Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Since WDW is so fond of "back-stories" for just about every action and behavior that transpires in the Magic Kingdom. I thought we could all help out Spirit of 74 with a "back-story" for the conversion of the westside of Main Street into a giant World of Disney ( dare I say ) Walmart.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Alas, Mickey Mouse's Kingdom had fallen on hard times. No longer where sidewalks being steam cleaned each and every night. Despite the fact that business remain brisk in the shops up and down Main Street, the Mayor decided something had to be done! A meeting was called to order. All the shop keepers, tinkers and tailors decided that the best practical business solution would be to merge all shops into a co-op reminiscent of that great far away place known as Walmart land. A great disagreement existed with the shop keepers on the eastern side of Main Street. The bakers, barbers, ice cream makers, confectionists and florists decided the best course of action was to continue separate business but to eliminate trifle offerings for example by limiting ice cream selections to a handful of flavors, as well as eliminating honey mustard and flavored butter in select eateries. Winnie the Pooh was incensed and marched off the the Crystal Palace. And that is how it came to pass that the western side of Main Street is all one shop and the eastern side of Main Street still retains it's individual shops and boutiques.
Originally Posted By MPierce I just thought it was a high dollar flea-market for Princess, and Pirates regalia.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Thanks, KT for the attempt. I do seriously believe that you put more thought into the posts above than Disney did in allowing Phil Holmes and retail to run roughshod over theming and show.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer I now fully support the idea of opening up the Emporium as one long store. Slipping through it was the only way to make it to the Hub to see MMM after the MSEP rolled though Town Square. ;-)
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Slipping through it was the only way to make it to the Hub to see MMM after the MSEP rolled though Town Square. ;-) << Why not support it because it's not going to change. We want it to feel just like a strip mall. Push that generic merchandise, that's what made us all fall in love with Disney, right. Main Steet USA is slowly losing all of it's charm.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer MS WEST is loosing it's charm. MS East, and the streetmosphere is still intact, IMHO. There's still some unique shops on West, including the jewlery shops, and when the characters are out, the mood is heightened. Also... Love Center Street. Always seem to find myself there after the parade and fireworks just standing there drinking it all in.
Originally Posted By MPierce Strip Mall with generic merchandise. If you went into any small town square across America in the past you would not find any stores linked together. You now never know if the MS vehicles will be out or not. Can you say there is as much street entertainment in the MK as there was 10 years ago? Yes Center street is charming when nobody else is around you.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>You now never know if the MS vehicles will be out or not. Can you say there is as much street entertainment in the MK as there was 10 years ago?<<< I've never seen them not out. The only thing that has been missing, for me, is the street car show with "Walkin' down the middle of MSUSA".
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I've never seen them not out. << You're lucky. It has always been hit, and miss for me. My trip in 2009 was the first time I've ever seen the green 2 story bus at the MK.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 WHAT??? No Walking Right Down the Middle of Main Street USA????? That always chokes me up to hear it. Now I'm ready to start crying at the prospect of not seeing it.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Main Street USA might as well be an outlet mall ... it has that feel now most of the time (at the holidays it is much better) ... but the prices aren't outlet store level ... like yesterday when I bought 10 pins (many that were originally $15.95 level) for $10 plus tax at mine! (Pssst ... don't tell Em this because she'll think I'm really into pins, which I am not ... but I do feel they are nice items when they are 99 cents!)
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Bobbelee- have not seen that show since 2005. Maybe its just me. Spirit- what pins did ya get?
Originally Posted By -em >>Pssst ... don't tell Em this because she'll think I'm really into pins, which I am not ... but I do feel they are nice items when they are 99 cents!)<< Denial- Dear Spirit is not just a river... But the better question- whatja get that I need >>Bobbelee- have not seen that show since 2005. Maybe its just me. << It's just you. Its run as recently as May 28th (which is last time I was at the MK early morning) Picture proof is at 365 (for 5/28-3rd pic)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Denial- Dear Spirit is not just a river... But the better question- whatja get that I need >> My Dearest Em, Denial isn't just a river, but it also is a thriving eco-system for all sort of wild life, so you are correct. As to what I got, first let me state that at 99 cents a piece I would have likely gotten about 25-30 in the past. NO, EM, NOT BECAUSE I AM A PIN FREA... I MEAN GEEK ;-) ... But because there is value at that pricepoint. Unfortunately, I am having some banking 'issues' right now that are limiting my discretionary spending. ***Didn't that sound like a Spirited disclaimer? I know it did ... Doesn't it seem like the Spirit is talking to himself? Yeah! I thought so too! Anyway, they had about 1/2 their selections for 99 cents. I will not say in such a public forum what I may have purchased, but I will tell you what they had that I can recall. They had two MK Halloween LE pins (not attractive) with the bride and Leota and Mansion in background... CBR with Mickey ... a Disney Dollar with Scrooge ... pretty much every PoC movie pin (at least 20 different ones, including danglers) ... the absurd (as I have mentioned here before) LE series of aliens from TS with the days of the week (all seven) ... The LE Main Street Gazette series with BTMRR and TT ...The Featured Attraction Collection versions of Mission Space with Stitch, BTMRR with Donald, It's a Small World with Minnie and Kali River Rapids (not sure with who, so obviously I didn't get that one) ... a LE Figment from 2008 where he is an artist painting his name ... (Good thing I haven't had any wine yet since I'm doing this from memory) ... Mickey's 80th Anniversary LE ... one with a bunch of princesses ... Disney's Wildlife Conservation pins (the ones you get with a donation) ... MK and EPCOT pins that are like pewter in color (ugly as hell) ...and that's all I can recall right now. They were going very fast. A CM pal (who 'found' me an extra of one that had 'sold out' in the back) informed me they would be having an event on July 6th. I have the feeling they are holding back MANY. I also am convinced Disney is going to be doing this more often as it tries to hook folks on vinyl, even if it means selling pins for what they are worth.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Oh, also was told that they'll be doing all sorts of 99 cent deals all summer at least at my store to 'move merchandise that is just sitting' ... In the past few weeks I have bought TSMM tees and a special Spirited poster with Minnie and a little girl (HEY ... NO CRACKS FANBOIS! I BOUGHT IT CAUSE IT SAYS SPIRIT AND HAS THE CASTLE IN IT!!!) for 99 cents each. They aren't making big deals of the deals, they're just marking stuff down and mixing it in with the other merchandise and seeing what happens. Have no idea if this is just my local outlet or all of them in FLA.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>It's just you. Its run as recently as May 28th (which is last time I was at the MK early morning) Picture proof is at 365 (for 5/28-3rd pic)<<< Oh, great!!! It's a wonderful show.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>They had two MK Halloween LE pins (not attractive) with the bride and Leota and Mansion in background... CBR with Mickey ... a Disney Dollar with Scrooge ... pretty much every PoC movie pin (at least 20 different ones, including danglers) ... the absurd (as I have mentioned here before) LE series of aliens from TS with the days of the week (all seven) ... The LE Main Street Gazette series with BTMRR and TT ...The Featured Attraction Collection versions of Mission Space with Stitch, BTMRR with Donald, It's a Small World with Minnie and Kali River Rapids (not sure with who, so obviously I didn't get that one) ... a LE Figment from 2008 where he is an artist painting his name ... (Good thing I haven't had any wine yet since I'm doing this from memory) ... Mickey's 80th Anniversary LE ... one with a bunch of princesses ... Disney's Wildlife Conservation pins (the ones you get with a donation) ... MK and EPCOT pins that are like pewter in color (ugly as hell) ...and that's all I can recall right now.<<< Gonna have to investigate those HM Pins...
