Mickey Mouse arm/wand removed from Epcot

[ChrisFL]

Nothing bad intended here but I don't understand that first sentence. I don't know if a word was left out or what but I just don't have a clue as to what that means.

I don't have numbers available to me but it wasn't difficult to tell that Epcot was suffering. I had been at rope drop when there were no more than 100 people waiting on a beautiful Sunday morning. So, I would have to challenge the 17 successful years viewpoint.

Even with the sign many do not really connect WDW with Epcot. As veterans and Disney lovers we, in our own limited sense, cannot figure out how that is possible but first timers or infrequent visitors sometimes do not make that association. How many times has it been mentioned on this board alone, that they have overheard many people say, "We are at Epcot today but tomorrow we are going to Walt Disney World."

Once again it isn't necessary to defend the end of the Wand to me. Epcot has revived and is really healthy due in no small part to the massive changes that have been made there. Ellen's Energy Show, Mission Space, Test Track, Nemo at the Seas, Soarin' at the Land and Honey I shrunk the audience, gave Epcot a face lift and took away some of the "I don't want to learn anything" thoughts. The Wand may or may not have helped bring that association about. I think to some degree it did but I also agree that it may now have outlived it's usefulness. I'm just saying....

Ok, my first sentence I meant if you look at attendance at Epcot, even after MGM and AK opened, it was still higher for the most part. Epcot is still the #2 park at WDW property and IIRC always has been.

People call MK "Disney" all the time, because everywhere else in the world, the parks aren't referred to as MK really. So if someone goes to Disneyland, then comes to WDW, they still might refer to MK as "Disney" and then "Epcot".

That doesnt mean they dont realize that Epcot is part of the Disney company. I mean the monorail GOES to Epcot from MK.

 

[luvmickey5374]

I liked the arm....I like anything that has Mickey anything on it

 

[disneym4life]

Personally I think its a big mistake to take down the wand and hand. I love it. It makes me smile when I first see it when we first arrive. I will be sad because now the ball will be plain and referred to as a golfball. The decorations on the ball have been there since my very first trip.

 

[sanapunk]

Hey sanapunk,

I noticed your sig & thought this pic may bring a smile to your face.

It's a little blurry, but that is figment on the end...the REAL figment. I also have a MGM one with Mickey on it.

ahh!!!! I must have it! LOL!

The one I had was one of those floaty pens, with a spacesuited Mickey that would "float" down onto I think either the moon or SSE.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

The problem with EPCOT wasn't its pull originally it had great numbers as they kept opening and updating the attractions which you need to do with a park that is dedicated to the future.

From Epcot Central

http://epcot82.blogspot.com/

During the next 10 years, EPCOT Center experienced a pattern that has become well-known to theme-park observers: After a massive burst of public interest, things settled down. Compared with the inaugural 18 months, succeeding years saw a steep decline in attendance. Disney responded by adding attractions and pavilions to EPCOT, ones that had been part of an overall expansion plan in place from the beginning. These new attractions, like the Norway pavilion, the Wonders of Life, Horizons and The Living Seas, opened at regular intervals and fit in beautifully with the overall conception of EPCOT Center as a "permanent World's Fair." For a while, it seemed, EPCOT would grow, expand and change in ways that seemed almost organic.

Then, about 12 years after EPCOT opened (and about five years after its last major addition), something happened. Disney was pursuing other theme-park opportunities both in the U.S. and abroad. Corporate interest (from Disney and from sponsors) began to wane. EPCOT was no longer the "new" theme-park darling -- it had competition, and much like a less-popular but over-achieving student, it had a hard time garnering the attention it needed.

Despite the extraordinary early promise of EPCOT, Disney turned its attention elsewhere. For most theme parks, that would hardly mean much; if executed well, they can retain their high quality over time. EPCOT, however, was different. Inherent to its basic concept was a need for constant change and enhancement. EPCOT required huge amounts of work to keep its attractions current and relevant, and Disney's lack of interest began to have serious effects.

To be successful, EPCOT requires near-constant maintenance and care. It demands that its pavilions and attractions be updated on an incredibly frequent basis in order not to become stale and outdated.


