A Detailed Look at Disney’s Magic Kingdom: Main Street U.S.A.
There is nothing better than walking into the Magic Kingdom and being on Main Street U.S.A. With the castle in your sights, and beautiful buildings taking you back to the turn of the century, Main Street U.S.A. is not just the entrance to the rest of the park, it’s a part of the park to discover. From shops to restaurants, entertainment and characters, there’s lots to do here. Now Main Street U.S.A. opens an hour before the Magic Kingdom officially opens and stays open an hour after the park officially closes. So take a look at all the things there are to do and not to be missed in this part of the Magic Kingdom. Want to skip to a category? Simply click: Dining, Shopping, Entertainment, Characters and Attractions
Dining
Casey’s Corner
The ultimate place to grab a hot dog at the Magic Kingdom. 9 choices. These are actually meals, with apple slices or french fries. Casey’s Corner is open at 10:30am and stays open until park close. There are tables inside and outside.
A buffet-style restaurant featuring your favourite characters from the one hundred acre wood. You can dine here for any meal, they actually open at 8am for breakfast which gives you early entry into the park. We love dining here, it’s great for big groups and the whole family because of it’s large variety.
Main Street Bakery
Your Starbucks location at the Magic Kingdom. It’s always really really busy. There are other great coffee locations found around the park if you don’t want to wait in line. It’s open from park open until park close. There’s no seating here but there’s some great spots to sit in the courtyard found just off of Main Street.
The Plaza has a beautiful view of Cinderella’s Castle. It’s a small restaurant, and they serve lunch and dinner, breakfast during peak season. You’ll find All-American favourites at this original park restaurant. It’s an ideal spot to dine if you’re paying out of pocket but not the best value if you’re on the dining plan. Make sure to order one of their all you can drink milkshakes.
Plaza Ice Cream Parlour
This parlour is found at the end of the Main Street on the eastern side of the street. Here’s where you can find the Mickey’s Kitchen Sink Sundae, with your souvenir container. There’s also a large variety of sundaes, floats, and cones. A great use of your dining plan snack credits. Open from 11am until park close.
A must for any fan of Lady and the Tramp, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant is based on the Tony’s restaurant from the film. It’s an Italian restaurant with a large dining room, garden room and outdoor patio. A great place to come and watch the Festival of Fantasy Parade. Make sure to order the Tiramisu for your dessert. When you dine here you can pair it with the Festival of Fantasy Parade Dining Package and get special entrance to a viewing area for the parade. The menu is full of pastas: lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli, fettuccine. There’s also pizza and chicken parmigiana. They have a nice selection of wine. Tony’s is open for lunch and dinner, opening at 11am until 9:30pm. Tony’s is located at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom on the eastern side of the Town Square.
Shopping
Box Office Gifts
You walk through this shop to get to the character meet and greets. Here you’ll find accessories for your phone, MagicBands, and camera accessories.
The Chapeau
THE place to find your headgear at the Magic Kingdom. Here’s where you can get your Mickey Ears personalized and also a large variety of Minnie Ears.
Curtain Call Collectibles
The gift shop as your exiting your meet and greet with Mickey Mouse, one of our favourites on property. You can always find some fantastic Melissa & Doug Disney toys. Of course there’s also the Mickey and Minnie plush toys of the small, medium and large variety.
Crystal Arts
Here you’ll find exquisite one of a kind pieces, from jewelry to figurines, you’ll find things here you can’t find anywhere else. Also you can watch an artist hand blow glass right in front of you. Crystal Arts is located beside Main Street Bakery, be careful of coming in here with young kids.
Disney Clothiers
On the Western side of Main Street U.S.A. is this clothing store that has a section for each member of the family. A section for men, with both dress attire and casual dress, women’s clothing, kid’s clothing and girl’s dress up clothing, with all kinds of accessories. This is a very popular place to come in the evening while waiting for the fireworks. So do yourself a favour and shop here first thing in the morning, in the hour before the park officially opens.
Emporium
The first store on the Western side of Main Street U.S.A. Here you’ll find MagicBands, mugs, books, photo albums, plush toys, beach towels and so much more! A great spot to find souvenirs. Open from park open until park close.
This hidden gem is a must do for anyone bringing their young child to Disney World. It’s here where you can have your child have their first haircut. The first haircut package includes a lock of your child’s hair, a certificate and Mickey Ears with Child’s first haircut written on the back. It can turn a distressing first haircut into a magical experience. Call ahead to book your child’s appointment, they also do men’s cuts as well. For more information check out this previous post.
Main Street Confectionery
The Confectionery is a magical place, here’s where they make delicious character apples, dip rice krispie treats in chocolate, and sample items to guests visiting the store. It’s a great place to come and redeem DP snack credits to bring home with you. Open from park open to park close.
