Continuing from where we left off last time, let’s go back down Main Street to the plaza inside the train station.  Here you see the band stand in the center of the Main Street loop, with the train station and the Disneyland Hotel in the background.

The east side of the plaza has buildings for the Main Street vehicles, stroller rental and restrooms.  Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of those locations due to walls and scrims being in place for renovations.  The left side of those buildings is the Bixby Babies Shop, pictured above.  As you might expect, this store focuses on baby clothes and accessories.

Next as you continue around is the Discovery Arcade south entrance, pictured on the far right of the photo.  The other store fronts (covered by walls) include the Town Square Photography shop and the Boardwalk Candy Palace.  The photography shop occupies the corner location on this side of the street.

As you make your way past the Candy Palace (behind the scrims on the right side of the picture) the next shop is Disney Clothiers Ltd, offering more souvenirs and especially clothing for kids.

The next facade is one of my favorites on Main Street at Disneyland Paris: Main Street Motors.  I love how three dimensional the facade appears, as well as the vintage billboards above the shop.  The story for this shop is that it is the town garage, which is reinforced by the red brick paving that goes from Main Street into the facade under the Auto Service sign.  Alas, inside is just more clothes, primarily for adults at this location.

East Center Street really only offers alternate entrances to the shops and restaurants along Main Street.  There is also plentiful outdoor seating for the nearby quick service food locations.  It’s also a great area to get away from the bustle of all the foot traffic along Main Street, and each time I went by there were not many people hanging around the area.

The Market House Delicatessen anchors the corner opposite Main Street Motors.  This Quick Service dining location offers sandwiches and baked goods.  The decor of the interior resembles a general store to some degree, with tin containers lining the walls and even a potbelly stove.  You can also find the party line phones inside here!

Continuing up Main Street you will find Harrington’s Fine China and Porcelains.  This shop specializes in kitchen and cooking related souvenirs.  It also has decorative items similar to Lilly’s across the street.

As you approach the end of Main Street, you get a couple opportunities to satisfy your sweet tooth.  The first location you come across is the Cable Car Bake Shop.  The shop offers cookies, donuts and other baked sweets in a Victorian setting.  There is also a walk-up window if you’d like to grab something quickly.  In the photo the entrance to the seating area is on the left, while the walk-up window is on the right.  Be aware that the interior portion of the shop may not always be operating.

Last, but not least, you find the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlour at the end of the street.  They offer the expected ice cream cones and sundaes.  I was actually surprised that it is sponsored by Ben and Jerry’s rather than one of the European brands of ice cream!  The left side of this building (the part with the second story balcony) is Victoria’s Home-Style Restaurant.  This is a table service restaurant that offers pizza, hot sandwiches, and salads.

So that’s the tour of Main Street USA!  Overall the attention to detail is excellent, with many small touches throughout the buildings that really make them feel “real.”

Next up: Frontierland!  I look forward to sharing the similarities and differences in the French take on the American Old West!

Disneyland Paris, like all Magic Kingdom parks, starts you off with a representation of the century idealized American small town life.  Also like the other parks, it allows you to experience a grand unveiling as you enter the park much like the opening act of a movie or theatrical production.

A major difference will strike you immediately: the entrance gates are actually on the ground level under the Disneyland Hotel.  Entering this way is particularly striking, because the hotel is quite beautiful itself as well as the fact that a view of the park is completely hidden until after you enter.

As you enter the main gates, the park is still somewhat hidden.  A small plaza sits on the far side of the gates, and you approach the Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station as you cross the plaza.  Crossing the tracks via tunnels underneath, you get your first view of the park itself.  The layout is generally very similar to other Magic Kingdom parks, with a circular street on the entrance end, a long straight street, and terminating in another circular street at the hub.  It has the center cross street here as well.

A major difference are the Liberty and Discovery Arcades…arcades in the traditional sense, not the kind with video games!  These covered walkways run parallel to Main Street, at the back sides of the shops.  The Liberty Arcade is on the left as you enter (West) and the Discovery Arcade is on the right (East).  All the shops have entrances to the arcades as well.  The Arcades provide easy access to travel the length of Main Street while avoiding the bulk of the crowds, particularly if it is close to a parade time.  They also provide great shelter in the case of inclement weather, something not unusual in Northern France.

Let’s walk down Main Street and examine the locations on the West side of the street.  Starting in the train station plaza, you have the City Hall on your left, which has the same amenities and services found in every City Hall at other Magic Kingdom Parks.  Attached on the right hand side is a small book store called The Storybook Store.  On the left side of City Hall is the Arboretum, which is pretty much just the restrooms.

Continuing around the left side you have the South entrance to the Liberty Arcade, which gives you easy access to Frontierland and Adventureland, as well as the rear entrances to all the shops on this side of the street.

Next is a sight familiar to Disney Parks visitors around the world: the Main Street Emporium.  Like its sister stores around the world, the store actually extends quite a ways up the street.  Other facades, like the Main Street Gazette and Bixby Brothers, may look like different stores on the outside but are all part of the Emporium on the inside.  You will find all the typical merchandise, including clothes, plush items, and other souvenirs.

When you reach the Center Street on the left, you have an entrance to Liberty Arcade labelled Liberty Court.  Tucked away at the back on the left is Dapper Dan’s, “For a haircut & shave just like the good old days”

Next is a unique restaurant to Disneyland Paris: Walt’s – An American Restaurant.  It’s a table service restaurant, where most of the tables are actually on the second floor.  This provides a unique perspective on Main Street while dining, especially if it’s a parade time.  The food is “Refined American Style cuisine.”

After Walt’s (at least on the street level) is another conjoined store, Lilly’s Boutique/Disney & Co., which is continuous on the inside and again offers an assortment of souvenirs.  Lilly’s Boutique has a bit more of a focus on kitchen and cooking items.

The last location on the West side of Main Street is another familiar location: Casey’s Corner.  Like other similar locations, it offers a Quick Service menu that centers on Hot Dogs, Fries, and soft drinks.  Betcha can’t guess what brand!

The far side of the facades provides the North entrance to the Liberty Arcade.

The next post will detail the East side of Main Street, and then we will progress around the park, examining the similarities and differences at Disneyland Paris.  Feel free to leave questions or comments!