They seemingly held out as long as they could. While Walt Disney World’s Main Street Cinema was converted into a store all the way back in 1998, it seemed like Disneyland would never pull the trigger on the conversion of their 1955 staple. Well, under the Bob Chapek administration, you never say never.
That’s right, it happened. Disneyland’s Main Street Cinema is a shop.
While no damage has been done and it certainly looks reversible, this quiet and charming spot along the park’s entrance corridor is now filled with haphazard shelving and displays. The lighting is much brighter to provide for a shopping experience as opposed to a quick stop to watch a Mickey cartoon.
What really bothers me is that the Disneyland Resort has such little variation in their merchandise to begin with, so if a guest didn’t buy these items in another shop, I don’t see this making the conversion. I would dare say you can find these items in 50-75% of the existing shops, with Spirit Jerseys and colored ear headbands approaching 80-90% of other stores resort-wide. If you’re going to sacrifice some park history, at least give it a unique purpose, you know, something you absolutely needed the space for. Not this.
Hopefully, enough negative feedback comes Disney’s way to reverse this, but let us know if you agree in the comments section below or on social media.
I think it sucks! 😡