The Discovery Arcade

Running along the opposite side of Main Street and connecting to Discoveryland is the Discovery Arcade. While the thematic transition to Frontierland in the Liberty Arcade is handled through the telling of the story of the Statue of Liberty, the Discovery Arcade carries on Main Street's themes of progress and invention with fantastic visions of things to come.

Here, the arcade is a bit more dimly lit, with richer woods and darker colors. Rather than Lady Liberty, the colonnades feature an image of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, a symbol of the combination of science and art prominent not only during the Renaissance but throughout Main Street and Discoveryland as well.

The spirit of invention is evident in the exhibits in the Discovery Arcade, comprised predominantly of original patent models from the 19th century. Such models were once required by the United States Patent Office. By the early-1900s, with space at a premium and storage costs soaring, Congress opted to sell the models, many of which ended up in the private collection of American designer and inventor Cliff Petersen. Several dozen gems from that collection are on display here at Disneyland Paris.

Among the models is one for the Wheel designed by George Washington Gale Ferris for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (the World's Fair on which Walt Disney's father, Elias, served as a contractor).

The inventive nature of the people of Main Street creates a general sense of optimism about the future. Visions of that potential future are also on display in the Discovery Arcade, in the form of a series of large illustrations depicting what major American cities might look like in the far off years of 1996, 1999 or even the year 2000 (click the images to see them larger)!

Created in the style of French illustrator Albert Robida, known for his trilogy of futuristic novels, the posters imagine a world filled with golden towers, mechanical wonders and streamlined dirigibles. One such airship is also displayed in model form. It's the Hyperion, seen in the 1974 Disney film The Island at the Top of the World and brought to full-scale fruition in neighboring Discoveryland.

The Liberty Arcade

Perhaps one of the most unique elements of Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Paris is the pair of arcades, or passageways, which run along the back side of the shops, parallel to Main Street itself. Designed as a way to maintain crowd flow during parades and offer guests a respite from the frequent Parisian rains, the arcades manage to serve as attractions unto themselves and provide beautiful transitions to neighboring lands.

Along the west side of Main Street, connecting to Frontierland, is the Liberty Arcade, telling the story of the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the United States. The colonnades along the Liberty Arcade are adorned with medallions of copper stars and the face of Lady Liberty, as well as handsome gas lamps crowned with American eagles.

Throughout the arcade, a series of photographs and exhibits tells the story of the statue, sculpted by Frédéric Bartholdi on a metal armature designed by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was commissioned in the 1870s, the completed head placed on display at the 1878 Paris World's Fair and the final piece dedicated in New York Harbor in 1886.

Beyond the creation and dedication of the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Arcade also tells the tale of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island with the dream of a new life in the new world. This part of the exhibit includes several original items from the period.

Just off Flower Street at the center of Main Street is the Liberty Court, an alternate entrance to the Liberty Arcade. Here, beautiful stained glass windows and doors feature images of Lady Liberty and her famous torch of freedom.

Step inside at this point, and you'll discover an intricate tile floor, depicting New York Harbor, along with the entrance to the Liberty Tableau, a brief multimedia presentation designed to make you feel as though you're present at the statue's 1886 inaugural ceremony.

The ballyhoo murals flanking the theater entrance, prompting visitors to "See Liberty's Torch" and "Relive the Grand Spectacle," were designed in the style of those created for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1876. That expo, the first World's Fair held in the United States, featured a display of the arm and torch of the then-unfinished Statue of Liberty.

Who Lives and Works on Main St.?

The tradition of Main Street windows goes all the way back to Disneyland in the 1950s. Walt and his designers crafted what appeared to be ads for second-story businesses above the Main St. shops, all as a way to pay tribute to those individuals who helped build the park and make it a success. That tradition continues today in all the Disney Parks around the world.

In Paris, you can find nods to everyone from Disney family members to the leaders and Imagineers who played roles in the park's 1992 opening. The windows in the offices of the Main St. Gazette (above) feature the names of Disney Legend Marty Sklar (who began his career creating the Disneyland News in 1955 and went on to lead Walt Disney Imagineering), Tony Baxter (the chief Imagineer on the Disneyland Paris project), as well as the names of individuals who directed the original marketing and publicity campaigns for the park.

There's also a window nearby for the Main St. Marching Band, honoring "Conductors" Michael Eisner and Frank Wells, the top executives at Disney who brought the resort to France. The window says they've been "Leading the Parade Since 1884," a reference to the year (1984) in which Michael and Frank joined the company.

Michael Eisner and Frank Wells had a very successful working relationship, one similar in many ways to the founders of the company. They're honored many places, but specifically on the window for Two Brothers, Inc. Roy O. Disney and Walt E. Disney are listed as Founders and Partners, Dreamers & Doers.

