Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Join the Pumpkin Band! (2007)

It's a Pumpkin Band Leader on Main Street! The area is all decked out for Halloween… and isn't scary at all! I took this photo during a September 2007 trip to Walt Disney World. What's interesting about this scene is that it seems like the skies are going to open up with rain at any second!

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Neon Mickey (2007)

Main Street Station is decked out for Halloween in this night shot from September 2007. Note the orange/brown/yellow bunting on the structure, along with the stacked pumpkins in front. The oddest thematic choice, however, was to illuminate the Mickey floral area in neon, with blue and orange light outlining a Mickey pumpkin head.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Twisting Tastebuds (2005)

It's a rainy day here in Chicago, thus why not a rainy photo of Disneyland? During our first-ever visit to Walt's original park back in January 2005, we braved the rains and still had a fun time. But it was nice to warm up with a hot pretzel, as Amy so artfully demonstrates here.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Say Cheese... or Not! (2009)

I've previously written about the photo cutouts that used to be found in the back of the Town Square Exposition Hall, before it was converted into the Town Square Theater on Main Street USA at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Here's a December 2009 photo of Amy with Dopey from Snow White. Or more like an accidental photo "before" side-by-side an actual smiling photo "after." I must have accidentally shot the photo when Amy wasn't ready. It produced a pretty funny face!

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Hey, We're Here!

I took this self portrait shortly after we arrived for the first time at the Magic Kingdom during a December 2009 trip. Yeah, I'm excited.

Meanwhile, I just have to wonder what Amy is pointing to in the background as my parents attentively listen. No doubt it's probably some useless piece of Walt Disney World trivia I've rambled about over the years!

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

If only Steve was in black & white too! (2009)

The Town Square Exposition Hall, located on Main Street USA, opened with the Magic Kingdom in 1971 with architecture that resembled that of a hotel. At the birth of Walt Disney World, it was the Gulf Hospitality House, sort of a central booking area for the whole resort.

A theater was part of the complex, showing a film called "The Walt Disney Story" until 1981, at which point it became the EPCOT Center Preview Center. It had the same role for the Disney-MGM Studios in 1988. In 1996, a new role was found as the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Welcome Center, and shortly thereafter, it held a Welcome Center role for Animal Kingdom. It eventually morphed into an exhibit hall with exhibits on photography and vintage cameras (sponsored by Kodak).

I think I only have been in this building twice, because frankly there's not much to see there. Amy & I ventured inside during a December 2009 trip, and it felt neglected and filed with a hodge-podge of stuff, reflecting the many roles it had over the years. Tucked in the back were a couple of photo opportunity areas, where I was able to be part of Steamboat Willie.

In March 2011 it took on a new role and name as the Town Square Theater. With the removal of Mickey's Toontown Fair from the Magic Kingdom to make way for the New Fantasyland Expansion project, Mickey was moved into this space for character meet-and-greets, redesigned to look like the backstage of a theater (but with no actual theater)… and they even gave it FastPass!  In any case, this building remains sort of an oddity at Walt Disney World, in that it's just sort of there, looking for a purpose.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Halloween on Main Street USA (2007)

A September 2007 view down Main Street USA from the train station. There's a parade taking place, and you can see how the various shops are decorated for Halloween. Of course, being from the Midwest, it's rather odd that the trees are still green and there are no leaves to be found on the ground!