdelta]

Walt always talked about how Disneyland was created so youths could savor and be inspired by the future & older generations could visit the park to feel nostalgia for their own past.

With that in mind,and as I get older,I wonder if every 10 years they should re-do Main Street to reflect the current aging generation's memories of their own youth. So when I'm 60, Main Street would be like the 1970/1980's.Am I smoking crack? I sure would miss the 1890s/1900's Main Street but at the same time, wouldn't changing it keep in the tradition of what Walt wanted?

Spidey

NO!

Jack

 

[DJC123]

I went to DL last February, and was absolutely in awe of Main Street. The last time I was in Cali, I was 4 years old. I am now 39. I still remember to this day, the magic Main Street brought me as a young girl, and that wonderful sense of awe came back to me when I arrived last year. I had a sillouette picture done just before we left as I had it done when I was a girl. I now have the two, at 35 years apart. Loved that this tradition still continues. Having read about Walt's love of the town of Marceline, and how Main St. was designed to be a reminder to him of that era. I think it's a wonderful tribute to him to keep it just the way it was meant to be. One of the best things of going back there, was seeing how so little has changed. A testament to the park, and how truly magical it is, in so many ways.

 

[tholczer]

You are definitely smoking crack.

 

[Disney Dreams]

As for "fond memories," I have many of Main Street. From last week, the week before that, the month before that, the year before, and a few years before that. Very fond memories. Don't change it. It's wonderful - one of my absolute favorite parts of all of DLR.

- Dreams

P.S. And it has changed a bit. The Gallery is new. There was the 50th theatre instead of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln for a while.

 

[nana50]

To change Main Street would be blasphemy! I too love the feeling I get when I walk into Main Street. Especially taking someone for the first time. I'm sure Walt would want it to stay the same way it was. It was built with his memories, not ours.

 

[Sherry E]

I know this is just sort of a hypothetical or even rhetorical, 'what if they changed Main Street' sort of thread and not really to be taken too seriously, but I will add that I think Main Street - the way it is and has always been - has literally been the first image of Disneyland for all of us, no matter what age or year we started going there. Aside from the floral Mickey in the front, Main Street is basically the first thing we see, so that is emblazoned in all of our memories and it directly ties into that feeling of magic that we are overcome with when we set foot on Disney soil. That is the first land we enter, as well as essentially being the gateway leading to all the other lands and because it is set in a different time and place, we are automatically transported into this sort of innocent, wistful moment where all things and dreams seem possible! I don't think that same feeling or essence could be captured if it suddenly became a Main Street of the '70s or '80s (imagine a facade of Studio 54 on Main Street, with garish neon signs adorning the various shops). Right now it has that charming, small town 'It's a Wonderful Life' vibe to it and I think it is the perfect way to start a day at Disneyland just as it is!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Walt always talked about how Disneyland was created so youths could savor and be inspired by the future & older generations could visit the park to feel nostalgia for their own past.

With that in mind,and as I get older,I wonder if every 10 years they should re-do Main Street to reflect the current aging generation's memories of their own youth. So when I'm 60, Main Street would be like the 1970/1980's.Am I smoking crack? I sure would miss the 1890s/1900's Main Street but at the same time, wouldn't changing it keep in the tradition of what Walt wanted?

Spidey

You're smoking crack!

I like Main St. the way it is. I wasn't around in the early 1900's so it is nice to visit. I have already lived Main St. in the 1980's, and it's not that great!

I agree w/ CrazyDuck.

And I totally agree with Sherry too!

 

[pixiewings71]

Absolutely NOT! I love MS the way it is, I hope it never changes.