After 53 Years, Disney World Starts Over With Main Street, U.S.A.

Walt Disney World Resort is taking bold steps to modernize one of the most beloved locations on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park. After 53 years, the area is undergoing significant changes, most notably a major renovation of The Emporium, the iconic merchandise store that has been a staple since the park opened in 1971.

Since January, Disney Tips has been tracking the gradual updates to the store, which is located on the left side of Main Street, U.S.A., (when facing Cinderella Castle) and spans a large portion of the street. The Emporium only shares the space with Casey’s Corner, a popular Quick Service dining spot.

Crews began the renovation process by working on the northernmost section of the store near Casey’s Corner, and over the last few months, construction walls have moved further into the store. As the walls have shifted, guests have seen the transformation unfold with new floors being installed, replacing the previous carpet with fresh tiling and wooden panels.

The “Disney Clothiers” entrance was closed in March while the Youth & Plush section was renovated. Now, according to BlogMickey, the work on that area is nearing completion, and many of the construction walls have been removed, giving guests a clearer view of the updated floor design. The store’s merchandise display layout has been adjusted, creating more space for guests to navigate the shop, which is one of the busiest retail locations in Magic Kingdom.

However, not all sections are completely open just yet. A construction wall still blocks access to the area where a new checkout section is being created. Disney has directed guests to use alternative registers or the My Disney Experience app for self-serve Mobile Checkout.

Though Walt Disney World Resort has not provided many details on the updates, fans have speculated that the renovations may be tied to a frightening incident that occurred last summer. On August 29, 2024, a balloon popped on Main Street, U.S.A., causing widespread panic across Magic Kingdom Park. Reports of a potential active shooter led to hundreds of guests running through The Emporium in a stampede. However, it was later confirmed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department that there was no active shooter.

It remains unclear if the renovations are directly related to the panic caused by that incident, as Walt Disney World Resort has not made any official statement linking the two events. However, the updated layout could be an attempt to improve guest flow in this high-traffic area in the wake of the mass chaos.

What do you think of the refreshed Emporium at Walt Disney World Resort? Disney Tips would love to hear from you in the comments!