Is the Earful tower really a good icon for Hollywood Studios?

[Tonyz]

So it looks like the tower might be the icon again:

http://www.disneystore.com/walt-disney-world-icon-tee-for-men/mp/1365998/1000228/

Now say what you want about the hat, but the tower is a pretty terrible icon, too. What does it represent? What does it mean in regards to the park?

All the other icons are perfect. They tell the basic story of the park:
MK = imagination/fantasy
Epcot = technology/community
AK = Nature/preservation

And the earful tower represents...?

 

[MyKidzMick]

So it looks like the tower might be the icon again: http://www.disneystore.com/walt-disney-world-icon-tee-for-men/mp/1365998/1000228/ Now say what you want about the hat, but the tower is a pretty terrible icon, too. What does it represent? What does it mean in regards to the park? All the other icons are perfect. They tell the basic story of the park: MK = imagination/fantasy Epcot = technology/community AK = Nature/preservation And the earful tower represents...?

The earful tower represents DHS' direct connection to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA. From a number of vantage points in the SoCal area, the water tower in Burbank is easily identifiable as the Disney animation and movie icon.

 

[Shaden]

I liked the Sorcerer's Hat ....

 

[Planogirl]

Many of the old studios had water towers. I found this on a website called waymark:

There are very few water towers in the Los Angeles area. Many water storage facilities (tanks and reservoirs) are in hills and mountains and use "natural" gravity to achieve water pressure (as opposed to building a tall tower to create water pressure).

However, movie studios operate like their own small cities with independent water supplies, power generators, fire department and police departments. Most major movie studios in town have water towers - like Paramount, Warner Bros., Sony (Columbia Pictures) and Disney. Some of the towers hold water for emergencies (like for fighting fires following an earthquake). Some are empty and are simply landmarks with the studio name and logo on them. They were all fully functional at some point in the past.

The Paramount Water Tower is lighted at night and is a very visible Hollywood landmark. For those without lot access, it can be viewed and photographed from the Melrose Gate entrance.

 

[disney world dreamer]

clearly you are not knowledgeable about the fact that movie studio back lots are known for having water towers which initially were installed as a safety precaution in case of fires.
often the water tower had the logo of the movie studio on it.

the earful tower represents walt disney studios water tower in burbank.

so how is the earful tower NOT a good park icon for hollywood studios (aka MGM studios prior to 2008)?

in my opinion its perfect and represents at least what the park started oput as although its currently not an active movie/tv studio

 

[Luvchefmic]

It's a perfect icon ( explanation from 2 posters above re-relevance of H20 tower in a working movie studio) for DHS. I always liked it. It's not a new icon, it was the icon from the beginning. The hat was put there for a reason. Now it's no longer needed there. I have no hate for the hat, I would like to see it moved somewhere within the park but I doubt it will be repurposed anywhere.

 

[meg39]

I personally didn't mind the hat, seeing as they put it up when my memory started kicking in - but to me it doesn't symbolize the park. I'm not sure if I can explain it well enough, but it just has too much meaning and background outside of the park that I don't think it works as the icon of the park (not that it will be a problem anymore)

The Earful Tower is literally what I think of when I think MGM (lol my sister still refuses to call it Hollywood Studios). To me, this has always been the icon, even if it hasn't been - not sure if that is weird or not. I don't know why, but it just feels so classic to me. I love it.

 

[buzzrelly]

Boo. I was already sad about the hat leaving, but this just makes it worse. I find the earful tower to be totally underwhelming. As an 'Icon," it certainly isn't very iconic looking. Sigh.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Boo. I was already sad about the hat leaving, but this just makes it worse. I find the earful tower to be totally underwhelming. As an 'Icon," it certainly isn't very iconic looking. Sigh.

It used to be until the hat took over. Can't wait until it gets its rightful place back.

 

[AGoofykindagirl]

I have a shirt I bought when AK first opened. It has the icons for the four parks and was in fact the first "four park" design. It has the tower (not ToT) representing MGM. If the tower indeed does represent HS, at least I won't have to explain why the shirt did not have the hat. Just wish they could move the hat so those who like it can be happy too!

 

[Airship Ariadne]

I don't mind the hat going, it was the weakest of the park icons/anchors. But the tower isn't any better. It is placed in the back part of the park, mostly only visible from a couple of places in the park, and certainly not the visual anchor drawing people in from the entrance.

