Walt Disney once described Disneyland as something that would grow and change and get more beautiful every year. Since 1955, this has happened with major additions of new lands and attractions and the maturation of the park's landscape, but it's also been seen in more subtle ways. Take the shops of Main Street, U.S.A. for example. They've always been charming, but with each renovation or change of tenant, the shops' interiors have gained more and more layers of detail and sophistication.
At the Emporium, Main Street's grand department store, dark woods and brass chandeliers add a touch of elegance to the space, while etched glass and period promotional pieces help set the story in the appropriate time. There's lots of story taking place here, especially with the little vignettes like this Tailoring shop on the second level. They're inaccessible and filled with just props and mannequins, but they add immeasurably to the experience.
Just beyond the Emporium is an area of Main Street known as the Crystal Arcade. In this case, it's the definition of "arcade" as a covered passageway with shops on either side (rather than the video game variety). The passage itself cuts back toward the Carnation Cafe on Center Street. Along the way, though, you'll find intricate little shops selling jewelry, trinkets and toys.
The display along the top of the walls of the toy store even features a working model train and toys of lots of classic Disney characters.
Across the way, the Market House is an old time general store, with candy in barrels, a pot-belly stove, a community checkers board and a party line telephone (on which you can listen in to all the town gossip).
Back on the west side of the street is the Blue Ribbon Bakery, one of my favorite spots on Main Street. Step inside, and you'll find a warm, rich interior with amazing detail from the flooring to the cabinetry, the brick back wall to the ceiling elements.
Nearby is the Penny Arcade. Originally an attraction location, the space was converted for retail in the late-'90s, offering all sorts of packaged candy and treats.
Although much of this space is now a shop, you can still find some of the original period games and amusements from the Penny Arcade days. The center aisle is still lined with Mutascopes and Cail-o-Scopes (early flip-book-style movie machines), and in the back of the space is the 1905 Welte Style 4 Concert Orchestrion that's been here since Disneyland opened. Built in Germany, it has more than 300 pipes, a triangle, bass drum and cymbals, all activated by an electric motor... and your spare change.
