Main Street Trolley

"Main Street, U.S.A. is America at the turn of the century - the crossroads of an era. The gas lamps and the electric lamps, the horse drawn car and the auto car. Main Street is everyone's home town...the heartline of America." - Walt Disney

This picture was in my archives.  I think it's circa 1980.

An often overlooked fixture at the Magic Kingdom, is the horse drawn trolley on Main Street USA.  Guests can board these amazing vehicles at various times during the day in front of Cinderella's Castle, or in front of Main Street Station.  The trolley is also backdrop to the Main Street Trolley show, performed periodically during the day.  Performers sing and dance their way down Main Street, pausing to meet guests along the way.  It's quite cute.

The trolleys are drawn by Percherons and Belgians, both breeds are known for their strong pulling abilities.  Historically, they have been used to pull plows in Europe.  These horses weigh about 1 ton each, are between six and ten years old, and pull the trolley along Main Street about 24 times a day, 3 or 4 days a week.  The horses are shod with plastic shoes to make it easier on them.  When not working, they can be seen at their home, the Tri-Circle-D Ranch, at the Fort Wilderness campground.

In addition to the horse drawn carriage, several different vehicle options are available depending on the day and the crowds.  The suite of Main Street Vehicles include a horseless carriage, a replica of an early fire engine, a jitney, and the horse-drawn trolley.  All the vehicles make stops at either end of Main Street.

The next time you are in the Magic Kingdom, take a moment to enjoy these jewels of Main Street USA.