Disneyland Paris: Immersion In the Most Amazing Main Street, U.S.A.
We begin a multi-part series that looks at the amazing details around Disneyland Paris. Today we begin at Fantasia Gardens and the Disneyland Hotel in the front of the park. We then step down the left side of Main Street U.S.A., which seems on the surface very similar to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. But we’ll look at details you’ll never see in Florida as we peel back the layers to this fantastic land designed by Disney Imagineer Eddie Sotto. Not only will we go through shops and restaurants up and down the street, but we’ll see some buildings you won’t find in your local Town Square. Join us as we look at Disney insight on Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris. If you are even remotely considering going to Paris to see this park, this podcast series will get you to book your next trip.
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The following is a video that captures the essence of walking down Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris:
Fantasia Gardens
Fantasia Gardens pays homage to the idea that European places to visit are first and foremost gardens. So the design here was to create a sense of place as guests first arrive to the park. It is framed by two bookends, the first being the Legacy statue, which has names of Disney legends who came from Europe. The other bookend is a Mickey Mouse floral portrait. Between this are ponds, fountains and beautiful fountains. You are quickly taken to another time and place away from the urban sprawl of Paris.
Disneyland Hotel
The Disneyland Hotel is more than the closest resort stay to the park itself. It also serves as the entrance to the park allowing you to purchase tickets and enter through the turnstiles. Attraction posters are found throughout and as you pass through you come to the Main Street Railroad Station.
Town Square
We arrive in Town Square where the entire street is cobblestone. Rather than a United States flag in the center, there is a gazebo, reminiscent of Disneyland back in 1955 which originally had one as well. Looking around everything is different and yet familiar. Many of the touches of Main Street in the Magic Kingdom can be found. But much of it is different as well. Still, the smell of popcorn and flowers in bloom are all around.
City Hall
City Hall takes its own architectural format unique compared to both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Inside Guest Relations can be found, as well as rooms dedicated to dealing with frustrated guests.
Storybook Store
This is a replica of a cast-iron style library, Music Man style. Tigger is there to stamp your books as you check out. There is no fire house here on Main Street.
Rounding the corner is a small residential home. It looks like something that belongs in Summer Magic to the Carey family.
Liberty Arcade
This shaded walkway behind the shops of Main Street is a celebration centered around the gift of the Statue of Liberty made by France to the United States. Exhibits can be found throughout and there is a tableau that features the dedication of the Statue in New York Harbor. Note the intricate mosaic tiles.
This was the first Casey’s which focuses on American red, white and blue decor. Note that you tend to move from masculine to feminine tones as you move back and forth. This restaurant is a showcase to the game of Baseball. It was so well done that Refreshment Center on Main Street in Magic Kingdom was changed to Casey’s.
Casey’s Corner
Disney & Company
This store showcases a Pike County Fair and Carnival with tributes to Americana in the mid-west.
Flower Street
An entrance to Liberty Arcade can be found here on on this side street. Lilly’s and Dapper Dan’s can also be found off this street.
Walt’s: An American Restaurant
The address here is 1401 Flower Street, the same as the headquarters of Walt Disney Imagineering. The lower level is a tribute to his family. The upper floor of the restaurant holds dining rooms with Imagineering art of each of the lands of the park.
Lilly’s Boutique
A retail compliment to Walt’s restaurant next door, Victorian elegance is is full of graceful touches and memorabilia of Walt and Lilly.
Dapper Dan’s Hair Cuts
This was a social point and there is attentive detail to the interior of this cutter, to include authentic period chairs from Northern California.
Emporium
The Emporium takes the major retail space on the right as you exit the park. On the exterior you see a similar look to Magic Kingdom. A dazzling stained glass dome shows that immigrant-born inventors. The system of gears, pulleys and conveyor belts serves to provide change to cashiers.
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