Walt Disney World Main Street USA: Attractions and Entertainment
This article’s intent is to give you an overview of all the attractions in the Main Street USA section of Walt Disney World in Florida. With brief descriptions of dining, and rides in the area. All attractions on Main Street are appropriate for all ages.
Main Street Attractions:
The Walt Disney World Railroad is the first attraction you come across. Overlooking the park entrance, the railroad takes you on a 20 minute circle around the Magic Kingdom also stopping at Frontierland, and Mickey’s Toontown Fair. This attraction features four steam-powered trains (much of the time only two will be running) with all seating facing toward the inner park for the duration of the journey.
Pro’s: The trains are a great way to get around the park without having to walk, especially during the heat of Florida’s summertime. The ride also features a peek inside Splash Mountain.
Con: The train does not have any special entertainment value of it’s own, and is mainly a transportation ride. (The Disney Land Railroad in California features a trip through the pre-historic grand canyon, another of Walt Disney’s world’s fair attractions.)
The Main Street Vehicles offer an array of transportation between Central Plaza and the front of Cinderella Castle. Featuring your choice of five distinct vehicles including an omnibus, jitney, horse car, fire engine, or horseless carriage all styled after early 1900’s transports.
Pro: Save your energy for the lines, and the constant walking you will be doing everywhere else.
Con: While a neat trip, you won’t get there much faster then you could walk.
If you are planning on visiting any of the full service restaurants, it’s a good idea to make a reservation as far in advance as possible. Disney takes reservations up to 180 days in advance.
For counter service Casey’s Corner is themed all-American baseball, and features ballpark dishes such as hotdogs and fries. Located on the west corner at the end of main street, at times you will be treated to a live performance on a player-piano.
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Crystal Palace is a character dining restaurant featuring Winnie the Pooh and his friends. The Crystal Palace is a ‘Disney Dining Plan‘ Restaurant, or will run you from $15 to $35.99 per person depending on the time of day. You will find The Crystal Palace at the end of main street, near the entrance to Adventureland.
For lunch or dinner, Tony’s Town Square offers Italian fare. Built to be reminiscent of the spaghetti scene from Lady and the Tramp, Tony’s Town Square offers pastas, pizzas, and sandwiches. Tony’s prices run between $15 and $35.99 per person. Tony’s is located on the east side as you enter main street.
The Plaza Restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner. This casual dining restaurant features American style dishes such as grilled deli sandwiches, burgers, and salads. The main draw of this location the light turn of the 20th century décor. Prices her are between $15 and $35.99 per person. The restaurant is located on the east side of the end of main street.
The Main Street Bakery is located on the east side of the street, about half way down. The bakery offers many sweets such as cookies and cakes, but also non-baked items like ice cream and various candies.
Besides the restaurants and permanent attractions, Main Street U.S.A. is also the perfect spot for the parades and fireworks which currently include the following.
During the day, you can catch the Disney Dreams Come True Parade which runs between Frontierland and Main Street.
At night the SpectroMagic Paraderuns the same parade route, and boasts over 500,000 lights and other special effects.
The current fireworks show is the Wishes Nighttime Spectacular. While the fireworks can be seen from around the park, the best spot is along Main Street with a good view of Cinderella’s Castle because the fireworks are set off from both inside the park, and a location behind the Magic Kingdom, so they line up best from a direct line in front of the castle.
This information is from my time as a Walt Disney World employee, and many times as a guest, with facts checked via www.disney.go.com
