A poll regarding DHS and the hat.

[JennaDeeDooDah]

On another thread I mentioned I was curious as to how liking and not liking the hat broke down depending on people's first visit (or first memorable visit) to DHS. I wonder how much your first impression goes into your opinion about the hat. Please answer the poll as to whether you first visited (again, the first visit that you actually remember) before or after the hat was in place and whether you prefer DHS with or without the hat in front of the theater. If you have no preference, there's an option for that, as well.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

First MGM Studios visit: 1992
Prefer without the hat.

 

[Dawn68PA]

I was never a fan of the hat. It never seemed to fit the park theme to me

 

[MainMom]

Really disliked the hat in that location.

 

[IndianaMouse]

My first visit to the Studios was after the hat went up. I always thought the Hat looked a little "off" but was disappointed when Disney decided to take it down. Now that I've seen pictures with it gone I definitely prefer it without the hat.



ETA I just went and compared a picture in front of the hat on our last trip to the pictures without the hat and can't believe how cheesy the hat lookes compared to the Theater

 

[Mousefanmike]

I was never a fan of the hat. It never seemed to fit the park theme to me

I completely agree, The Chinese Theatre fits perfectly at the end of Hollywood Bld!

 

[o0quirkygirl0o]

Now that the hat is gone I keep getting struck by the beauty of the new sight-lines. I was so young on my pre-hat trips that my memory of the views was quite hazy. Seeing them now reaffirms how beautifully designed the park was from the beginning. Oddly this shot convinces me the most:

Taking the hat down was the right choice.

 

[ellie05]

My first few trips was before the hat. I honestly don't care either way. I am just looking forward to what new things they are going to bring to the park hat or no hat.

 

[POOHsie]

I

Now that the hat is gone I keep getting struck by the beauty of the new sight-lines. I was so young on my pre-hat trips that my memory of the views was quite hazy. Seeing them now reaffirms how beautifully designed the park was from the beginning. Oddly this shot convinces me the most:

Taking the hat down was the right choice.

It's one thing to create an oversize Park Icon to represent that park's theme, and to locate it front and center. It's another thing to construct an oversize Park Icon, place it front and center, and when you get close you realize that it's just the roof over a cheesy shop selling worthless baubles and trinkets. Does Disney have NO SHAME???

 

[SnackCredit]

They put the hat up for Walt's 100th birthday in 2001. It was about time they took it down. I always thought the Chinese Theater/ Movie Ride looked amazing at the end of the street at the park entrance, so I smiled when I first read they were taking it down.

This is very similar to when they took down the Mickey hand and "Epcot" from Spaceship Earth, leftover for several years after the Millenium Celebration. A temporary change for a special event that was left up too long. (Could you imagive if they left the Castle Cake from the 25th anniversary up for years?!)

 

[patty57]

Prefer it without the hat.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

First visit to the Studios was just a few months after they opened in 1989, so there was no hat. I have always hated how obtrusive the hat was and I am glad to have the original look restored.

 

[DisneyFive]

Would love to, but I don't want to answer yet, because I haven't seen it without the hat in person. I'm holding final judgement.

Our first visit was after the hat was already there, and I THINK we're still going to wish the hat was still there. ...but who knows...

Dan

 

[texasroni75]

It was put up after our first visit. My kids say they will miss it, since they do not remember DHS without it. I never minded the hat itself, but with the addition of a stage in front of it, it really began to impede traffic flow. Our last visit, every time they had something going on there, it was mass confusion and angry parents with strollers trying to push their way past the standing masses (even when we told them, "you can't go through this way, it is blocked".) We avoided the area for the duration of our visit. If something is put in its place, I hope it is planned in a way that doesn't cause such traffic jams!