Uptown Jewelers
Connected to the Confectionery, Uptown Jewelers is home to all kinds of jewellery for every budget. Whether you’re looking to drop $20 or a couple thousand, there will be plenty for you to choose from. This is also a great location to look at the many designer purses found at the Disney parks. Don’t forget, you can have your purchase brought back to your resort. Save you from carrying around an expensive purchase for the rest of your park day.
Entertainment
Casey’s Corner Pianist
Found outside of Casey’s Corner, this pianist entertains you with old time classics that put you back in the era Main Street U.S.A. represents. The pianist plays in the afternoon, grab a hot dog from Casey’s Corner or an ice cream from The Plaza Ice Cream Parlour and enjoy the entertainment.
Citizens of Main Street
Throughout the morning you’ll find these citizens wandering around Main Street U.S.A. ready to interact with guests and make your day more magical.
The Dapper Dans
Sporadically walking down Main Street U.S.A. you’ll come across The Dapper Dans. This foursome will sing you some tunes, in their smart looking outfits. In a cappella, this quartet will sing Americana favourites and old school Disney favourites. You’ll find them along the street throughout the morning and the afternoon.
Festival of Fantasy Parade
Main Street U.S.A. is the final destination for the Festival of Fantasy Parade. This is where many people choose to watch the parade. I would recommend Liberty Square for an optimal viewing place. The parade typically ends up here around 3:15pm, the time sheet will say the parade is at 3pm but that’s when it starts at Frontierland. So it will end up on Main Street around 3:15pm.
Flag Retreat
Every single day at 5pm, head towards the top of Main Street U.S.A. for a 15 minute ceremony retiring the American flag for the day. The ceremony is done to the playing of Star Spangled Banner, and one guest veteran will receive the flag of that day as a thank you for their service.
Happily Ever After
The firework show display happening every single night at the Magic Kingdom. Any place on Main Street U.S.A. will give you a great view of the fireworks in the sky and the projections on the castle.
Let the Magic Begin
Start the day with this incredible show in front of the castle. Your favourite characters open the parade with Mickey Mouse and of course some fireworks. The show only lasts about 5 minutes, so you can either take it in right in front of the castle or watch from any of the land entrances. We like to take it in at least one of our Magic Kingdom days.
Main Street Trolley Show
We’ve only seem this once, but it was so fun I would definitely stop and watch it again. Performers travel on Main Street vehicles down Main Street U.S.A. dressed for the appropriate season. They’ll stop in the middle of the street to perform a song and dance.
Main Street Philharmonic
Throughout the day a Marching band with all the incredible instruments will come marching down Main Street U.S.A. You’ll see them twice, at 1:40 and 3:50pm. A truly beautiful sight, all in matching uniform, this marching band is a great addition to anyone’s day.
Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire
In front of Cinderella’s Castle is a spectacular stage show featuring Mickey and his friends. They invite the newest princesses to their party: Tiana, Rapunzel, Elsa and Anna are all in attendance. They all sing the songs that you know and love. The stage show happens 5 times a day, try to fit it in earlier in the day before the heat of the afternoon.
Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party
Three times a day, this singalong dance party goes down Main Street and stops in front of Cinderella’s Castle. It features Donald, Daisy, Clarabelle and Goofy and gets everyone up and dancing. It’s a fun parade for the whole family. Check your daily time sheet to confirm the time on the day of your visit.
Once Upon a Time
Nightly, projection are put on Cinderella’s Castle to the tune of Disney favourites.
Characters
From park open until park close, head to the Town Square Theatre to meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed to celebrate Mickey’s 90th birthday. You can grab FastPasses for this meet and greet, which I would strongly recommend.
Come to the Town Square Theatre and enter Pixie Hollow to meet Tinker Bell. The cast member will sprinkle you with magic dust to shrink you down to fairy size to meet this feisty fairy. Also open from park open to park close, you can grab a FastPass for this character meet and greet too.
Attractions
Horses
Take a horse drawn trolley down Main Street U.S.A. The only time you’ll find these trolleys going is first thing in the morning. Once the parades begin the trolleys seize operation so make sure to grab a ride first thing.
Main Street Vehicles
Hop on one of the vehicles, they’ll take you from the top of Main Street U.S.A. to the front of Cinderella’s Castle and back. The only place to disembark is at the top of Main Street or Cinderella’s Castle.
Railroad
Hop on the railroad to gain quick access to Frontierland and Fantasyland. The railroad runs throughout the park day but does close before the fireworks display, so don’t rely on it at the end of your park day. When you hop on the railroad at this stop your next stop will be Frontierland.
Each of the six areas of the Magic Kingdom has so much to explore. Get more details with these previous posts:
Breakfast at the Magic Kingdom
Happy Planning, Friends.
