why is partner statue at studios?

[disneyfan19712006]

My son is a CM at Epcot. His challenge is to find out. why the Paris statue is in studios. Thanks

[mainst-usa27]

Do you mean the statue of Walt and Mickey? If so, it was placed outside of Studio 1 so that it appears that Walt is pointing at the building and showing it to Mickey. This was done deliberatley by the designers, because they thought that having the statue in the main park not pointing at anything would make it look (sort of) like Walt was doing the Nazi salute and they didn't want anyone to make that assumption!

Sounds stupid I know, but that's the story behind it

[dlpSteve]

So was there no statue of Walt and Mickey for the first 10 years of the park's existence?

[Danauk]

No there was no partners statue until the studios opened. The above was the same reason I was told when I asked that question when doing the studios backstage tour.

[Ware Bears]

When we had our tour of WDS I asked our guide why it was in the Studios and she said that once it was decided that Paris would get it, it was always planned for the Studios and was just waiting for the park to be built ~ the reason for it being at WDS is that it's a 'proper' studio and a fitting place for Walt. I mentioned reading about this Nazi theory and she denied any knowledge of this. When we got back to City Hall I asked the other CMs there and while most didn't know what I meant, the ones that did said it's just one of these urban myths, like the one about Walt being frozen. I must admit that if this was true, I would have thought the statue would have just been skipped at Paris altogether, after all there's not one at Hong Kong.

So, whether or not it's an urban myth :confused3 I find it extremely distasteful and I prefer to think that the explanation I was given is the true one.

I love the way the Studios is designed and think it's fantastic to walk out of Studio 1 and see Walt and Mickey there. :goodvibes

[Danauk]

I have also heard the 2nd explanation on these boards and prefer that reasoning. However some CM's are definately giving the nazi explanation out, you would have thought if this reason was an urban myth tour guides and the VIP guides should know better than to spread these myths.

[Ware Bears]

Perhaps they didn't admit it to me then because they thought I wouldn't approve?? :confused3 :rotfl: :rotfl:

Or maybe it's just down to whoever is working that day and which version they prefer!



disneyfan19712006 ~ please come back and share whatever your son finds out. :goodvibes

[mommy2ash]

maybe im totally dense but i never looked at the statue and thought wow walt looks like a nazi lol

[thelittlemermaid83]

maybe im totally dense but i never looked at the statue and thought wow walt looks like a nazi lol

Me either, i look at it and think of what a wonderful man Walt was and that i wish he was still alive.

[wideeyes]

It looks like he is pointing and showing mickey something however it just fits in with the conspiracy theories on The Disney brothers so it probably stems from that.:confused3

[jillrobinson]

Just had to go and look at some photos and I can see a gesture of recognition as you might do to a friend, I can see that he might pointing at something, I can see that he could be saying "look around" but I can't see a Nazi salute.
and to be honest I think any Nazi found saluting with an arm bent at the elbow like that would be facing a firing squad.

[Ware Bears]

and to be honest I think any Nazi found saluting with an arm bent at the elbow like that would be facing a firing squad.

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

I have just spluttered tea all over the keyboard :eek: :rotfl2: