Main Street USA to Receive Concrete Replacement

[DizneyFreak2002]

Beginning tomorrow, July 23rd, Main Street USA will have its concrete replaced... The concrete replacement project will begin by the Emporium entrance... The portal for Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom game will be out of use to the public during this time...

The entire project will last through September and will cause some disruption to the parades...

Rumored to be part of this replacement is the removal of all the curbs along Main Street and to make them one long ramp, like they currently have on the corners...

[KylesMom]

Rumored to be part of this replacement is the removal of all the curbs along Main Street and to make them one long ramp, like they currently have on the corners...

That would make sooooo much sense. I can't count how many times I've seen guests taking it all in when they enter The Happiest Place on Earth, only to end up as a heap on the ground because they didn't see the step up (or down). Hope this isn't just a rumor!

[Stu29573]

Yeah, because so many Main Streets have no curbs in front of their stores... Really, if you fall off of a curb, maybe you should have been paying attention.... I see it as more of an ADA issue.

[Roger's #1 Fan]

Rumored to be part of this replacement is the removal of all the curbs along Main Street and to make them one long ramp, like they currently have on the corners...

Really??? One of the things everyone points to that Disney does well is themeing. A street with defined curbs and walking areas, a place/edge to sit at while waiting for a parade. Just make it more generic... why even bother calling it Main Street... just call Entranceway USA....

Sorry to rant, just ticks me off that they have to mess with everything.

[Hammer]

Rumored to be part of this replacement is the removal of all the curbs along Main Street and to make them one long ramp, like they currently have on the corners...

That would make sooooo much sense. I can't count how many times I've seen guests taking it all in when they enter The Happiest Place on Earth, only to end up as a heap on the ground because they didn't see the step up (or down). Hope this isn't just a rumor!

As someone who has been one of those heaps , I agree with this change!

Also, this will make it easier when we are pushing Mom's wheelchair. If there is a group of people blocking the sidewalk, we have to hope they'll work with us and let us go through. With this change, we can just push the wheelchair into the street without having to deal with getting the wheelchair over the curb.

[kakn7294]

While I like the look of the curbs against the street and I personally don't have any issues navigating them, I can see where this could be a vast improvement at parade and fireworks time when the street is full of people, strollers, wheelchairs, and scooters.

[Hammer]

I was thinking about this and I can see where someone pushing a stroller will love this as well. When I was watching the live streaming of the All Nighter and I was watching all these people pushing strollers over the curb, I was waiting for a wipeout of a kid coming out of the stroller if they hit the curb the wrong way!

Edit- Kathy and I were typing at the same time!

[DizneyFreak2002]

From a CM:

Concrete replacement on south block of Main Street, U.S.A.
A two-month project to replace concrete in Magic Kingdom Park near Emporium, Main Street Confectionery and part of Town Square kicks off Monday, July 22, after park close.

During the first phase of work, approximately July 23-31, the corner entrance to Emporium (facing Town Square) will not be available so that the sidewalks in that area can be replaced. The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom portal located outside Emporium will be temporarily taken out of the game since it will not be accessible. The portal will return to operation as soon as work completes in the area

For the duration of the project, there will be modifications to the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party route and schedule, Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade route, Main Street Electrical Parade route, Main Street Vehicles and Main Street Trolley Show route and schedule.

[Altair]

People will still trip over the slope, why not just pour the concrete to the top of the curb so it will be flat all the way across?
I wonder how many people a year twist their ankles in the trolley track?

[Mickey'sGirl]

People will still trip over the slope, why not just pour the concrete to the top of the curb so it will be flat all the way across?
I wonder how many people a year twist their ankles in the trolley track?

Every year since '71.

[kakn7294]

I wonder how many people a year twist their ankles in the trolley track?

I have no idea but a few years ago, I almost dumped my mother from her wheelchair by catching a front wheel in the track.

[joonyer]

What? . . . slanted sidewalks? They didn't have those in Marceline. I can't believe how much more they are getting away from Walt's idea of his home-town "turn of the century" Main St. Heck they probably didn't even have paved streets back then. I think they should go back to a dirt street and wooden sidewalks, then we'd have some real authenticity. First, a Starbucks, and now this. Bah! Humbug!

[barnaby]

During the first phase of work, approximately July 23-31, the corner entrance to Emporium (facing Town Square) will not be available so that the sidewalks in that area can be replaced. The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom portal located outside Emporium will be temporarily taken out of the game since it will not be accessible. The portal will return to operation as soon as work completes in the area

I wonder if they are just replacing the curb ramps at the corners?

[Mickey'sGirl]

What? . . . slanted sidewalks? They didn't have those in Marceline. I can't believe how much more they are getting away from Walt's idea of his home-town "turn of the century" Main St. Heck they probably didn't even have paved streets back then. I think they should go back to a dirt street and wooden sidewalks, then we'd have some real authenticity. First, a Starbucks, and now this. Bah! Humbug!

They wouldn't have had air conditioning or indoor fancy washrooms either, but we all enjoy them! Gotta roll with the times. I think with the number of strollers and wheelchairs, it is a really good idea from risk analysis point of view.

[lightyearfan]

horrible just leave it as it is, ramps please dont ruin the beauty of main street

[Katzateer]

I hate this idea. It is going to be hard to be comfortable while waiting for a parade or resting on Main Street. It is nice to be able to sit on a curb.

And it will look strange to have a Main Street with store fronts and no curbs.

[The Horned King]

I also don't like the idea of no curbs. People just need to open there eyes a bit more these days. Curbs exist all over the world. Just because it is disney doesn't mean there is a claim. Disney generally fall over backwards to help the disabled. But removing the curbs is a step too far I think. Thats why they have dropped sections so they can get up to the shops and restaurants.

[Bay Lake]

Rumored to be part of this replacement is the removal of all the curbs along Main Street and to make them one long ramp, like they currently have on the corners...

I hope it is just rumored as stated above. Main Street without curbs, what's next?

[seanyred]

Wow people are upset about a rumor about curbs? I'm not sure how many of you pushed a stroller or a wheel chair or drove a ECV down Main Street USA. It is a challenge to say the least. If the curbs remain people will manage as they always have. If they are removed then the foot traffic will flow better. Either way I don't see it as a big deal.

[PopPhan]

Wow people are upset about a rumor about curbs? I'm not sure how many of you pushed a stroller or a wheel chair or drove a ECV down Main Street USA. It is a challenge to say the least. If the curbs remain people will manage as they always have. If they are removed then the foot traffic will flow better. Either way I don't see it as a big deal.

Thank you for that breath of reality. This should not be a really big deal and may be more federal and local regulations than anything else.