Am I the Only One Who Likes the Epcot Wand?

[RyMickey]

So, I'm reading some Disney-related site today and they're discussing how much they hate the Mickey Mouse arm/wand that wraps around Spaceship Earth. They can't wait for the day when this "atrocity" gets taken down.

Personally, I kind of like the thing. I don't think it's tacky at all. Not that I'd be offended if they got rid of it, but I must say that I don't think it's bad at all.

Am I the only one that likes the thing?

 

[MinnieMom]

Nope, not the only one. I like it. What's not to like?

 

[__disneygirl]

I agree with you and MinnieMom. What's not to like? I've never heard of anyone disliking it.

 

[iluvcountry]

I don't see why anyone would dislike it... We all have our own opinions, but I've always thought that the wand kind of completes Spaceship Earth. Maybe it's because I always thought that it was a golf ball and the wand was like the golf club.

 

[disneyluv4]

I think it looks nice. Never had a problem with it.

 

[safetymom]

I like it also but you will find many here on the DIS that don't.

 

[RyMickey]

The problem the naysayers have with it is that it detracts from what "Epcot" once was - a more adult-themed park. Originally, Epcot had no characters (with the exception of Figment), and I think the detractors believe that it is "ruining" the Epcot theme.

Like I said, I don't agree with this, but there are many people that do.

 

[pezpam]

I like it, but I like the hat at MGM, so what do I know?

 

[Luv4Disney]

I like it too! I think it's pretty. I've looked back at old pictures without it and think it looks kind of boring.

 

[Micca]

Spaceship Earth was such a cool icon for Epcot. The wand desecrates SE in the same way that the cake decor did for the castle a few years ago I do love but not around SE.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I like it. I think it makes Epcot look more "Disney." I also like the big hat at MGM and the Happiest Celebration decorations on Cinderella Castle.

 

[Kycha]

I like it, but I like the hat at MGM, so what do I know?

Not only do I like the Epcot wand and the MGM hat, I liked the pink birthday cake castle at MK.

 

[Stitch's Boy]

I like the wand at Epcot and the hat at MGM. I think there pretty neat to see.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I agree 100%. I really thinks it has made the Epcot symbol more modern.

 

[Feralpeg]

I like it. You will find that many people want Disney to add new things, but they don't want the old things they are used to changed. I have no problem with change.

 

[SnowWhite]

It is one of my favourite things to see when I get to Disney. I have a pic of it at night and it is one of my favourites. I hope they never change it.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I don't dig the wand at all.

There's an article on JimHillMedia.com today (http://www.jimhillmedia.com/article.php?id=1866) that links to a site where professional Imagineers are blogging their thoughts about what needs to be done with the parks. One of the Imagineers wrote about it better than I ever could:

Chapters could be written on exactly why this is such a catastrophic mess but for now I'll only bring up one idea. Look at the original picture of Spaceship Earth and the palm tree plantings. Immediately viewers register a sense of scale. This deceptively simple structure is huge, towering well past the trees. Throw that Mickey Hand up and all sense of scale is tossed.

If you're interested in checking out the blog, it's here: (http://imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_imagineerebirth_archive.html) and it's pretty interesting.

I should be doing dishes now. BLAH!

 

[Mariposa]

I don't like it-- and it has nothing to do with 'old EPCOT being for adults' or with a resistance to change, for me. I just don't like it. I think the sphere is such a clean-line, sleak looking symbol and I think the wand kinda junks it all up. To me, it makes the whole thing look less modern, and I just don't think it needs it. (I just don't take photos with it in the frame. )

I do, however, LOVE the castle decorations (except the mirror, which looks cheap to me)- I always thought the castle lacked a sense of grand fantasy and I think the gold fixes that. And I like the hat, although I do kinda wish I could still see the theater, too. But I'll take the hat over the theater view, it just adds glitz and glamour, I think.

 

[TinkGirl]

I like everything Mickey!

 

[disneymaniac24]

I do, however, LOVE the castle decorations (except the mirror, which looks cheap to me)- I always thought the castle lacked a sense of grand fantasy and I think the gold fixes that. And I like the hat, although I do kinda wish I could still see the theater, too. But I'll take the hat over the theater view, it just adds glitz and glamour, I think.

I agree with this comment. I think the mirror is cheapo but the gold looks nice and classy, unlike the cakestle!
But I DO like the wand/arm. I think it adds to SE which before was just a smidge blah. I like it because it doesn't over do it, it's just enough to add some pizzaz.