Some windows pay tribute to hobbies, pastimes and other elements from Walt Disney's life, like this shingle for the business office of the Carolwood Pacific Railroad. Carolwood Pacific was the miniature railroad Walt had built in his backyard.

It's not just Walt and his hobbies, though. Roy E. Disney, Walt's nephew, was a key executive in the company at the time of the Disneyland Paris opening. He was also an avid sailor, so it's appropriate that he's listed as Captain of Pyewacket Cruise Lines. Pyewacket is the name Roy used for a series of sailing boats he owned and raced over the years (the Disney-produced film Morning Light tells the story of one such race, the Transpac).

Main Street at Disneyland Paris is unique in that some of the windows, ads and businesses are also used to refer to characters or stories from Disney films and TV shows. Harrington's Fine China & Porcelains shop is named for Polly Harrington, played by Jane Wyman in the 1960 Disney film, Pollyanna. The movie is set in the same time period as Main St., U.S.A. In the story, Aunt Polly is the wealthiest woman in town, so it's fitting that the interior of the Harrington's shop is one of the most ornate on the street.

A window above the Market House Delicatessen promotes Digby's Messenger Service, a reference to Digby Popham, the character played by Michael J. Pollard in Summer Magic (1963). In the movie, Digby dreamed of leaving Beulah, Maine, and moving to the big city. Looks like he may have gotten his wish.

Right next door is Evans and Markham Advertising. This refers to the 1950s "Mickey Mouse Club" serials, "The Adventures of Spin and Marty." The main characters' names were Spin Evans and Marty Markham. (On a personal note: My son Evan got his name from Spin Evans, too. His twin brother, Riley, was named for Dexter Riley, Kurt Russell's character in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. Yes, my wife and I are BIG Disney fans!)

One last window I'd like to share with you is that of M. Jones Electronics. I particularly love it, because it not only refers to a classic Disney film, but also carries forward the story of Main Street, U.S.A., and its theme of progress. M. Jones, of course, comes from The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, a 1964 comedy which starred Tommy Kirk as a "scrambled egghead" of an inventor (A sequel, The Monkey's Uncle, came out in 1965). Here, he's offering Edison Talking Machines, bringing the latest in early-20th century technology to the citizens of Main St.

All in the Family

One of Main Street's most celebrated residents is the owner of Lilly's Boutique, Miss Lillian Bounds of Iowa. You may know her better as Mrs. Walt Disney. Lilly's Boutique offers "Items for a Home Sweet Home," appropriate for this lady who prided herself on being a home decorator, outfitting not only the Disney's house in Holmby Hills but also the family apartment above the firehouse at Disneyland. Similar to that firehouse apartment, the "residence" above Lilly's Boutique also keeps a lamp burning - two lamps, actually - in honor of Lillian and Walt. (By the way, the 1901 on the building would have to refer to Walt's date of birth. Lillian was born in February 1899. That's right. Walt married an older woman!)

Lillian Disney had a love of antiques, and Lilly's Boutique is furnished with several fine examples (even if the merchandise selection is now made up of toys and traditional souvenirs). Throughout the space, you'll also find photographs of Walt and Lilly over the years, a wonderful peek into a little-documented relationship. After all, Lillian preferred to avoid the Hollywood limelight.

Beyond the antique furnishings, the boutique is also stocked with an extensive collection of antique jewelry and glassware, all a nod to Mrs. Disney's favorite hobby.

Lillian isn't the only family member acknowledged on this block of the street. Next door is the R.O.D. Bldg., for Roy O. Disney, Walt's older brother and business partner. The date on the building, June 24, 1893, was Roy's birthday.

Found at the southeast corner of this same block is the entrance to Walt's - An American Restaurant. Walt's isn't open every day or for every meal (In the photo below, the facade is being refurbished behind a decorative scrim). As a result, one of the main regrets I have from my recent visit to Disneyland Paris is that I didn't get the opportunity to dine here.

The lobby of the restaurant is adorned with photographs and memorabilia, telling the story of Walt Disney's life and career. Guests then ascend the stairs to a series of second-floor dining rooms, each decorated in a style inspired by one of the lands of the park: Fantasyland, Adventureland, Discoveryland, Frontierland.

From the sound of it, Walt's provides a sort of Club 33 atmosphere, but one that everyone can enjoy. Oh well. Maybe on my next visit. As the French say, "à la prochaine!"

Side Trips Down Side Streets

Main Street, U.S.A., may be the name of the land, but it's certainly not the only street in this town, especially in the French version. Various side streets intersect with Main and offer fascinating discoveries for those willing to explore.

