I'm Walking Right Down the Middle of Main Street, U.S.A.
After the curtain rises on the Magic Kingdon, visitors take a step back in time to an era when horseless carriages and horse-drawn trolleys co-existed and when the steam train was still the center of town.
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Main Street U.S.A. is based on Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Mo. Though it is not set in a particular year, it is roughly the turn of the century.
In the Magic Kingdom, Main Street U.S.A. is essentially a gateway to the park, as everyone must pass through the themed land as they enter the park. Main Street U.S.A. begins at the train station and town square and ends at Cinderella Castle and the hub.
The design of Main Street U.S.A. uses what is known as forced perspective to not only make Cinderella castle look taller but to also make the buildings along Main Street look taler.
The second story of the buildings along Main Street is about 5/8 the height of the first floor, and the third floor is about 5/8 the height of the second floor. This is quite apparent when riding the double decker bus along Main Street.
Unlike many of the other lands throughout the Magic Kingdom, Main Street has very few attractions and is primarily built around shopping and dining. However, it does have some of the most memorable attractions, including the Walt Disney World Railroad, the horse-drawn trolleys and antique vehicles.
Over the years, several other attractions have been removed to make room for more shopping, including the Penny Arcade and the Main Street Cinema. Also, the west side of Center Street was removed circa 2001 to allow for an expansion of the Emporium.