It's the kind of effort I'm afraid Disney has proven too many times in the past decade or so that it is just not capable of providing.


But let's assume it could. Let's assume that Tom Staggs and his financial management group agreed to divert, say, $75 million a year (about the cost of one mid-range movie) specifically to EPCOT, specifically earmarked for the refurbishment of individual pavilions on a rotating basis. Every 16 months, say, Universe of Energy (with or without a sponsor) would be renovated to reflect current thinking on energy exploration and consumption. The Land would receive new narration almost constantly. Spaceship Earth would actually keep up with the pace of communication development, and showcase in its final act not what is, but what might be. Audio-Animatronic figures would be replaced regularly. World Showcase films would be in near-constant production.


This would require massive amounts of work, enormous labor costs and frequent reviews of attractions to ensure that they are living up to the vision that Disney (theoretically) has for EPCOT.


But the result ... wow. The result could be that guests are encouraged to visit EPCOT once every couple of years, to understand that the park will be constantly changing, to recognize that as they mature in their entertainment tastes, EPCOT will be there for them.

 

[bonzie1]

I actually like the Epcot wand myself, but from a purist sense.....

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.....

Not to change the subject... but... YES!!! Take away the Sorcerer's Hat so we can see the Great Movie Ride Chinese Theater!!!

Just move the hat to another location.

As far as the arm. When it first went up, I didn't like it (I really didn't like the "rocks" out in front with the images). Now, I've grown used to seeing the sparkles and will miss it.

 

[ldubberly]

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2007/07/no-more-ot-at-e.html

 

[SWVA BGSU Fan]

Not to change the subject... but... YES!!! Take away the Sorcerer's Hat so we can see the Great Movie Ride Chinese Theater!!!

Just move the hat to another location.

As far as the arm. When it first went up, I didn't like it (I really didn't like the "rocks" out in front with the images). Now, I've grown used to seeing the sparkles and will miss it.

My thoughts exactly! I didn't like the wand at first, but it will be missed. My sons have never seen SSE without the wand!

And PLEASE move the hat! When MGM first opened, that look down Hollywood Boulevard was so magical! For me, the hat is one giant obstruction.

 

[Gooofy-Blade]

2 days till the wand begins to fall

really??? do they have a date on when it will be finished? We will be there on 9/3 and hope the crane, walls, etc., are gone by then.........

 

[Donold_Fan]

And PLEASE move the hat! When MGM first opened, that look down Hollywood Boulevard was so magical! For me, the hat is one giant obstruction.

Does anyone have a picture of this? I know it's off topic, but our first visit to MGM was while they were building the hat behind a big blue wall. I never saw what it looked like before the hat.

 

[cherbear]

I got this from the Unofficial Guide website. It was posted a couple of days ago.


"Wand sheds a star

The Wand looming over Spaceship Earth at Epcot has begun deconstruction of the main structural elements.

The giant star has been removed from the top and portions of the magic wand itself are being removed nightly. "

Just thought y'all might like an update.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

Any pictures from today? We are leaving in a week and are wondering if it will be gone when we get there.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Any pictures from today? We are leaving in a week and are wondering if it will be gone when we get there.

There are some posted from this morning in this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1512515

It'll probably still be there when you go. It's going to take them awhile longer to complete.

 

[nbodyhome]

I put a bunch online today, here is one up-close shot:

 

[cherbear]

Thank you.

It seems as if it will be gone by my trip in mid-September. I had read that it was ahead of schedule. I would be excited if it was gone and there were NO cranes around...but even MORE excited if I got to ride SpaceShip Earth. Any chance they might be doing "test runs" of the updated ride by mid September? (I'm going to be at WDW Sept 15 through 21st)

 

[ChrisFL]

Thank you.

It seems as if it will be gone by my trip in mid-September. I had read that it was ahead of schedule. I would be excited if it was gone and there were NO cranes around...but even MORE excited if I got to ride SpaceShip Earth. Any chance they might be doing "test runs" of the updated ride by mid September? (I'm going to be at WDW Sept 15 through 21st)

its not supposed to open until November, so I highly doubt it. I really wish they would have scheduled it to be open by Oct 1st, with the 25th anniversary, Epcot's signature attraction being down just doesn't make sense