DVD Theatre in the Vintage Round
Written: Mar 05 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: vintage, dark, climate controlled, Mickey-focused, uncrowded
Cons: no (real) seating, requires expectations that aren't in line with the word "show"
The Bottom Line: The Main Street Cinema is a pleasant historical touch to Main Street, but it is best classified under "atmosphere," not "attraction."
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| Liffey's Full Review: Main Street Cinema - Disneyland |
I guess we must start with the number of trips (seven?) where I didn't even go into this attraction, thinking it was just more street themeing. It's not like many of those other shops advertised on Main Street exist, right? A fair criticism of both the California and Florida parks is the trend to turn Main Street into one long generic gift shop Emporium, selling the same stuff now found at every attraction-exit gift shop. I don't think I'm to blame for all those times I walked on by.
Or maybe my not looking beyond the turn-of-the-last-century ticket-taking mannequin is a credit to the park. As in, I was so dazzled by so much, that it took at least half a dozen trips before some of these smaller details came into view.
Let me deviate from my usual rambling form (so much for a recent vow to keep everything under 300 words) and give you the skinny right up front: there are at least 160 better things to do before you give your time to this attraction. (Yes, I counted.)
However, that doesn't mean Main Street Cinema is bad. Let's just say that it's not-so-much a priority.
Of course, your tastes may vary, but I'll explain further.
The outside, as mentioned, is splendid and fitting to the look and feel of faux-perfect Americana. Okay, wait, confession time: the mannequin out front is a little weird and doesn't seem to fit Disney's style. Except, since she's been there since the beginning, I suppose I'm wrong. I'd rather a demure, low-key animatronic figure that might seem to be a mannequin, but who would occasionally blink or incline her head a little. Imagine the screams of Johnny and Susie when an inert mannequin suddenly swivels her head and looks them in the eye! Free ideas, I have them.
Inside, past the heavy velvety curtains, a small circular platform with lustrous wood railing rises from the center of the tiny room. If you are young only at heart, please fix the following two words to the front of your mind: NOT YOURS. That dais is strictly for the kiddos. You, you are expected to stand, leaning uncomfortable against the rails at best, gazing at the six vintage Mickey shorts in constant play on screens around you.
However, since there is almost never anyone inside this attraction, including visible cast members, you might get away with sneaking onto the mini-stage. Do it just so you can feel like a rebel, though, because it's not like it's particularly comfortable there, either. In other words, the directive for this attraction seems to be "Look Briefly and Move On." And that's exactly what most visitors do.
Since that first peek, I've dragged Mike (the affable spousal unit) several times into the Main Street Cinema, almost always because I'm tired/cranky/hot/cold/hungry/sore-footed/something and because I think slipping into the darkness, surrounded by the simple pelvis-bouncing Mouse in big shorts, will make me feel better.
And every time I remember that there really isn't a good place to sit or even lean, and that just makes me unhappier. Imagine the feeling you get when you've stood in front of the open fridge door for the third time, peering around to see if some good food has magically appeared yet. That's what keeps me returning to the Main Street Cinema.
(Thankfully, the smell of the fudge in the Penny Arcade across the road can cure all kinds of frownie faces.)
The movies are historically interesting, of course. You can watch them on DVD at home, sure, or even on YouTube, but it's pleasant to see them in this significant context. "It all started with a Mouse," and here's the rodent himself.
Soon enough, though, the secondhand on the watch signals that it's time to move on. If you think of this as atmosphere, not "gets its own web page on Disneyland.com attraction," perhaps you'll be back. The Main Street Cinema is a detailed aside to your walk to somewhere else, and to consider it anything else is to create unrealistic expectations.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
Liffey
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Reviews written: 79
Trusted by: 71 members
About Me:
I like thinking.
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