Birt Family Focus

Main Street USA -- 8/21/01
Photos by Carol, Jay, Paul and John

City Hall

Main Street is and always has been one of my favorite places. It is the very heart and soul of WDW. Even though it is now more of a shopping mall than an attraction, it still remains magical. It is only on Mainstreet that you can have your picture made with a cigar store Indian. It is only here that you can sit by Goofy-all day long if you like- and watch the reactions of passersby as he doffs his hat and hyucks hello at them. It is only on Mainstreet that you can hear a real barbershop quartet- while getting a haircut! Mainstreet is my Mecca. It's probably yours, too.

Main St Shops

When the Birts descend upon Mainstreet, there are several traditions we must observe. Aside from the picture with the Indian, we MUST play in the photo store. This is officially the Town Square Exposition Hall. Right next to this, in the old days, was the Walt Disney Story. This was free and cool so the plush king took it out. In it's place is a camera center where you can get your film developed and pick up portraits you had done either by the kids with the cameras at the park entrance or at the actual portrait studio (actually located in this area). BUT- it is now set up with lots of cool sets to take family pictures and you can get lots of character time here as well. If you follow your nose all the way back and around the corner, you will find yourself in the old theatre. There is seating for about 50-comfy seating that no one seems to know is here. It is quiet and cool and they play a continuous loop of cartoon clips. I suspect they are the same ones that used to play in the Moviehouse before it became a plush store/ ad for the latest Disney flick. It is a great place to rest in the heat of the day. If you ever wanted to go to infinity and beyond and prove it with a picture- this is the place. My darling daughter (DD) loves to come back here and pose as a damsel in distress on the SteamBoat Willie set. She is such a ham. No idea where she gets it.

A touch of magic that I love is the statue of Goofy outside this area. He is sitting on a bench tipping his hat. Sit by him. Wait. Pretty soon you will hear that tell tale laugh and that unmistakable voice saying "hi, I'm Goofy". When people get close enough, they do a double take. The looks on their faces are priceless. Some think I said it. It wasn't me- I swear! Why do I get the feeling some of you don't believe me?

Main St. Trolley

Though Mainstreet is now mostly shops and restaurants (and some mouthwateringly delicious ones at that), there are still a few things on the street that qualify as attractions. Get there early and ride an antique car, horse drawn trolly, or double decker bus. These go down to the hub and back. The drivers always let us go round trip. My DD says to tell you that the driver will let you sit in the driver's seat and play like you are driving while the ride loads. She meant herself and other kids, of course, not me. No really- I didn't. These rides are only available early in the day as they stop before the parades start around 3pm. Make sure you take a spin the next time you are there- these little spots of magic tend to burn out quickly when the plush monster draws near, you may not get another chance.

Main St. USA

Our family has a few other things we make sure to do when on Mainstreet, besides shop. We try to pet the pony at the firestation, get a silhouette cut at the glass store, catch at least one performance of the barbershop quartet, have a chocolate chip cookie in the bakery, catch all the parades from a rocker on the porch at Tony's, and my favorite all time sport- people watching. The best time to do this is at the end of the day, near closing. Pick a bench with a view of the castle, sit down and get comfy (a cookie and some hot chocolate are good about now). As you watch the people, tired but happy, toting children who are passed out, bags of goodies, balloons, and funny hats back to their hotels, notice the castle. Soft music plays in the background while magically, the bricks change their hue from white to pink to lavender to blue and back again. It is a ballet of color- the kiss goodnight- and you will feel as if it is all there just for you. That is the magic that brings us back again and again. I hope it will do the same for you and yours.

The Kiss Goodnight

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