Picture this ...

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

OK ... so last night the Spirit was restless and decided to flip through 'Around the World With Disney' ... if you aren't familiar with it, the book was produced in 2005 for the Happiest Celebration on Earth and featured Cindy's Castle with Strange Mirror on the cover.

Now why was I just flipping through it for the first time you ask (yep, I do have ESPN and ESPN 2!) ... well, with a cover price of $21.95 and lots of publicity photos inside, I could never justify spending the money on it until it came down to a price I felt it was worth ... and finally it was 99 cents a few weeks back at Property Control, so I snagged it.

Page 8 immediately caught my attention (so kids, if you have the book please open and turn the page to 8) and that's when it hit me in the face ... all the changes to Main Street that I've been mentioning and bitching about ... right there in vivid color.

It seems that Disney used a photo likely from the late '80s, early '90s timeframe. Not a publicity shot. It was definitely pre-March 1999 because the Skyway is visible behind Cindy's.

Looking at the photo, I saw just how different things used to be. First, there were trees everywhere from Town Square down the Street to the Hub, which has large trees. Not the bare Blvd of empty storefronts now that ends at a Hub with a few saplings and no shade.

How about those Main Street vehicles? I know people say they still exist, but I guess they are only out prior to noon because I never see them. But in this photo, the Omnibus, jitney and two of the Horsedrawn Streetcars were out.

The Main Street Cinema was still there ... as an attraction ... likely the Penny Arcade too, but I couldn't tell.

And double-wide strollers? None.

ECV's? None.

A few strollers. That's it.

I just kind of looked at the photo for a while because it showed many things I've recalled, while others have called my memories 'rose-colored' ...

It's worth a look ... as is the book, but I wouldn't pay more than 99 cents for it.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

Thanks for posting this! Other than feeling like a sucker for paying $12 for the book online, I feel really good you bring this up.

I too flip through older books and looking at old shots down Main Street is quite jarring. The Plaza is the worst. All for an inconsequential temporary makeover of the castle and the fireworks. Fireworks by the way that are way too disruptive to the park's operations.

The makeover is gone, the fireworks will change, yet when are still stuck without the trees back in the Plaza. When are we going to get shade back?

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

Considering the type of trees put in, I'd say it'll be at least a decade (from now) before you get the real shade that once existed.

If they don't rip them out again.

They've been doing so again.

Fantasyland just had all of its mature trees taken out and replaced.

 

Originally Posted By Disneymom443

Were the trees taken out because of obstructed view or was there somthing wrong with the trees?

 

Originally Posted By pheneix

In a few rare cases that I know off some trees were removed because they died after the hurricanes back in 2004 and they were declared a fire hazard. Those trees were near Tower of Terror though.

The excuse I heard for removing the mature trees inside the Magic Kingdom is that they had grown larger than anticipated and they were messing with the scale of some of the buildings inside the park.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

^ That was the reason DL's hub was modified. Disneyworld's were all about sightlines for the fireworks, to make room for massive crowds because Cinderbrellascrumdiddlydumptios was going to be such a hit and us "foamers" didn't know what we were talking about, and to complement the artistic vision of the castle makeover as the gravestones did in EPCOT's plaza.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

So no more beautiful sparkling trees at night.

 

Originally Posted By basas

<<So no more beautiful sparkling trees at night.>>

I thought they were bringing back the sparkling lights?


I agree though- it's such a shame. Town Square is the one that really gets me. Disneyland's Town Square has huge, beautiful trees, colorful flowers, is paved with brick, has benches to sit on, etc. MK's looks bare as the baseball diamond near my house and is roped off half the time (for whatever reason) anyway. How hard is it to plant a few flowers? As for the trees, I just don’t understand why they keep taking out the large trees and replacing them with smaller ones- seems so unnecessary. Fantasyland looks like a tarmac, the Hub is nearly bare, Town Square (as mentioned) is bare, and you see out-of-park/backstage buildings all the time now from Liberty Square and Fantasyland. Anytime you look at a castle photo now you can immediately tell if it’s a new photo or an old one. In the old ones, you can see the huge trees near the hub and the castle rising up. In the new one, nearly bare.

