Goodbye Epcot Wand...?

[jcpuppy.com]

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I like the Leave a Legacy stones at Epcot. I plan on buying one in September with my girls' picture on it. I think it would be very cool to go look at it on all our future trips, and take their pictures next to it every year to see how they grow, and I really hope they don't remove it after all those people have spent all that money to have their pictures become a permanent part of Disney World. As far as the look of them, I think they add to the futuristic, stark angular look of Future World. Maybe the placement isn't perfect, but if we had our pictures on there how cool would that be for us for a picture of my childrento be the first thing we see when we enter the park?

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I like the legacy so much we just bought some while we were there this trip. If you want in, you better buy before about June 16th(I think) that is the last day they are doing them. They are required to keep them 20 years(tho maybe they can move them to a different part of the park) but when you sign the contract they say 20 years. I wish it had been forever. I think it would be neat for my great great grandkids to be able to go there and see us long after we are gone.

The hand adds color and looks good on what would otherwise just be a glorified golfball

The hat helps you find your way around MGM much like the castle and the ball.

 

[madison66]

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[Peaches1111_00]

I don't really have a problem with the wand. It's just that it looks so unfinished. They should have tried to cover up all the metal and made it look prettier from all sides.

The main problem I have with the had though, is that it doesn't look balanced for the park. I can see the beautiful theater just peeking out from behind it, but it's only 1 side. Everything else on that street looks so square and then all of a sudden you see this huge hat that is round and leaning to 1 side. It doesn't fit the rest of the street. It's way out of place.

 

[Jennasis]

I wonder how many of the wand/hat lovers started going to visit AFTER those things had been put up? Most of the detractors (like myself) have been going since the parks opened. I would think that most preferences are based on what you are used to. For me, that's on hat and no wand.

BTW the wand IS most definitely being removed (I must hunt down that that article). The request/demand for the change comes from the ride's sponsor "Siemans". In a hilarious decree, Sieman's demanded that Disney either remove the hand and wand and restore Spaceship Earth's exterior to it's former glory, or they would have to replace the word "Epcot" on the ball, with the word "Siemans".

Now that's friggin funny. I wonder if there is a way I can support that company more? Truly a company after my own heart!

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Well, sorry to say, I love the wand, I love the hat, yes I also loved the castle cake too!!! Sorry folks, but that's just how it is with me.

 

[DisneyGirlie]

I hope they keep it. It draws your attention to Epcot with some color and a little extra something...otherwise IMO it is just kind of a blah.

I totally agree!
I love the wand, it makes it more interesting IMO.
& I also miss all the gold detailing on Cinderella's castle from '06.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Speaking of the castle cake, I was fine with it because I had been to the MK many times before and knew I would be coming back shortly. So I knew I would see the castle restored to it's natural glory again, but I still felt sorry for all of the people who's first and only view of the castle was in cake form! As for the wand, I hate it. I'll be glad to see it go. I like the ball au natural! Surprisingly, I actually kind of like the hat at MGM.

 

[DisneyHolidayFan]

What, the wand gone. I like the wand!

I agree. It will look so bare without it!!!

 

[smjj]

I
BTW the wand IS most definitely being removed (I must hunt down that that article). The request/demand for the change comes from the ride's sponsor "Siemans". In a hilarious decree, Sieman's demanded that Disney either remove the hand and wand and restore Spaceship Earth's exterior to it's former glory, or they would have to replace the word "Epcot" on the ball, with the word "Siemans".
QUOTE]
I can see a company maybe making that request. However, I would find it very hard to believe Disney would cave to it. I don't think they would every allow a sponsor to have that much control over them. Now I could buy a request and incentivies to Disney like a certain number of years as the sponsor of Spaceship Earth..smjj

 

[BonnieA]

I'm glad to see the hand/wand go, also would like the BAH to go and the tombstones pulverized.
Why does the big word Epcot need to be there anyway? Does the castle have a big "Magic Kingdom" on it? Does the Tree of Life have a big "Animal Kingdom" on it? Is it so hard to figure out which park you are in?

 

[nbodyhome]

I also understand that Siemens didn't want the wand up, and I think that considering the wand has been up as long as it has been (8 years), that it is reasonable for it to finally come down.

I had thought it would only be up for 1 year, but I was told it was a 10 year plan or something like that - so Disney could spread the financing of it over that time.

I am glad to finalllly see it go. IMHO, it ruins sightlines in the park, and looks like a carnival item. I am actually surprised so many like it, but everyone has different tastes. I remember how beautiful Epcot was before it, and before the memorial that is in front of it (a friend of mine, who has since passed on, had a young daughter who asked her "who died here"?)

 

[disneyfan19712006]

I'm one of the ones that kind of liked it. But I do hate those big stone pillars that house the Leave a Legacy plates. They're so ugly.

I could live without the pillars. Bring back all the plants and flowers. It was so pretty and not depressing like those huge stone tombstones.

 

[MermaidsMom]

It's somewhat sad to enter EPCOT through the main entrance since they added so much stuff to the entry. I remember when the wand went up and thought it was only going to be there for a year. I hope the rumors are true and they will restore the entrance to it's former beauty without the legacy towers and put back the flowers and fountains.

 

[If U Had Wings]

I love Siemens now! I think I need to start supporting this company a little more.

 

[ChrisFL]

They should move the wand to DCA and put big DCA letters on it since it fits with the lack of theming there!!

 

[DisneyWorldWisher]

Anyway, it's great that it's going down

Next target...the Hat!

Turn this (its so sad to see the theater peaking out)

back into this

 

[edcrbnsoul]

The wand along with all that other junk they have thrown at Epcot screws up the great sight lines you got as walked through Communicore.

You cant even see SE in this shot

and dont get me started on why the Pigeon and the Guppy dont belong looming over World Showcase.

 

[ransom]

Oh, how exciting!

If this rumor is true, plus the one about moving Leave a Legacy back to the American Experience area, Epcot might be totally different next time we're there (this coming December)!

Since we've never seen Epcot without the wand and the Leave a Legacy monoliths, their presence really didn't bother us. But it'll be very interesting to see the park first-hand without both of them! Woo hoo!

As for the hat, I'd support its removal, too, but I have my doubts that will happen anytime soon.

 

[CaptHook34]

Well i think the wand is neat. I like how it sparkles and such at night, but id rather see them do something about the random giant sorcerer hat in MGM.

 

[njchris]

I really don't like all the stuff they have up that blocks the view from inside the park. I'd rather that go first.