Newer park "additions" -- too gaudy and ugly?

[Deb in IA]

OK, maybe I'm just a grump (I'm sure there are many who think this!), but anyone else think that the hand with the wand and the "Epcot" over Spaceship Earth is ugly?

And the giant Socerer's Hat in the front of The Great Movie Ride just sticks out like a sore thumb.

These are two additions that I wish had never been put up. I miss the old, classic look of Spaceship Earth, and that giant hat ruins the effect of an old, Hollywood movie lot.

And I can't help but feel that if Walt could see what they've done to his parks, he would not be pleased.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

 

[crisi]

I HATE the huge Epcot over Spaceship Earth. Like a huge geodome wasn't trademark enough. And the supports really still haven't been well integrated, ruins the traffic pattern over on that side.

The Mickey hat I'm more OK with as I can't see it from every point in the park. But I agree, the feeling of old Hollywood is gone.

But Walt was long gone before Epcot or MGM were in place, and Epcot is not at all what Walt was thinking of when he dreamed of Epcot (think a futuristic Celebration, and you'd have Walt's Epcot).

 

[stinkerbelle]

I really liked it when the EPCOT sign said "2000" That was cool IMO...but yeah...I think it should go back to "bare"

and I personally do NOT like the hat at MGM.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

I think I've gotten used to the hand around Spaceship Earth. I saw a picture from an old trip without it, and it suddenly struck me as very plain! I like the hat at MGM, I just don't like where they put it. It doesn't fit in with the look of the park.

The gaudiest, cheapest looking addition is by far the carnival in Dino-land at AK. My stomach turns every time I go there. Walt would absolutely HATE it!!!

 

[DisneyNut_34]

I agree! If I want cheap Carni games I'll go the local fair! I associate WDW with class, and that area is an eyesore.

 

[dizprincess717]

While I'm all for the way things originally looked at Epcot, I do like the wand with "Epcot" over the geosphere. One poster said that looking back at pictures it seemed sort of dull, and now that the wand is there I can tell that it DID look dull. I think it adds a little bit of life to an, otherwise, Big Ball.

As for MGM ... The huge hat is awesome, the colors and the way it's lit up at night is beautiful. But they put it right in front of the Chinese Theater and ruined it. And the worst part is, it's on a tilt so you can see the upper right portion of the Theater! It would have looked nicer if the Thater wasn't there. To me, the Theater was the official "emblem" of MGM.

And I agree with the poster who said Dinoland is ugly. It looks very cheap and tacky. Something old and oh, I don't know, "Dinosaur" looking (green and tan colors, maybe some footprints in the cement?) would have made it a lot better. It's like the details around the park are spectacular (because let's face it, AK is not everyone's favorite park) and then we come to Dinoland and EWW.

By far, the most gaudy and ugly thing they EVER did at WDW was that pink birthday cake over the Castle. That, in a word, was horrendous, IMHO.

 

[Deb in IA]

By far, the most gaudy and ugly thing they EVER did at WDW was that pink birthday cake over the Castle. That, in a word, was horrendous, IMHO.

I am SO glad I didn't get to see that. Just reading the description makes my stomach woozy . . .

 

[safetymom]

I like the hand on Spaceship Earth. I think they could have put the hat somewhere else in MGM.

 

[shirleyb]

I like the hand, hate the hat, and think Dinoland is tacky. It just doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the park.

 

[granmanh603]

Like the hand in Epcot , Like the Hat at MGM, don't like the carny at Dionoland. That definetly needs to be reimagineered over there.

 

[DanceRC28]

I like both things personally. I think both add something to the parks. As has been said, the ball is just so plain without the hand. The hat, to me, is like a breath of fresh air. When I walk into that park, it's the first thing I see and I just smile that happy smile of knowing I'm in Disney! But everyone likes different things, it's what makes the world go around.

Renee

 

[puffkin]

I like the hand at Epcot. It really spices up Spaceship Earth during the day when it glistens in the sun.

I do like the hat at MGM, especially when it is lit up at night. I just wish they could have found a better spot for it because the Chinese theater is cool too.

 

[joanjett1976]

I am probably in the overwhelming minority on this one, but I kinda like Dino Land! It is very reminiscent of Paradise Pier over at DL CGA. Mind you I am a carnival buff and never pass up a Coney island trip, so that probably explains my acceptance of the, ahem, tacky, landscape!

 

[Took]

Hand is okay (like both ways), Hat is awful (I loved Mann's by itself!), dinoland is tacky.

took

 

[mking624]

I don't mind the hand on Spaceship Earth so much...I guess because I hadn't been there in over 10 years when we finally got to go for our honeymoon and the hand/2000 was up and I can't remember what it was like without it since I was only a little girl when I first went. So for me, the hand is normal.

The hat at MGM...I'm kinda neutral to it. I don't like it or dislike it.

As far as the carnival atmosphere at AK...I think it's horrid. It absolutely does not go with anything else in the park. I love the atmosphere of the park as a whole...then you get to Dinoland and there's this "jolt" as though you walked into something very out of place.

I'm glad I was never there for the birthday cake castle for WDW's 25th anniversary....I've seen pictures and it's was horrendous.

 

[DVC Jen]

I like the hand. I like the hat. I like Primevil Whirl but I do not like the "carny games". I think they should be moved over to The Boardwalk. I think they would fit in better over there.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I HATE the huge Epcot over Spaceship Earth. Like a huge geodome wasn't trademark enough. And the supports really still haven't been well integrated, ruins the traffic pattern over on that side.

The Mickey hat I'm more OK with as I can't see it from every point in the park. But I agree, the feeling of old Hollywood is gone.

But Walt was long gone before Epcot or MGM were in place, and Epcot is not at all what Walt was thinking of when he dreamed of Epcot (think a futuristic Celebration, and you'd have Walt's Epcot).

Think of a city, and you'd have Walt's EPCOT!!! Check out www.waltopia.com for more. It's AMAZING what that man dreamed up.

HATE the wand, HATE the hat, HATE the carny games.

Sounds so negative. There's lots I love!

 

[Metro West]

HATE the wand, HATE the hat, HATE the carny games.

I'm right there with ya on this. They need to come down.

 

[Winka]

I'm right there with ya on this. They need to come down.

You'd think a big puff of wind would take care of the painted plywood. (Though I don't mind the cheap-y plywood look on Buzz Lightyear. .. )


I'm not as offended by the hat.

 

[Jen D]

The wand... I don't like but I'm used to it. Can live with it.

The hat is a stupid, useless big thing plunked in the middle of an otherwise carefully designed and themed area. Bad for so many reasons. And it's just a pin store underneath. Awful.

Dinoland is pretty darn bad too. It was just a bad idea all the way around. And the rest of the park is pretty classy, so that makes it even more out of place.