Mickey Mouse arm/wand removed from Epcot

[vern]

I thought i was the only one who is sad about the arm coming down.

 

[daisax]

Hallelujiah!

Now let's just hope that they don't repeat the horrible "birthday cake" approach they took with the Castle that year, and turn it into something that looks like a Hostess Snoball.

Glad to hear the tombstones are being phased out... they can use them as Jersey barriers in the parking lot.

 

[cherbear]

I sent you a PM. Hopefully now you can get it to work.

Thanks. I got to the page....

AHHHHHHGGGG OH NO!!!! I JUST FOUND IT!!
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster will be going down for a major refurbishment from Labor Day to the beginning of October 2007.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid will be going under refurbishment sometime in the next few months.

It wasn't listed in Rehabs & Refurbishments though. THEY CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!!!!



It says they are speculations so I hope they are wrong!

 

[ChrisFL]

Anyone heard anything about the rehab of Spaceship earth? Are they making big changes, updating, or just some new paint? I love this ride, but have gotten pretty tired of it stopping once or twice ride in recent year. Hope this changes, but I wouldn't want to see a lot inside change.

So glad that spacehip earth will be back to normal- without the wand.. and I'm really excited to have the leave a legacy stuff gone!

They're making big changes, replacing all of the ride vehicles, adding interactive touch screens to choose things (like Horizons did), adding all new AA characters (the same high tech ones used for Jack Sparrow at POTC) and lots of other changes.

 

[GoofyaboutMickey]

Oh!!! I can't believe they are taking it down! I like the arm..... It looks kind of boring without it. I will be happy with a refurbishing.....does anyone know when they will be doing that? I hope SE is open durning August.

 

[Disney845]

I was even more excited to hear a few days ago that they are no longer selling plots in the graveyard out front. Can't wait until they tear down that "great" idea. Or even just pick up all of those grey tombstone like objects and relocate them...perhaps on a path...in a heavily forested section of Fort Wilderness?

Call me a purist if you will, but I am happy to see the arm come down. It was "cute" with the 2000 logo for the millenium celebrations, but that is where it should have ended. Of course I miss Horizons, World of Motion, The Living Seas ("Try to imagine, just for a moment"), and the original Imagination pavillion too.

 

[GrinGrinnyGhosts]

PPL It is Real
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...cot070507,0,46286.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout
Mickey Mouse arm, wand coming down from Epcot sphere at Disney World
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
July 5, 2007

The 257-foot-tall Mickey Mouse arm, glove and wand logo structure at Epcot is coming down.

Epcot Vice President Jim MacPhee announced this morning that the time has come to remove the structure, which has served both as a colorful, lighted Epcot sign since 2000, and as a lightning rod for criticism from Epcot purists who contended the image was out of character for Epcot's architecture.

The structure leans on Epcot's previous and future iconic figure, the Spaceship Earth Pavilion, a180-foot geodesic sphere that can be seen for miles.


The arm and glove went up for Walt Disney World's 2000 millennium celebration.

Now, with Epcot's 25th anniversary this fall, and the temporary closing of Spaceship Earth ride, MacPhee said, "We think the timing of the removal is right."

Deconstruction of the 50-ton structure begins Monday, and will be completed shortly before the park's 25th anniversary, October 1. Also coming down are the 36-foot-high "Epcot" letters and colored stars splashing across the sphere.

Also Monday, the Spaceship Earth ride will close to complete a refurbishing sponsored by Siemans AG. The work should be done by November, MacPhee said.

At 257 feet, the arm-glove-wand addition to the Epcot dome made the structure the tallest point in all of Walt Disney World.

Once it comes down, the tallest points according to Sentinel research will be two structures both estimated at 199 feet tall -- the Tower of Terror at MGM Studios and the new Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom.

The tallest point in the Magic Kingdom is Cinderella's Castle at 180 feet.

In terms of park centerpieces, Epcot's dome and Magic Kingdom's castle will both be the tallest, followed by Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life at 145 feet and then the sorcerer's hat at MGM standing at 100 feet tall.

 

[WEDway2002]

Now, if they could only remove the Sorcerer Mickey's hat from MGM studios, one could have a classic view of the main entrance (Hollywood Blvd?) to MGM without the commercial clutter.....

Ya know ... now that you mention it ... I agree. I'm sure it's been said before, but I, too, feel it's out of place. It's cool in and of itself ... but just seems plunked down as if it fell from the sky!


Dave

 

[nickeymouse]

Pigsty, it's probably just you and me, but "NOOO"!!!! I liked the color the arm brought to the Epcot entrance.

You are not the only two who liked the Arm!!! It made that park so special!(Character Wise) I'm Shocked!!!

