Right Down the Middle of Main Street USA

Welcome to those of you joining me from The Magical Mouse Pad and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the second stop on our Magical Blogorail.

When I found out this month’s topic, my immediate first thought was, “MouseGear! Yes!” because as strange as it sounds, I love that store. It’s like a beloved family member – there to comfort you during stormy times, but still always getting in the way (if you know how to get from one end of Future World to the other without going through MouseGear, please let me know).

But as much as I love MouseGear, and many of the shops in the World Showcase, my favorite WDW shopping experience is good ol’ Main Street USA … but only at a very specific time of day.

Let me back up. While my family appreciates many of the things the parks have to offer, parades are generally not one of them. I like the idea of them, and I particularly like the music and general vibe of the SpectroMagic Parade, but I can’t handle the crowding and the corralling and the space-saving. But at night, while everyone is jockeying for position curbside, it’s actually a great time to explore the shops. And because all the shops on Main Street are connected, you can browse and take your time without having to leave the air-conditioning or face the crowds outside.

I'll have one of everything.

Another option is to hang out after all the nighttime spectacular-ness has ended, and while everyone is rushing to the buses, explore Main Street. It’s a cool time to be in the Magic Kingdom, because everything is lit up and pretty, but it’s also a rare treat to see the place semi-deserted. The shops stay open for a bit, and this is a great time to pick up some pastries at Main Street Bakery for the next day’s breakfast.

As for the actual items on sale, there’s not really much to find in these shops that you can’t find elsewhere in the parks – except for the freshly made Rice Krispie balls in the Confectionary, which are far and above any other sweet treat in WDW. But shopping on Main Street USA isn’t really about buying anything, it’s about experiencing the Magic Kingdom in a special way: quiet, bright, and call me corny - magical. And before I leave, I always take one last look around and let my gaze drift up to Walt’s window, and I give a silent salute.

Not Walt's window. But still, I'd live here.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Manda's Disney Blog.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
2nd Stop ~ The Disney Chick
3rd Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog
4th Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer
Final Stop ~ Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World
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Related Links:
* Wordless Wednesday: Main Street USA
* Finding Zen in WDW
* WDW Things That Never Cease to Amaze Me