West Center Street at the Magic Kingdom has been gone from Main Street since 2001 when the Emporium expanded. East Center Street still exists as a quiet reprieve from a busy area of the park. There are peaceful alcoves and storefronts that help tell the story of a Main Street that’s not quite as bustling.
Why should you care about West Center Street and its loss?
Our Video Of West Center Street
The image that initially caught my attention was from a friend who shared his parent’s Disney World vacation photos from 1972 and 1973. The mother was standing in front of a storefront with iron poles supporting a canopy. There were also flowers everywhere. Was this the area I remembered from my first visits to the Magic Kingdom?
Do you remember the quaint shops in the area? Did you ever get a chance to experience this long-gone section on Main Street?
Expanding the retail space of Main Street and the Emporium made sense for a 2001 Magic Kingdom that was still seeing attendance rise after the Millennium and 100 Years of Magic Celebrations. The expansion also offers a guests an easier way to stay out of the rain, the brutal sun, or exit during a parade.
More vintage Magic Kingdom Photos:
The enclosing of Center Street increased the retail space in the Magic Kingdom. But it’s also the way I exit during the day, partially to avoid the crowds and (mostly) to enjoy some air conditioning. But is that tradeoff enough for removing a bit of Main Street realism?
What do you think about the expansion of the Emporium and the loss of part of Center Street?
Disney World Tickets & Travel
MiceChat and our partners at Get Away Today offer you amazing savings on Disney tickets and travel from coast to coast!
There are a lot of great things coming up . . . Halloween, Christmas, the opening of Rise of the Resistance, Food & Wine Festival, and more. Lock in the savings now!
MiceChat WDW Invasion . . . Come Join Us:
Join Dusty and a whole lot of other MiceChatters for a trip to Disney World this October. We’ll eat our way through the Food & Wine Festival and do all the Halloween things!
Mickey’s Halloween Party – October 17, 2019
Join us for the Magic Kingdom’s Halloween Party. The MiceChat group will meet up early and then head off together for parades, fireworks, and some trick-or-treating. Click the link to our Facebook event page (HERE) and let us know if you’ll be joining us.
MiceChat Sip and Nibble – October 18, 2019
If you haven’t done a Sip and Nibble with us, it’s time you do. We’ve found the best way to visit Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. We take turns buying bites and drinks from each of the festival kiosks and share with the group. It’s a great way to try everything without breaking the bank. It’s also a fantastic day of friendship and fun. Let us know if you’ll be joining us on our Food and Wine Festival Event Page (HERE)
Halloween Horror Nights Meetup – October 19, 2019
Are you up for more of a Halloween challenge? We absolutely love Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. There’s safety in numbers, so help muffle Dusty’s screams and join us for a meetup at one of the country’s top haunts. More information (HERE)
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