Main Street, U.S.A. is often the forgotten land. We might browse through some stores, watch a parade, or grab a baked good, but I think for most of us, the walk up Main Street is simply a way to get to the rides. In my new series, Meet Me Down on Main Street, I am going to slow us down and take a closer look at the details waiting to be discovered. Come stroll with me as we explore Walt Disney’s dream. Today we are visiting the Train Station.
In Walt Disney’s childhood most towns had a train station so it is only right that Main Street, U.S.A. has one, too. When people arrived to a new town in the 1880s the first building they saw was the train station. The same thing is true at the Disney Parks. After passing through the turnstiles the first thing you see is the train station above you with trains chugging along. I think it might be one of the most photographed buildings in the parks. The historic look of the building gives a hint of what is to come.
I love to ride the train around the park, but I try to arrive a few minutes early so I have time to look around the station. There are lots of details that shouldn’t be missed. And of course, the train stations at each park look alike but there are subtle differences.
5 Fun Facts about the Disney Train Stations:
1) The signs on the front of the stations list the population and elevation of each park. According to the signs the elevation of the Disneyland Train Station is 138 feet and the elevation of the Walt Disney World Train Station is 107 feet.
2) There is a shelf at the Walt Disney World Train Station that has luggage belonging to different Disney characters
3) The Walt Disney World Train Station has a Hidden Mickey in the scroll-work at the roof line.
4) Walt Disney loved trains so much that he had a small train and tracks that ran through his back yard. The cars were large enough that he could give children a ride around his property. The locomotive was named the Lilly Belle for his wife. It is sometimes displayed at the Disneyland Train Station.
5) The Magic Kingdom has three train stations: Main Street, U.S.A., Frontierland, and Fantasyland. Disneyland has four train stations: Main Street, U.S.A., New Orleans Square, Toontown, and Tomorrowland.
Goofy Tip: The busiest time to catch the train at the Main Street station is in the morning. I like to wait until the afternoon and then catch it at whichever station is closest. It is the perfect way to take a break while enjoying a grand tour of the park.