Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Park at Disneyland Resort Paris. The names are different but the parks are very similar. Both were the first Parks to open at each Resort, have castles at their centre and have the same basic layout.
Common to both Parks is good ol’ Main Street, U.S.A. Inspired by Walt Disney’s childhood home of Marceline, Mo., is a recreation of an early 20th century main street.
But before setting foot on Main Street, I should point out that guests walk through an unusual entrance at the Paris Park. The Disneyland Hotel is situated right at the Park’s entrance, and guests must walk under the hotel to enter the Park. They then walk under the Railroad station just as in Walt Disney World.
Once inside the Park, guests find themselves in Town Square, with City Hall on the left and stroller/wheelchair rental on the right. In both Parks Main Street is made up of shops, restaurants and counter service eateries. Casey’s hot dog fans will be pleased to find a Casey’s Corner at Disneyland Park just like at Magic Kingdom Park. The largest Disney store in the Park can be found on the left side of the street in both Parks, where you’re sure to find something to suit all tastes. 
A signature of all Disney “Magic Kingdom” Parks is the Railroad that runs around the perimeter of the Park, with a station at the Park’s entrance. Disneyland Park’s is called “Disneyland Railroad” and also stops off at Frontierland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland. On its 30 minute round trip around the Park the train passes through a Grand Canyon diorama, the caves in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, and the facade of it’s a small world. The Magic Kingdom’s “Walt Disney World Railroad” takes passengers on a 20 minute round trip, visiting stations in Frontierland and Mickeys Toontown Fair along the way.
Main Street Vehicles are a fun way for guests to travel the length of the Street in both Parks. Paris’ consist of a fire truck, double decker omnibus, a paddy wagon, a limousine, along with a horse-drawn streetcar. Orlando’s are a horse-drawn tram, carriage, jitney and vintage fire-engine.
Unique to Disneyland Park are the two covered arcades that run parallel with Main Street, behind the shops and restaurants. Built with the Paris weather in mind they are not only a great place to shelter from the cold and rain, but also a handy way to quickly exit the Park during the parades. The shops and counter service cafes on Main Street have entrances/windows onto the arcades, along with a few tables where guests can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee in the warmth. Liberty Arcade on the left side of the Street features a small exhibition commemorating the Statue of Liberty, while Discovery Arcade runs along the right side of the Street.
One of the first things that guests notice as they enter each Park is the Park’s, and even Resort’s, main icon – the Castle. At the top of Magic Kingdom’s Main Street, U.S.A. stands Cinderella Castle. Whilst Disneyland Park’s icon is Sleeping Beauty Castle, also know as Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant (literally “The Castle of the Beautiful Girl Asleep in the Woods.”)
The Castles are very different, both in appearance, and what can be found inside.
Sleeping Beauty Castle is 43m (141ft) tall and is home to two shops on ground level. Guests who choose to venture below the Castle to La Tanière du Dragon will find a 27m long audio animatronic sleeping dragon who occasionally stirs from his slumber to breath smoke. Upstairs in the Castle is a much nicer room featuring beautiful stained glass windows, rich tapestries and books depicting the story of Sleeping Beauty. Guests can also walk out onto a small balcony overlooking part of Fantasyland.
Cinderella Castle stands somewhat taller at 57m (189ft) and is home to Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique on ground level. Upstairs is the incredibly popular Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant, where princes and princesses can dine with Cinderella and friends. Large mosaics showing the story of Cinderella line the Castle walkthrough.
Both Castles utilise forced perspective to make the Castles look bigger than they actually are, with “bricks” getting smaller the further up the Castle they are. They are also each decorated with tiny fairy lights each holiday season, and used as centrepieces for Resort celebrations such as Disneyland Park’s 15th Anniversay and Magic Kingdom’s 25th Anniversary.
Between Main Street and the Castle is Central Plaza at Disneyland Park, home to the Royal Castle Stage, used to stage shows such as Candleabration. Pathways to each of the Park’s four lands lead off from Central Plaza, which is also used for character meet and greets.
Magic Kingdom’s hub is laid out in a similar fashion, but the stage is located right in front of the Castle rather than at the hub. Four pathways lead off the hub to various lands, and again the hub area is used for character meet and greets.
As you can see, Main Street, U.S.A. has many similarities but also quite a few differences between the Parks. As the first experience guests get of each park, the Street’s job is to transport people from the reality of the outside world into the magic of Disney and I think it does a pretty good job. With the wonderfully themed buildings and catchy Disney music playing in the background, there shouldn’t be too many guests who haven’t left the real world behind by the time they reach the Castle!
Next time: Adventureland
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