DHS Sorcerer's Hat to be removed

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think I've seen enough of Cinderella's Castle. It's been there since 1971!!! And it's just a restaurant anyway - a place to sell the customer something flashy. Definitely need something else there. Besides, it TOTALLY clashes with Main Street, USA. I mean, a 1000 year old castle at the end of a 1900s Missouri town???

Just using all of the arguments against Mickey's Hat for another Icon. Doesn't quite fit, does it. C'mon Disney. Just leave the Mickey Hat alone.

Apples and oranges.
The castle and the theater are original for the concept of the parks where they are located.
The hat was not.

As much as folks get in an uproar over changes in 2014, it's like they don't care that this is not new and folks weren't satisfied that a temporary structure overstayed its welcome.

The hat was temporary.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The Mann wasn't the Icon either. Some obscure tower buried in the back of the Studios - the park was built around that?

The Mann just isn't Disney. All it was placed there for was to compete with Universal which opened the same time. Let's face it - Universal is still kicking Disney's backside when it comes to re-creating Hollywood. So Disney gave identity to the park with the Sorcerer's Hat. Basically, "this is a magical park and movie magic is everywhere here". Made sense to me.

The theater was the centerpiece for the entrance to the park and is part of a hidden Mickey. It is to honor old Hollywood.

Earful tower was the icon.

 

[btk2333]

I'm ambivalent to the hat staying or leaving- I'm not willing to venture an opinion until we know what the future holds for dhs- as a big expansion is coming and may involve a new icon all together

 

[Planogirl]

The Mann wasn't the Icon either. Some obscure tower buried in the back of the Studios - the park was built around that?

The Mann just isn't Disney. All it was placed there for was to compete with Universal which opened the same time. Let's face it - Universal is still kicking Disney's backside when it comes to re-creating Hollywood. So Disney gave identity to the park with the Sorcerer's Hat. Basically, "this is a magical park and movie magic is everywhere here". Made sense to me.

Universal just has a short street and an inn of sorts that signify Hollywood. You could also make an argument for Disaster. While these are well-done it's a pretty minimal part of Universal.

Of course Universal does still make things on the property but that also seems to be disappearing gradually.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Someone should go through this thread and see if all the people that say keep it, first visited the park in 2001 or later and all the people that say get rid of its first visit was before that.

My vote is that I am glad it is disappearing and my first visit was before the hat. Also glad to see the backlot tour go. The shrunk down version of the backlot tour was pail to what it use to be.

our first visit was in 2007 - with hat there - I am Glad it is going - from the pictures I've seen posted on here I think it looks a lot better without it.

 

[GatorChris]

I guess I could keep fighting about this for months, but it doesn't change anything. Stupid execs. I just wonder if the mad and sad feelings we Hat Lovers feel and express today will be loudly repeated on this board when Disney unveils the new Icon that will sit in front of the Mann.

A pity that these amazing shots will never be seen again.

 

[lucas]

I never liked the hat.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I guess I could keep fighting about this for months, but it doesn't change anything. Stupid execs. I just wonder if the mad and sad feelings we Hat Lovers feel and express today will be loudly repeated on this board when Disney unveils the new Icon that will sit in front of the Mann.

A pity that these amazing shots will never be seen again.

I would be sad to see the ORIGINAL centerpiece changed.

Quite unlikely that I will call people names and air out my depression on a discussion board. I have been attending Disney since about 1978/1979. SO much has changed over the decades. While there are sentimental memories, I'm not going to get so down about it. It's a business. It's a theme park. My life does not hang in the balance to throw hissy fits for every change that comes along.

YMMV.
Things I miss but don't require therapy over:
MR Toad
Actual production studios at MGM
The name MGM
Original figment
The "ride" at Living Seas (not Living Seas with Nemo--its predecessor)
Making reservations for dining at EPCOT by video
Double decker busses at EPCOT
The castle when they changed it to a cake
The Main Street Electrical Parade-- an institution that I was sad to see go (stop no therapy required) and happy that returned
Main Street Bakery
King Stefan's Banquet Hall
Dixie crossroads
World of Motion...

And this doesn't even begins to touch all the changes that have taken place at WDW.

And no once did I call anyone a hater when those things disappeared. I would hope that adults who can afford the luxury of going to Disney were capable of greater maturity. (I'm sorry. Confusing you with another zealous hat fan posting around the same time.)

 

[cgattis]

Things I miss but don't require therapy over: Dixie crossroads.)

I think you mean Dixie Landings. I'm pretty sure you can still get all the rock shrimp and corn fritters you want . Although, if not, I just MIGHT require therapy over that LOL

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think you mean Dixie Landings. I'm pretty sure you can still get all the rock shrimp and corn fritters you want . Although, if not, I just MIGHT require therapy over that LOL

OMg--lol! And no--where I used to live it closed. Boo. I think there was another an hour away.

By clearly , the closing was so upsetting that I forgot the name.

 

[lugnut33]

Don't know how true it is, but the hat will be replaced by a permanent stage!! LOL, now I support keeping the hat there!!

This from EasyWDW:

Its removal is not so much a “re-connection” with the Studios’ original purpose, but more of a way to install a permanent stage and set off nightly fireworks. The hat gets in the way of both.

 

[magicbob]

I think you mean Dixie Landings. I'm pretty sure you can still get all the rock shrimp and corn fritters you want . Although, if not, I just MIGHT require therapy over that LOL

Dixie Crossroads' corn fritters.... mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmm..... Yum!

 

[Missyrose]

Don't know how true it is, but the hat will be replaced by a permanent stage!! LOL, now I support keeping the hat there!!

This from EasyWDW:

Which of Josh's posts is this from?

 

[fairy oma]

Just saw the newest WDW Park sweatshirt and lo and behold it has the water tower with Mickey's ears atop it; is it possible this is a tip of the hand to what they will be putting up in place of the sorcerer's hat? Just wondering.

 

[Number Six]

The water tower with ears is already there in the park

 

[Planogirl]

I feel for those of you who really like the hat. I've had things taken away lately that make me unhappy too so I can relate. I wish that the hat would be moved to a better location.

 

[Burnedout]

I find the theater very magical, but I'm a fan of old MGM movies. Everybody's got their thing.

The theater is all about all that was wonderful in the era tbat is disney - MGM I totally think it is magic

 

[agavegirl1]

Not sorry to see it go except for one thing...landmark to figure out how to get around DHS. I was there when it was MGM and I have to say, having the hat on the map made finding stuff a little easier.

 

[Jedana]

I'm one of the few who like the hat, but NOT where it is.... Will be interesting to see what if anything replaces it... kinda hoping for that view of the theatre unobstructed when I go in January

I like that hat.
I like the hat that's in DTD in California too.

Maybe they should move the hat to a hotel, like ASMo?

Or outside DHS?

 

[fairy oma]

The water tower with ears is already there in the park

I think WDW inclusion of it on the sweatshirt shows they are once again going to make that the symbol of DHS instead of Mickey's Sorcerer's Hat. Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't it the original symbol before the hat?