Park Icon - The Return of the Earful Tower?

[thegib95]

So just to have the discussion, for discussion sake (afterall this is the rumors board) It has been said that the Big Hat in Disney's Hollywood Studios might be going away, in several different rumor postings and things, as well as in many of our hearts!

Recently Disney Parks Blog had a post about Light up shirts, well that was intersting and what not, what caught my eye was this statement at the bottom, with the accompanying picture:

John shared with me four more designs that will debut later this year. Two designs will feature Mickey Mouse with logos for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. The other two will feature icons from each Disney Resort destination.

Notice the absence of the Hat, and the presence of the once icon status earful tower? Should we read into this at all? Is the hat going to be going away, and so this new merch that will be available for a while is starting to lean on the earful tower again?

 

[Lifeangel1]

Here's my problem, they blocked the view down hollywood blvd of the Chinese Theater with that stupid hat for whatever reason (copyright issues, needed a central icon, etc). Now the stupid hat is blocked with an even uglier stage. I wish they would either move the hat or the stage. Preferably the stage. I've gotten used to the stupid hat. Lol

 

[Spacedog1975]

I certainly wouldn't mind. It's the most concrete example of the possibility I've seen. My only thought is that the Earful Tower is not front and center and perhaps should be larger than it is to be an effective Weenie.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

It appears the artist was going for a retro look, with the old Walt Disney World logo, along with Mickey Mouse (with simple black ovals as eyes) in a classic pose. I wouldn't read too much into it.

I hope I'm wrong.

I would LOVE to see the hat removed. People have forgotten how wonderful the view up Hollywood Blvd. was before the Value Resort-style jumbo hat blocked the most famous movie house facade in the world.

At Disney California Adventure, the Carthay Circle Theater building looks great. It adds so much to the new Buena Vista Street. I can only hope that Disney executives have made the same observation and realize that they have an opportunity to improve the guest experience at DHS by removing the out-of-place blue cone hat.

 

[Mouse14]

Here is another example which can me found in the little booklet you receive after booking a vacation

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f271/wesfla/image.jpg

 

[Fantaluminishes]

Here's my problem, they blocked the view down hollywood blvd of the Chinese Theater with that stupid hat for whatever reason (copyright issues, needed a central icon, etc). Now the stupid hat is blocked with an even uglier stage. I wish they would either move the hat or the stage. Preferably the stage. I've gotten used to the stupid hat. Lol

Apparently you think the Sorcerer's hat is "stupid".

 

[wiigirl]

Here is another example which can me found in the little booklet you receive after booking a vacation

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f271/wesfla/image.jpg

interesting....

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Apparently you think the Sorcerer's hat is "stupid".

I'm not the person who called it stupid, but, yes, I think it's out-of-place, bad storytelling, and destructive to the carefully designed Golden Age of Hollywood in that part of the park. It looks like a giant traffic come painted blue.

The 122-foot "sorcerer hat" blocking the original focal point makes as much sense as putting 122-foot Sheriff Woody hat in Frontierland or blocking most of Cinderella Castle with a 122-foot Jiminy Cricket hat.

I know there are people who have never seen (or don't remember) the park without the hat. Believe me; it was much better that way.

The only thing that's worse than the hat is the stage they have in front of it and the ridiculously loud music that comes from it.

 

[Crystal824]

I would love for them the remove the hat. It is too much and too big.

 

[mtfarlin]

ahhhh yes I remember the view looking down the Blvd towards the theatre minus "the hat"...It was so "Old Hollywood" and the view fit into the parks theme so well...It was so great!! Then the view was ruined by the "big blue hat". Couldn't they place that outside the entrance to DHS?? Much better spot for "the hat" could be a great photo op spot before entering the park Just my thoughts

 

[101disneyfan]

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201309/3653/

 

[tiggerdad]

Never experienced it without the hat in the way. Anybody got a picture to post of the original look before the "stupid" hat?

 

[tjkraz]

This isn't an entirely new phenomenon. Some of the merchandise branded for 2013--which was unveiled a year ago on the Parks Blog--also featured the Earful Tower. Here's one image:

I wouldn't mind seeing the hat removed, but the stage seems to be a permanent fixture in the courtyard these days. As long as DHS keeps finding excuses to use that stage, the Chinese Theater view will never be restored.

 

[N365PA]

Not my picture.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I can definitely see the hat coming down soon.

they've beat it into the ground for 10 years like that stupid "EPCOT" wand and eventually the crack and get rid of mad Eisner's goofy "frills"

as for the future...the tower is more akin to the 1988 "production studio" idea...
i could see in the future a "combo" logo that could have the parks key elements...pixar, tower of terror, and maybe...just maybe...whatever they build in a "possible" star wars area...

but for now...the earful tower reappearance is a welcome change...i'll take it.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

I like the tower, and wish it would return as the icon, but I agree that it's outdated and irrelevant now really.

I always thought I was alone in hating the hat until joining these forums.

Personally, I would think TT is the icon of the park now. It's the first (and only) thing you see from a distance. When I see TT I know we're close to DHS, the same way I know when I see Spaceship Earth and Cinderella Castle.

However, I think it would make sense to get rid of the hat soon too, and use the tower as a placeholder and a tribute before building Star Wars Land and using one of those attractions as the new icon.

 

[FiggieFan]

Last year I remember a t-shirt that came out and a few other items and they all had the earful tower instead of the hat. It sparked up some debates and speculation then including some rumors the hat was staying but moving outside the park by the entrance. Another vote for seeing the hat disappear!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Never experienced it without the hat in the way. Anybody got a picture to post of the original look before the "stupid" hat?

Here's one that I took years ago.

 

[tiggerdad]

Here's one that I took years ago.

Does actually look better without it.

Sent from my Desire HD using DISBoards

 

[connors95]

It definitely looks better without it. I remember before they had the hat. I was surprised when they put it there. I would be happy to see it moved elsewhere .