Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 17 hours ago
The 1903 Horseless Carriage, known to those who once drove them as the 03, rides down Main Street USA.
There were 3 of these made by Disney for the opening in 1971, (Red, Yellow, and Blue in color), and they along with the 2 Jitneys, the Fire Engine, and the 2 Omnibuses, were all custom made replicas, which made up the Fleet of Main Street Vehicles.
The Horse Drawn Trollies although also vehicles, were considered a different department because of the Horses themselves.
Trips on these vehicles are considered to be one way transportation, either from Town Square to Cinderella Castle, or from Cinderella Castle to Town Square.
At the time of first opening The Magic Kingdom in 1971, riders paid .10 cents or an "A" Ticket, however, by the mid 1980s, park entrance had become all inclusive general admission, and there was no longer any additional charge to ride any of the Main Street Vehicles or the Horse Drawn Trollies.
This ride has not changed basically since the opening of Walt Disney World, however, what you see along the journey has changed over the years, as well the Cast Members themselves you see along Main Street, and the Drivers too.
The changes in what stores are on Main Street, and the removal of Trees both in Town Square, and at the Hub known as the Plaza Circle in front of Cinderella Castle, has changed the feeling driving through the area, especially at Plaza Circle which was once filled with Flowers and Trees which had twinkle lights at night, is now one big open area of concrete which lost a feeling of shady tranquility.
The communication between the Driver and the Guests riding aboard once was personable light conversion, but now seems regimented and mindlessly mechanical, if present at all.
In particular you will hear the Driver say to the Guests at one point during the actual journey itself, a reminder if you had any small children to keep them inside the vehicle at all times.... but there are only 3 Guests aboard, and all are adults with NO CHILDREN, making the announcement ridiculous, and a demonstration that no thought is placed upon any communication made with the Guests.
At one point as the ride approaches the Plaza Hub, the Driver says to the Guests, "They tell me I have to tell you to remain seated until we come to a full stop and I give you the all clear...: meaning he doesn't care to tell you, but he is doing so because "they tell" him to do so, so he does, plus he says it before it would be the best time to do so as the final approach is being made.
"Wait for the all clear" is somewhat insulting to anyone with any intelligence, being treated like a little child who is being told they better sit still until they are told All Clear, when the situation is a very mild one...
In recent years this has become the trend and the words, "wait for the all clear" have become common.
The Main Street Vehicles are not operated anywhere nearly as much as they once were, and to actually find them on Main Street anytime after the first 2 hours after park opening, is almost rare anymore.
Each ride once had a unique personality due to the Individual Driver's personal touch, and while that can still be said today to a degree, the LACK of personality and personal interactions is a direct reflection on the quality of the Cast Members typically found today, in comparison to the high level of quality Cast Members who once were in the first 15 years of Walt Disney World.
Even things which stay the same as actually having Main Street Vehicles at all, have changed because the presentation has changed, and the feeling Guests get while experiencing it has changed as a result.
copyright 2024 Randy Senna
The 1903 Horseless Carriage, known to those who once drove them as the 03, rides down Main Street USA.
There were 3 of these made by Disney for the opening in 1971, (Red, Yellow, and Blue in color), and they along with the 2 Jitneys, the Fire Engine, and the 2 Omnibuses, were all custom made replicas, which made up the Fleet of Main Street Vehicles.
The Horse Drawn Trollies although also vehicles, were considered a different department because of the Horses themselves.
Trips on these vehicles are considered to be one way transportation, either from Town Square to Cinderella Castle, or from Cinderella Castle to Town Square.
At the time of first opening The Magic Kingdom in 1971, riders paid .10 cents or an "A" Ticket, however, by the mid 1980s, park entrance had become all inclusive general admission, and there was no longer any additional charge to ride any of the Main Street Vehicles or the Horse Drawn Trollies.
This ride has not changed basically since the opening of Walt Disney World, however, what you see along the journey has changed over the years, as well the Cast Members themselves you see along Main Street, and the Drivers too.
The changes in what stores are on Main Street, and the removal of Trees both in Town Square, and at the Hub known as the Plaza Circle in front of Cinderella Castle, has changed the feeling driving through the area, especially at Plaza Circle which was once filled with Flowers and Trees which had twinkle lights at night, is now one big open area of concrete which lost a feeling of shady tranquility.
The communication between the Driver and the Guests riding aboard once was personable light conversion, but now seems regimented and mindlessly mechanical, if present at all.
In particular you will hear the Driver say to the Guests at one point during the actual journey itself, a reminder if you had any small children to keep them inside the vehicle at all times.... but there are only 3 Guests aboard, and all are adults with NO CHILDREN, making the announcement ridiculous, and a demonstration that no thought is placed upon any communication made with the Guests.
At one point as the ride approaches the Plaza Hub, the Driver says to the Guests, "They tell me I have to tell you to remain seated until we come to a full stop and I give you the all clear...: meaning he doesn't care to tell you, but he is doing so because "they tell" him to do so, so he does, plus he says it before it would be the best time to do so as the final approach is being made.
"Wait for the all clear" is somewhat insulting to anyone with any intelligence, being treated like a little child who is being told they better sit still until they are told All Clear, when the situation is a very mild one...
In recent years this has become the trend and the words, "wait for the all clear" have become common.
The Main Street Vehicles are not operated anywhere nearly as much as they once were, and to actually find them on Main Street anytime after the first 2 hours after park opening, is almost rare anymore.
Each ride once had a unique personality due to the Individual Driver's personal touch, and while that can still be said today to a degree, the LACK of personality and personal interactions is a direct reflection on the quality of the Cast Members typically found today, in comparison to the high level of quality Cast Members who once were in the first 15 years of Walt Disney World.
Even things which stay the same as actually having Main Street Vehicles at all, have changed because the presentation has changed, and the feeling Guests get while experiencing it has changed as a result.
copyright 2024 Randy Senna
