As you cross the Seven Seas Lagoon, you can see the Walt Disney World Railroad station perched on top of the entrance.
Let's just take a look around...
If you get there early enough, you can catch a ride in one of the vehicles, including the omnibus and the horsedrawn carriage.
The residents of Mainstreet U.S.A. are also milling about, including the Mayor, Fire Chief, Women's Rights Advocates, some random dancers, and the Saxophone Quartet. Other characters are also hanging about, including Pluto, Chip and Dale, Pinnochio, and the wonderful Dapper Dans.
Looking up, you can see and ride the Walt Disney World Railroad from the Main Street Station.
Need a haircut? Stop by the Barber Shop. I got my hair cut there more than once for the reasonable cost of about $16. But watch out. They tend to put lots of pixie dust in your hair.
Near the Barber Shop is Fire Station 71. Hmmm... Wonder why the firestation in Walt Disney World is number 71. And the one in Disneyland is 55. Must be a coincidence that Disneyland opened in 1955 and Walt Disney World opened in 1971. Speaking of hidden numbers, if you watch Toy Story 3, the train is the opening scene is number 95, year of Toy Story. I noticed that when I saw it with DeTag, Steve and Liz.
Anyway, Fire Station 71.
There are a couple of great places to eat around.
One of my favorite places is Casey's Corner, a hotdog stand. Now, it does smell like sauerkrout, but the pianist outside makes up for it.
Tony's is also located in Mainstreet U.S.A. This is the same restuarant from Lady and the Tramp. If you look outside the restaurant, you can see where the dogs put their paws in the cement.
Every day at 5:00, there is a flag retreat ceremony. Really nice, patriotic moment. A guest who served in the military is choosen to assist in the ceremony followed by a little procession down the street towards the castle. The Pledge of Allegiance is said along with the singing of God Bless America, lead by the Dapper Dans.
Before we leave, I want to point out a few little nuggets of awesomeness around Mainstreet U.S.A.
Inside The Hub, just in front of Cinderella Castle, is the Partners Statue featuring Walt Disney and Mickey.
Take a closer look at Walt's ring finger. What is that?
Here we can see a door off just off the street. If you are looking at Cinderella Castle, it's on the left. Many know that the names in the windows are names of people that helped build and create Walt Disney World. This is my favorite because it was a constant reminder of what Walt's dream was.
Now, I've already shown the bench with the Roy and Minnie statue, but below is pretty special photo. This was the first picture taken on my first day in the parks. I had taken photos of some other things, but this was the first one as a guest.
That's it for this one. Thank you for your patience.
TTFN
On deck: Echo Lake
In the hole: Secrets of some resorts
I love me some Main Street USA. I want to try and see the flag ceremony this year. Have not seen that before. And never mind the mickey on Walt's ring... what's that on his tie?
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a clip-on microphone. I don't know. And I wasn't being funny or anything about Walt's ring. Someone pointed out there was something on his finger but didn't tell me what.
ReplyDeleteDo you know?
On his ring is a hidden mickey. On his tie is the logo symbol of "Smoke Tree Ranch", an upscale community of homes and cottages in Palm Springs Walt helped design and build, and later lived himself after Disneyland was completed.
ReplyDeleteWe always enjoy Main Street and love talking with the piano player (Tim or Tom?) I always like to get him to play my favorite Firehouse Five + Two dixieland jazz songs, and I have yet to stump him. Unlike the piano player in Disneyland who denied all of my many suggestions.
Also your shot of the Train Station chalkboard has an homage to famed Disney animator Ward Kimball who had a full scale railroad in his backyard called "Grizzly Flats". Ward is typically credited with sparking Walt's desire for his own railroad.