There needs to be something else, and unfortunately that might require taking out he Chinese Theater as THAT is in the spot where the icon is supposed to be (which is why Eisner put the hat where he did trying to correct the problem of the icon being in the wrong place...good intentions, wrong execution).

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm glad I made a point on our last visit to WDW to do photos in front of every park icon. Good luck getting a photo in front of the water tower.

 

[kytiam]

It's pretty nifty, as water towers go, but is certainly not an icon on the same level as the castle, tree of life, and spaceship earth. Those three icons were what Walt would have called a "weenie"--something to lure guests into the park. Nothing about the water tower lures me in. The hat was more of a focal point, like the other three icons. I personally liked it, but it was there the first time I visited the studios so it's what I know. I can't imagine not seeing it, although many of the times I was there, you could barely see it because it was hidden behind a stage with lights and rigging and banners, etc. Those of you who think the Great Movie Ride theater is a great "weenie" or focal point, I have to wonder if it, too will be hidden behind a stage with all that other stuff.

 

[tjevans]

I have a shirt I bought when AK first opened. It has the icons for the four parks and was in fact the first "four park" design. It has the tower (not ToT) representing MGM. If the tower indeed does represent HS, at least I won't have to explain why the shirt did not have the hat. Just wish they could move the hat so those who like it can be happy too!

I have that shirt too! My favorite WDW shirt.

 

[BrianL]

The Tower would be okay if the park were still what it was when it opened with actual studio activity going on (though it's location isn't good). I'm not saying the tower needs to go, but as the icon of the park it's not a good choice. It seems like DHS is changing into a different kind of park, one focused on the non-core Disney properties. The hat doesn't really fit tither (did it ever?). Not that I dislike it either (other than it's placement) but is it the park icon? I think they need a NEW icon altogether.

 

[JanaDee]

clearly you are not knowledgeable about the fact that movie studio back lots are known for having water towers which initially were installed as a safety precaution in case of fires.
often the water tower had the logo of the movie studio on it.

the earful tower represents walt disney studios water tower in burbank.

so how is the earful tower NOT a good park icon for hollywood studios (aka MGM studios prior to 2008)?

in my opinion its perfect and represents at least what the park started oput as although its currently not an active movie/tv studio

You'd have a point if 1)the park was in Cali and 2) the park even remotely resembled a working studio.

The tower can't even be seen from the majority of the park and is totally underwhelming even when you get close to it.

 

[Reddog1134]

You'd have a point if 1)the park was in Cali and 2) the park even remotely resembled a working studio.

The tower can't even be seen from the majority of the park and is totally underwhelming even when you get close to it.

I agree that the Tower no longer fits as an icon because the park no longer resembles a studio, but why would it have to be in California?

 

[Toad_Passenger]

The earful tower represents DHS' direct connection to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA. From a number of vantage points in the SoCal area, the water tower in Burbank is easily identifiable as the Disney animation and movie icon.

Interestingly enough, however, is that if you Google Earth the animation studios at 2263 West Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA, and do a street view, the first thing you see at the entrance is the Sorceror's Hat.

That being said, having been to the studios when they opened in 1989, I'm a "no-Hat" purist. It's just funny, though, that the Burbank studio does have both icons in its design, as well. (and their water tower doesn't have ears).

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

See, here's how we fix this whole situation. We help out poor Hollywood Studios with the sad little identity crisis it is currently experiencing. The tower makes excellent sense... if it was a working studio or resembled a working studio. Why not go back to that? It really wouldn't be hard. You have Hollywood Studios, Disney Studios, Pixar Studios, and Lucas Studios. You feel like you are walking around the movie sets, but as soon as you enter an attraction, WAMMO! You are in the action. They did this with Tower of Terror, Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, and even Rock n Roller Coaster to some extent. It would require expanding, but that's easily handled. In that situation, I do think that the tower makes PERFECT sense. It's a water tour for the studios like all of them had back in the golden age of Hollywood.

 

[ttintagel]

Sure, the hat might have been more elaborate than the tower, but it certainly didn't scream "Hollywood" or anything to do with the theme of the park (except for the fact that it appeared in a movie, which can be said for most things in the parks). And unlike Spaceship Earth, Cinderella Castle, and the Tree of Life, it didn't have anything exciting inside it unless you happened to be a big pin trading enthusiast.