Heading east from the center of Main is Flower Street, its name inspired not only by the beautiful horticulture on display but also by the address of Walt Disney Imagineering headquarters in Glendale, California. WDI is situated at 1401 Flower St. Here, 1401 Flower is the site of Walt's: An American Restaurant.

Bisecting Main St. near the Central Plaza is Edison Avenue, appropriate as this is the path one might take toward Discoveryland. Edison Ave. also passes by several façades which are part of the story of Main Street, if not actual places we can visit: All-American Sporting Goods, the Music Hall, Crystal Ice Co. and Main St. Savings & Loan.

Perhaps the most elaborate and detailed of the side streets, though, is Market Street. Turning west from Main St., Market Street is a residential section of town, albeit one where citizens have opened businesses in their homes. Listen up, and you may hear some of the people going about their daily lives or taking piano lessons.

There are inviting porches and colorful awning all along Market St. If you're looking for a place to stay, there's a vacancy at Beulah's Boarding House. Beulah was the name of the town in the 1963 Disney film, Summer Magic. Other names appear on the guest list of the boarding house at 1221B Market St., including one Doc Sherwood, a gentleman from Marceline who was the first to compensate a young Walt Disney for one of his drawings.

Further around the corner is the entrance to the Main St. Marketplace farmers' market and a Chinese Laundry, Mr. "Lucky" Tailor Shop, featuring a mah-jongg parlor upstairs.

There's one other upstairs business in this corner of town, and it's a bit of an homage to an early tenant on Disneyland's Main St., the Intimate Apparel Shop. Here, it's Cinch's Corsets, promising "Fashionable Styles," "Proper Support" and "Genuine Whalebone Stays." They may not be the "Wizard of Bras," but Cinch's seems to carry just what today's girl might be looking for!

A Tale of Three Cities

While each Disneyland-style park (so far anyway) has a Main Street, each street has been designed from a different point of view. The original at Disneyland, of course, was inspired by Walt Disney's boyhood home in Marceline, Missouri. It's a very small town, Midwestern street. At the Magic Kingdom, Main Street is far more upscale and East Coast, taking its cues from places like Saratoga, New York. Here in Paris, Main Street is presented as more of a melting pot, bringing together design elements from cities and towns across the country.

San Francisco is represented by the Cable Car Bake Shop. The interior is laced with carved wooden scroll work and dotted with Tiffany-style lamps, and everywhere you look, you'll see homages to San Francisco's famous cable cars.

The dining room alongside the bake shop includes a pot-belly stove to warm customers, as well as this unique table stand, topped off with new-fangled electric lights and fan. Elsewhere, booths separated by etched glass panels are adorned with antique photos of cable cars and even an authentic cable car bell.

Down the street is the Market House Delicatessen, bringing a taste of New York to Main Street, U.S.A.

The deli is a warm, welcoming space with dark woods, tile work and cases stocked with delicious sandwiches. A selection of meats and cheeses hangs from the ceiling. You'll also notice the cleavers hung on the back wall, ready to be pressed into service.

The Market House Deli is a thriving business and one of the social centers of town. This is where people congregate, not just for food but for fellowship, news and information. The Market House provides the first telephone services in town, and the clerks here do double duty as switchboard operators. The switchboard, a tangle of wires and lights, is right behind the deli counter. There's even a party line phone in the Market House, for those who just want to listen in on the town gossip.

A large, wood fire stove in the center of the deli attracts customers with warmth in the cold winter months, but that's not all that draws people in. There's entertainment to be had here, too, in the form of the new Quarter-Lodeon standing in the corner. Folks in other towns may have their Nickelodeons, but this one's a Quarter, so it's naturally better!

In another area of Main Street, you can find the Boardwalk Candy Palace. The candy-striped awnings, seashell-inspired accents and marketing ballyhoo on the windows (A Conglomeration of the Most Captivating Confections!) recall the glory days of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The interior of the space seems to be under a sideshow tent, with flashing rim lights and a wall-size mural depicting classic Atlantic City attractions.

At the side of the shop is a mechanical model of a Ferris Wheel, surrounded by towering columns of candy. The photograph really doesn't do it justice. The columns are filled with colorful, translucent candies illuminated from within to create a beautiful effect.

Head to the back of the store and look closely at the mural. It showcases several early Atlantic City attractions, among them the Double-Dare Loop Coaster, the Sea Wagon and Charles Dubois & His Orchestra. Fans of Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress will also notice something familiar: A billboard advertising Little Egypt. I wonder if we'll see her do the "Hoochie Coochie?"