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Main Street USA
Main Street USA is the entryway to the Magic Kingdom. It was designed by Walt Disney to make visitors forget the outside world as soon as they entered, and is actually modeled after his own Missouri hometown. All of the park's parades start here, and it is home to many of the Magic Kingdom's shops & restaurants, and also the Main Street Cinema. The old-timey sights, sounds, and smells lead up to the centerpiece of the park, Cinderella Castle.
Parades & Fireworks
These spectacular displays of imagination and technology are the heart of Walt Disney World. There are 2 parades currently running in Magic Kingdom and one fireworks display. The 3 o' clock parade is called Share a Dream Come True, and features classic Disney characters in giant snowglobes. The second parade, SpectroMagic, is performed at 9:00, and when the park is busy, there is a seperate performance at 11:00. Narrated by Pinnochio's Jiminy Cricket, it features a dazzling display of fiber optic lights and special effects that light up every float and performer. The fireworks show is named Fantasy in the Sky, and features popular songs from many Disney classics.

Trivia:
     The parade that SpectroMagic replaced was called the Main Street Electrical Parade. This is actually the second time that MSEP has been edged out by SpectroMagic. This is because the Main Street Electrical Parade was Magic Kingdom's original nighttime parade, was replaced by SpectroMagic, and then briefly returned for Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebration.
     The Main Street Electrical Parade has been somewhat of a latchkey child in the Disney family. There were two original versions of it when it debuted in the 70's: the Walt Disney World version and the Disneyland version. The old WDW version was put in storage when SpectroMagic debuted and then sent to Disneyland Paris when it opened in the 90's. The Disneyland version was also brought out of retirement and sent to Orlando for Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebration. Since SpectroMagic is back, Disneyland's original MSEP has been sent back to California to run in Disneyland's new park, California Adventure. The parade will run under the name Disney's Electrical Parade.

Discover the Stories Behind the Magic
Located in Town Square Exposition Hall, these electronic kiosks (created especially for the 100 Years of Magic celebration) teach guests about Walt Disney's hometown, Marceline, Missouri. You can learn how this quaint town became the model for Main Street U.S.A., then test your knowledge of what you've learned. This is one of four similar attractions located in each one of Walt Disney World's parks for the year long celebration of Walt Disney's Centennial.

Trivia:
The real town of Marceline has a school named after its most famous resident. What kid wouldn't want to go to Walt Disney Elementary School?

The Walt Disney World Railroad
These old steamers take their passengers clockwise around the park, a distance of 1 1/2 miles. From here you can go to either of the other two stations, Frontierland or Mickey's Toontown Fair, or you can opt to take the round trip. Walt Disney was extremely interested in trains from his days as a salesboy on the Santa Fe Railroad. The engines were built in Philadelphia in the 20's and were used in the Mexican jungles before being discovered by Disney Imagineers in the late 60's and brought to Orlando.

Trivia:
Walt Disney built a miniature railroad in his backyard in California called the Carolwood Pacific. It was his original inspiration to build Disneyland and eventually Walt Disney World.

Main Street Cinema
This building on the right side of the street as you enter the park once showed such famous Mickey cartoons as "Steamboat Willie", his first cartoon (Not to mention the first short ever with sound). In fact, this is where I first saw this cartoon in full. The last time I visited the park in Summer '98, it had been turned into a big adverisment for Mulan, with the trailer showing on the screen and so much movie merchandise, it was enough to make one claustrophobic. I have since learned that this was not a temporary ploy, but a full change to the cinema. Well, I guess that's progress....

Trivia:
Walt Disney originally wanted to name Mickey "Mortimer", but his wife convinced him otherwise. The rest is history!! šoš
The tickets in the ticket booth as you enter are the original Magic Kingdom entry tickets.
The woman woman in the ticket booth is modeled after Walt's wife, Lilian.

Main Street Vehicles
This colorful transports take guests on a three minute trip up or down Main Street. Guests can choose from a fire engine, a horseless carriage, a horsedrawn trolley, a jitney, and an omnibus. You can board as soon as you enter the park or any time at Town Square or in front of the castle.

Now, what in the world is a jitney, you may ask? Well, I sure did, and my friend "C" gave me the answer! She told me that it was a general term used when automobiles first came out for any car.

Trivia:
The horses used to pull the trolleys make their home at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. Their horseshoes are made of plastic, since that was found to be easier on their feet than metal.

Now that you're done visiting the past, how about a look into the future? Please board the omnibus for a full speed ahead trip to Tomorrowland!