 

[ChrisFL]

You are not the only two who liked the Arm!!! It made that park so special!(Character Wise) I'm Shocked!!!

Thats just it though, EPCOT was never meant to be a "character" park, thats what MK is for...now they're turning it into one...yet theres still no Mickey Mouse attraction besides the wand.

Its difficult to swallow for some of us, but when you look back on when Walt was around, things were much less about Mickey all the time and more about all of the different things that Walt was interested in...we didnt see mickey ears or mickey hands everywhere until Eisner's synergy ideas came along.

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

Yay!!!

 

[elastigirlfan]

It's going to be weird not seeing the wand there anymore...it's going to be a naked ball!!

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

I love the old look which will now become the new look. unless there will be some unknown accessories,

 

[DutchsMommy]

I love the old look which will now become the new look. unless there will be some unknown accessories,

Like a giant mickey golf club to "celebrate" 2 for 1 deals at Eagle Pines? ..........I need a 'jaded and cynical' smilie

 

[GrinGrinnyGhosts]

PPL It is Real
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...cot070507,0,46286.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout
Mickey Mouse arm, wand coming down from Epcot sphere at Disney World
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
July 5, 2007

The 257-foot-tall Mickey Mouse arm, glove and wand logo structure at Epcot is coming down.

Epcot Vice President Jim MacPhee announced this morning that the time has come to remove the structure, which has served both as a colorful, lighted Epcot sign since 2000, and as a lightning rod for criticism from Epcot purists who contended the image was out of character for Epcot's architecture.

The structure leans on Epcot's previous and future iconic figure, the Spaceship Earth Pavilion, a180-foot geodesic sphere that can be seen for miles.


The arm and glove went up for Walt Disney World's 2000 millennium celebration.

Now, with Epcot's 25th anniversary this fall, and the temporary closing of Spaceship Earth ride, MacPhee said, "We think the timing of the removal is right."

Deconstruction of the 50-ton structure begins Monday, and will be completed shortly before the park's 25th anniversary, October 1. Also coming down are the 36-foot-high "Epcot" letters and colored stars splashing across the sphere.

Also Monday, the Spaceship Earth ride will close to complete a refurbishing sponsored by Siemans AG. The work should be done by November, MacPhee said.

At 257 feet, the arm-glove-wand addition to the Epcot dome made the structure the tallest point in all of Walt Disney World.

Once it comes down, the tallest points according to Sentinel research will be two structures both estimated at 199 feet tall -- the Tower of Terror at MGM Studios and the new Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom.

The tallest point in the Magic Kingdom is Cinderella's Castle at 180 feet.

In terms of park centerpieces, Epcot's dome and Magic Kingdom's castle will both be the tallest, followed by Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life at 145 feet and then the sorcerer's hat at MGM standing at 100 feet tall.

 

[ChrisFL]

posted this pic on the community board, if you think it fits in so well with Epcot, why not the castle?:

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Maybe we should start a count down thread till its gone starting Monday being Day 1 of the BUHR (Big Ugly Hand Removal) until its complete and we can have a virtual Layered Margarita Party on the day of completion.

 

[dana1003]

The 257-foot-tall Mickey Mouse arm, glove and wand logo attached to Spaceship Earth in Walt Disney World's Epcot is coming down.

Epcot Vice President Jim MacPhee announced this morning that the time had come to remove the structure, which has served both as a colorful, lighted Epcot sign since 2000, and as a lightning rod for criticism from Epcot purists who contended the image was out of character for Epcot's architecture.

The structure leans on Epcot's previous and future iconic figure, the Spaceship Earth Pavilion, a180-foot-diameter geodesic sphere that can be seen for miles.

Now, however, with Epcot's 25th anniversary this fall, and the temporary closing of Spaceship Earth ride, MacPhee said, "We think the timing of the removal is right."

Deconstruction of the 50-ton structure begins Monday and will be completed shortly before the park's 25th anniversary on Oct. 1. Also coming down are the 36-foot-high "Epcot" letters and colored stars splashing across the sphere.

Also Monday, the Spaceship Earth ride will close to complete a refurbishing sponsored by Siemans AG. The work should be done by November, MacPhee said.

This is sad - I sort of liked seeing the arm with the wand over Spaceship Earth.

totally off topic-but what is that plane in you pic w/mickey on it????

 

[Laura]

I love the old look which will now become the new look. unless there will be some unknown accessories,

Honestly, I think if they were replacing the wand with something else, that would have been announced. Like when a ride's replaced with another one, you get: "Hey look! A new Pooh ride! It'll be great! oh and we're ripping out Mr. Toad to put it in"

I'm surprised they're announcing the removal of the wand, rather than just quietly taking it down. It's kind of like acknowledging it sucked.

 

[Missus Toad]

Adios, eyesore!