 

Originally Posted By tonyanton

I'm glad I'm not the only one noticing show buildings without actively looking for them. The worst offenders: The Haunted Mansion (from the Liberty Belle and parts of LS), Small World (from near Pooh's junkyard), and back of the west side of the Main St. buildings from anywhere in front of the Crystal Palace area. Oh, one more: a gate next to the taco place in Adventureland with a plain view of the back of Pecos Bill I would guess.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

For about the last 3 years you can see the entire HOP/PHIL roofline complex from the opposite bank of ROA. Now some of that was indeed storm damage, but that's no excuse for it still not having been addressed.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

Great examples tonyanton!

 

Originally Posted By tonyanton

Thanks. I never noticed that one (re: post 10)...I know the roof of the HoP is themed because of it's size and subsequent visibililty from a distance.

While we're discussing this: has anyone noticed the facade bldg. of Philharmagic is very plain (no detailing) compared to Pooh or Snow White, which have some subtle stonework/castle themeing?

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

>>I know the roof of the HoP is themed because of it's size and subsequent visibililty from a distance. <<

It is. But that size has become much more visible and imposing because of the last three years of no trees.

Outside of the Plaza, the biggest violater is the HM. For decades they were able to hide the fact that the showbuildings wall was right to the right of the cemetary and left to the entrance. How hard is it to add more plantlife to pull of this illusion? Hopefully, this will be addressed during the refurb.

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

I love trees as much as anyone. I spend most of my time at WDW hugging all the trees. Well maybe that's a slight exaggeration. Anway I can understand them wanting to keep a clear site line to a castle that is constantly roped off from guest. The Main Street transportation does seem to be slowly disappearing. I feel it is going the way of the double decker buses in Epcot. I don't care how short the ride was or having to get out of their way, it gave Main Street more character. Speaking of character, has anybody else kind of lost that great Disney feel when you walk down Main Street. I know I'm finally at the MK, but it just doesn't quite feel the same to me anymore. That's how I judge any place I go, how it feels to be there.I still love the place, but something feels lacking. Maybe I just need a break from WDW for a while.

 

Originally Posted By vbdad55

^^^^^^^^^^

or maybe they just need to return Main Street to what it was when Walt drew it up....

 

Originally Posted By vbdad55

and that doesn't even carry a huge $$ ticket, it is just the blindness of current management as they tell everyone else what we want

 

Originally Posted By tonyanton

Regarding the M.S. vehicles...I think it is hit or miss these days. I was there for a few days in late May (just before Memorial Day) and every vehicle was running, even late in the day (except the horse-drawn streetcars). It was great to see.

 

Originally Posted By bobbelee9

"It" is definately there when they do that "walking right down the middle of Main Street, USA" routine. Chokes me up every time.
We rode the horse drawn last summer.
Why'd they get rid of topiary Mickey for "Partners"

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

>> to a castle that is constantly roped off from guest.<<

Which is a whole other problem that bugs me.

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

>> or maybe they just need to return Main Street to what it was when Walt drew it up.... <<

I guess that would be asking to much, wouldn't it.

>> Regarding the M.S. vehicles...I think it is hit or miss these days. I was there for a few days in late May (just before Memorial Day) and every vehicle was running, even late in the day (except the horse-drawn streetcars). It was great to see. <<

That's the problem, everything seems to be hit or miss now. My last trip I only saw the Horse-Drawn Streetcars, nothing else. Why can't everything be out everyday all day long. I just can't understand why they are not using what they've already got. Is it staffing, is it a safety issue, are you just to darn cheap to provide those things for my enjoyment, just tell me. I may not like your decision, but at least I would know where you stand on the issue. Is that to much to ask.