Magic Kingdom Park is nearly finished transforming much of the Main Street, U.S.A., area. The focus of this renovation has been the popular Emporium gift shop, which has been undergoing gradual modernization since January.
The Emporium, which occupies nearly the entire left side of Main Street, U.S.A. (as guests face Cinderella Castle), has been a central retail hub for Walt Disney World Resort visitors for years. The store also shares space with Casey’s Corner, a popular Quick Service dining spot.
Construction crews have been tackling renovations in stages, beginning with the northernmost section of the store, located near Casey’s Corner. Over the past several months, construction walls have slowly moved through the store, revealing new floors with fresh tiling and updated panels to replace the old carpet that once lined the shop.
In March, the “Disney Clothiers” entrance to The Emporium was temporarily closed as crews focused their efforts on the Youth & Plush section of the store. According to BlogMickey, that section of the renovation is now almost complete, with many construction walls removed. Guests can see newly updated flooring and a rearranged layout that provides much more open space for better guest flow through one of Magic Kingdom Park’s busiest stores.
One remaining construction wall blocks access to a large checkout area. Signs posted near this wall direct guests to additional shopping and checkout stations around the store. Disney Park guests can also use self-serve Mobile Checkout with the My Disney Experience app.
While Disney has provided limited official details regarding these changes to The Emporium, the timing of the updates has sparked speculation. Some fans have linked these renovations to an unsettling incident last August when a popped balloon led to mass panic on Main Street, U.S.A. The chaos prompted reports of a possible active shooter, leading hundreds of guests to stampede through the Emporium. Thankfully, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department later confirmed there was no active shooter.
Whether these renovations and efforts to improve guest flow are directly connected to the panic last summer remains unclear. Walt Disney World Resort has not acknowledged whether the incident influenced the decision to upgrade the store’s design or layout.
Do you prefer the new or old version of The Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A., at Magic Kingdom Park? Disney Fanatic would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
