Changes

Main Street USA is themed to be a turn of the century, small American town. The land took much of its inspiration from Walt's boyhood hometown of Marceline, Missouri. Main Street opened along with the rest of the Magic Kingdom in 1971, with the opening day attractions of: the [[Walt Disney World Railroad]], the [[Main Street Vehicles]] (the Jitney, Fire Engine, Horseless Carriage, Horse Cars and Omnibus), the Penny Arcade, the Main Street Cinema, and the Harmony Barber Shop<ref> http://thisdayindisneyhistory. The Walt Disney Railroad took guests around the park in a real steam engine stopping in [[Frontierland]]homestead.com/disneyworldgrandopening.html </ref>.

In 1973 Main Street USA got two major additions, the Swan Boats and the Walt Disney Story<ref name= "story"> http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id140.htm </ref> <ref name= "swan"> http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id42.htm </ref>. The Swan Boats were located at the hub of the Magic Kingdom and allowed guests to peddle around both the hub and the [[Swiss Family Treehouse]]<ref name= "swan"/>. The Walt Disney Story on the other hand was a biographical movie about Walt himself which was located in Located in the Gulf Hospitality House<ref name= "story"/>.

The first major closure in Main Street USA happened in 1983 when the Swan Boats closed<ref name= "swan"/>. The boats (which had originally numbered eleven) had been cut down to five before being closed, with the explanation given that they were too expensive to keep running<ref name= "swan"/>. In 1992 Main Street lost another attraction when the Walt Disney Story closed due to the fact that the film was becoming too deteriorated to keep showing<ref name= "story"/>. At this time, a gift shop and information center known as the Exposition Hall replaced the Hospitality House and thus The Walt Disney Story<ref name= "story"/>.

In 1995 the Penny Arcade, which had been an opening day attraction also closed its doors<ref> http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id90.htm </ref>. It was replaced (along with the Main Street Bookstore and the House of Magic) by the new Main Street Athletic Club (a shop)<ref> https://d23.com/a-to-z/main-street-athletic-club/ </ref>. Another opening day attraction would soon follow in the Penny Arcade's footsteps, when in 1998 the Main Street Cinema was redone. Instead of being a classic movie theater like it had always been, the Cinema was rethemed to become an Art of Disney gift shop<ref> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/msusa.htm </ref>. During the refurbishment, the facade on the outside of the cinema was changed to read “Now Showing: The Art of Disney”. Perhaps in homage to the old cinema, guests can still see old Disney shorts being played on a screen in the back of the current shop. In 2001 the next major change happened when the Harmony Barbershop was moved from West Center Street to Town Square<ref name= "widen"> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/msusa.htm </ref>. The move was made so that the Emporium could expand into what had previously been the barbershop<ref name= "widen"/>.

In February of 2014 Disney announced that the "hub" section of Main Street USA would be redeveloped<ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/main-street-usa/news/25feb2014-photos---magic-kingdom's-hub-set-for-big-changes-to-help-traffic-flow-and-provide-more-fireworks-viewing-locations.htm </ref>. As part of this redevelopment the Rose Garden and the former landing of the Swan Boats were removed. In their place, new lush courtyards were added, as well as mew walkways which were designed to ease crowed congestion<ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/main-street-usa/news/26feb2015-photos-and-video---take-a-walkthrough-of-the-new-main-street-plaza-west-at-the-magic-kingdom.htm </ref>. Furthermore, the seating areas outside of [[Casey's Corner]] and [[The Plaza Restaurant]] were expanded. In February of 2015 the Main Street Plaza Gardens West and the Main Street Plaza Gardens East opened to guests<Ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/main-street-usa/news/02mar2015-photos---main-street-plaza-gardens-east-opens-to-guests.htm </ref> <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/main-street-usa/news/26feb2015-photos-and-video---take-a-walkthrough-of-the-new-main-street-plaza-west-at-the-magic-kingdom.htm </ref>. Besides featuring new foliage and water features, these gardens also house special FastPass + Wishes viewing areas<Ref> http://www.mousesteps.com/denises-corner-mainmenu-121/1571-review-of-fastpass-wishes-viewing-area-in-expanded-hub-at-the-magic-kingdom </ref>.