Main Street Vehicles

Main Street Vehicles

          When Walt was designing Disneyland he wanted Main Street to be a representation of Main Street in any small town in America. He "populated" his town with everyday shops that you would normally find.

          When the park first opened there was an Apothecary (pharmacy), Watch Shop, Music Store and a Ladies Bra Shop along with a Market, Clothing Stores, Emporium, Magic Shop, Candy Store, Chrystal Shop and other shops and entertainment you would find on Main Street, Anywhere, U.S.A.

          To add to the ambiance and complete the emotional feel of being in a small town back in the 1910 or so Walt added vehicles you might have seen if you were there. There are the Horsedrawn-Street Cars, Fire Engine, Horseless Carriage and Omnibus. All of these show the development of transportation in America. All of the vehicles are a relaxing way to see Main Street.

          So climb aboard a vintage vehicle for a ride back in time. Whether it's a fiery red fire engine, a horse-drawn carriage or one of those new fangled cars, there's nothing like the Main Street Vehicles for a one-way, turn-of-the-century trip. There are two stops on this ride and you can start at either end of Main Street. The stops are at the Town Square end below the Main Street Train Station and around the Central Hub at the front of Castle.

Fire Engine, presented by National Car Rental

          This candy apple red fire engine is ready to rescue tired and hurried feet, and whisk them safely to the other end of Main Street, U.S.A. on a one-way trip. This little engine stops in Town Square and near Sleeping Beauty Castle in Central Plaza. This is a great ride for the young and young at heart. You can ring the bell at the back of the Fire Engine as you travel down Main Street. If your kids are very good they may be awarded a Jr. Firefighter Badge sticker.

Horseless Carriage, presented by National Car Rental

          Ah-ooo-ga! This vintage, open-air car turns heads as it putters down Main Street, U.S.A. Meticulously modeled after authentic 1903 vehicles, all its horses are under the hood! Catch a one-way ride in Town Square or in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle near Central Plaza. Feel free to chat with your driver as you go down Main Street and get information about the history of Main Street.

Omnibus, presented by National Car Rental

          Get a vintage vantage point from this Omnibus as it tools gently on a one-way trip down Main Street, U.S.A. Modeled after a 1920 New York City double-decker, this 45-passenger bus stops in Town Square and near Sleeping Beauty Castle in Central Plaza.

          Ride on the top level and check out the Second Story Windows of the Main Street Buildings. Listen to your driver tell you about the shops and some of the Main Street Windows.

Horse-Drawn Streetcars, presented by National Car Rental

          Hop on a glossy streetcar drawn by one of our barnyard beauties for a one-way trip down Main Street, U.S.A. This turn-of-the-century conveyance carries up to 30 passengers, picking up at Town Square and Sleeping Beauty Castle in Central Plaza.

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Horse-Drawn Streetcars of Disneyland

Horse-Drawn Streetcars

       There is a often overlooked attraction on Main Street U.S.A., the Horse-Drawn Streetcars. This slow moving one way trip down Main Street is a treasure that many people walk past. It is quite latterly easy to 'walk past' this ride as the average person can often walk down Main Street faster than the streetcars. What a treasure you miss if you do rush past!

       A ride on the Horse-Drawn Streetcars is a ride back in time. It is a wonderful slow ride that gives you a chance to take in the feeling of Main Street. It is a romantic ride when taken with your love, a perfect place to cuddle as the horses hooves go clip clop and the streetcar gently rocks slightly back and forth. It is also a great way to give your poor Disney abused feet a little rest.

       Relax and enjoy the view and take your time as you take a look at Walt's ideal Main Street U.S.A. Enjoy the shop window displays and the smells of the Candy Kitchen. Did you notice the new fangled Red Truck selling Corn Dogs at the end of Main Street near the Photography Shop? How about the street lights? Notice how they change from the "new" electric powered to the old gas lamps.

       Several times a day the Dapper Dans come out and sing on Main Street. Sometimes the Dapper Dans ride the Horse-Drawn Streetcars along with the guests giving the guests a personal concert. This is a special treat!

       This ride as two stops, you can get on and either end of Main Street as long as you get off at the other. There is one stop at the Town Square on Main Street just below the Main Street Train Station. The other stop is right in front of Cinderella's Castle.

       The horses that pull the streetcars are specially picked and trained. They are housed at the Circle D Ranch behind Toontown. They only work a few hours a week and love their jobs from what I've seen.

       Eddie was new to the Disney Stables when I first saw him. He enjoyed pulling the streetcar so much the drivers had their hands full holding him still as the streetcar was loading. He was not misbehaving or upset he just wanted to be moving and seemed to like the sound of happy guests in the car behind him. When the car was stopped for more than a few minutes he would swing his great head around and pull at the sleeve of the handler beside him and start to step forward as if to say, "Let's get moving". The handler would laugh at his antics as he would use his big nose to nudge her in the direction he wanted to go. She gently reprimanded him using positive reinforcement to get him to wait patiently.

       The streetcar and horses are decked out for the holidays. For the Fourth of July they will have red, white and blue ribbons braided into the tails and mains of the horses. Red, white and blue bunting will adorn the street car. During October orange, brown and yellow will adorn car and horse. During November and December pine garland will wrap around the roof of the street car and sleigh bells will be affixed to the horses harness.

       Because of where the streetcars run it is not in operation during parades and fireworks. Sometimes when the park is extremely busy they stop running the streetcars for safety reasons. People crowd Main Street and do not give way to the horses that could accidently hurt them.

       So the next time you are just trying to get from one end of Main Street to the other try the Horse-Drawn Streetcars. Take a ride back in time and enjoy.

My Christmas book, An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas is out!!

You can find for all formats at

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94784

And for the Nook at

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

It is also available at the ITunes store for IPod, IPad and IPhone

It soon will be up at other sites such as Amazon

My Christmas book, An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas is out!!

You can find for all formats at

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94784

And for the Nook at

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

It soon will be up at other sites such as Amazon