Main Street Vehicles at Magic Kingdom (Take a Nostalgic Ride Down Main Street U.S.A.)
This article discusses the Main Street Vehicles at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.
When you enter the Magic Kingdom, you’re greeted by the charm of Main Street, U.S.A. Cinderella Castle soon comes into view. As you approach the central plaza, you hear the sound of an old-fashioned car horn nearby. You turn around and find an antique vehicle snuck up behind you.
The car passes. It’s full of smiling guests who have taken the one-way lift to the end of the street. They’ll soon stop in front of Cinderella Castle and exit the vehicle. At the same time, other lucky guests in the area can then board for a trip back down Main Street to the train station.
If you are fortunate enough to be in the area, by all means, take the time for a ride. It is one of the small delights that guests often overlook. One can only assume that most people do not realize they are an attraction that anyone can enjoy.
We often see the Main Street Vehicles in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon when it’s not overcrowded. Below, we’ll preview a few of the vehicles we’ve encountered during our visits.
Here are a few details about the Main Street Vehicles.
| Main Street Vehicles | Magic Kingdom |
|---|---|
Location: | Main Street U.S.A |
Height Requirements: | None |
Ride Type: | Open Air Vehicle |
Seats Per Vehicle: | Rows |
Rider Switch: | None |
Good For: | Leisurely ride down Main Street Nostalgia |
Scare Factor: | None |
Must-Do List: | Low Priority |
Perfect For: | All Ages |
These vehicles tend to be out earlier in the day rather than later. | These vehicles tend to be out earlier in the day than later. |
Additional Info:
Guests in wheelchairs or ECVS must transfer to the ride vehicles. Details for those with mobility issues (i.e., wheelchairs, ECVs, scooters) are available on Disney.com.
Main Street Vehicles
Four vehicles make up the Main Street Vehicles: an omnibus, a vintage horse-drawn trolley, a couple of jitneys, and a fire engine.
Omnibus
First is the omnibus, an open-air double-decker bus that offers a unique perspective of the park from its upper level. We’ve seen the omnibus out more and more this last year. But there have been times when it was a rare sighting. So, if you see it out, don’t miss the opportunity.
Below is a photo of the omnibus. It’s often out on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party nights in the late summer to early Fall. Unfortunately, it doesn’t operate during the event. But guests always enjoy seeing the antique bus. On this afternoon, we were able to catch a ride up Main Street. You may notice it’s parked next to a sign that says, “Omnibus to Cinderella Castle, One Way Only.”
We were able to get a seat on the front row at the top of the bus.
Here was our view as we headed down Main Street.
Jitneys
Magic Kingdom has two jitney vehicles that we see pretty often. One is a pale yellow car.
The other is a bright fire-engine red that’s pretty hard to miss!
Horse-Drawn Trolley
A horse-drawn trolley is occasionally on Magic Kingdom’s Main Street. In the past, it carried the performers in the Main Street Trolley Show. Unfortunately, that classic show was canceled several years ago.
Occasionally, you might see the Dapper Dans, a barbershop quartet, performing from the Main Street Trolley. It’s always fun to see the trolley and the horse pulling it.
Fire Engine
Lastly, an antique fire engine sits inside Engine Co. 71, the firehouse at Magic Kingdom. When the firehouse is open guests can observe the car and other memorabilia. The firehouse right inside the park to the right of City Hall in Town Square. Here are a few photos.
Catching a Ride on the Main Street Vehicles
Both jitneys stop between the Walt Disney World Railroad and the flag pole in Town Square. Below is a photo of the area where you’ll find them. The driver is waiting for guests to board. So, if you see one out, you can hop on for a ride.
This photo shows the area in the hub in front of Cinderella Castle where the Main Street Vehicles drop guests off. Once guests exit the car, others are allowed to join on the ride back down Main Street U.S.A.
Since Main Street is used for parades throughout the day, you won’t see the Main Street Vehicles out around performance times. You can check the exact times of the Festival of Fantasy Parade and in the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit.
For more rides at Magic Kingdom, you might enjoy our overview of Prince Charming Regal Carrousel or our experience riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. While you’re in Fantasyland, you might also enjoy Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid or a classic attraction that’s timeless like “it’s a small world”.
Are you planning a Walt Disney World vacation? Then, you might enjoy reading more about the Walt Disney World Resorts.
If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we keep an updated list of Disney World Characters. That review links to every meet available in each of the four parks.
For dining, we have a list of every restaurant we’ve reviewed at Walt Disney World. We recommend planning at least one character dining meal at Disney World and one at a signature dining restaurant.
Lastly, our most popular articles include the best restaurants at Disney Springs and our list of Disney World Hotel Reviews.
In the Comments
Do you hope to run into a Main Street Vehicle on your next visit to Magic Kingdom? Which one is your favorite? Do you remember riding one on a previous trip?
