So what IS the deal with the giant hat?

[Freyja]

I love the hat at DHS, I also loved the wand on SSE. I'm sad that they took it away, and hopefully they wont take away the hat.

I agree!

 

[siestakey]

I love the hat and miss the wand!

 

[siestakey]

Where in the midwest are you? We had a friend 'Jordan' who's dad was involved in the 'golf ball'.

 

[wdwrich]

No, the wand had not always been there. My first visit the parks 20+ years ago (just MK and Epcot back then) there was no wand. The castle was also just empty inside.

We've been going to WDW since 1979 (just MK back then) and were at EPCOT a few weeks after it's opening in 1982. Spaceship Earth without the wand is the original icon for EPCOT, and we prefer it that way. As to the castle in MK, it wasn't empty back then. There was a shop that sold decorative knives, swords and other period merchandise, and upstairs King Stephan's Banquet Hall (now Cindy's) was in operation. We had a great lunch there during our 1982 visit.

 

[Macca1111]

I am so glad they removed the wand. It was completely out of place with Spaceship Earth. The hat doesn't bother me as much, but I agree that there are better places for it in DHS.

ITA

Love the hat. Every park you go into has a large icon that makes you think of that park. MK- the castle, AK the tree of life, Epcot- SSE and DHS - the hat. Many people identlify those buildings with the respective parks...I know I do.

And I loved the wand. I am looking for something new....maybe a birthday hat for next year?

Um, there was an icon, they just left it in the dust...I miss the earful tower being the icon. And I hope you're joking about the birthday hat.

Those who love the hat, what exactly do you love about it? Do you think it complements the yard it's in? Do you think it matches the theme of the park, being about Hollywood, or anything else in the park? Or do you just think it's pretty? If it's just pretty, perhaps we can find a better location for it to be pretty in, one that makes story sense. I think it's a nice structure, in a terrible location, one that destroys the hundreds of planning hours that went into that area of the park. On the other hand, I hated the wand as soon as it changed to saying Epcot, and it had no logical place in the park. It was patronizing and destroyed the structural beauty of Spaceship Earth. The 2000 was ok, only because it should have gone away in a year - it was a specialty item. I'm all for change if it's change for the better, something that plusses the experience and takes into account the story. That's why we go to Disney instead of Six Flags, or at least that's why I love going - the intense focus on story and drawing you into the magic.

 

[bicker]

Those who love the hat, what exactly do you love about it?

It's big, it's colorful, it's fun, and it's Disney! And it is a touchstone of arguably Disney's best contribution to Hollywood: Fantasia.

 

[Racknack]

it is a touchstone of arguably Disney's best contribution to Hollywood: Fantasia.

Well, then, there, now, hummm ... "Disney's best contribution to Hollywood" caused me to think a bit. (Something I try to avoid most of the time because I usually don't do it so well.)

I think that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs would qualify as the best contribution Disney ever made to Hollywood. The movie was, after all, the first full length animated feature to be shown in American theaters all over the nation.

But you did say "arguably" didn't you?

RackNack

 

[bicker]

I sure did.

Besides, in today's environment of political correctness, there might be a problem placing so much focus on a Disney character who is now so often associated with drug use.

 

[rie'smom]

I loved the view down Hollywood Blvd. to Grauman's Theater. It was like entering the MK with the view of the castle. That sorcerer's hat is horrible.
Hopefully, the powers that be will remove it.
I'm so glad they removed the wand from Spaceship Earth!!!!!!

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

It ruined one of the best hidden Mickeys ever.

You might like this thread.

ETA: Thanks again to Greg K. for this picture.

 

[Evil__Queen]

Love the hat too, hate hearing about the wand. One of my most cherished pics of me and my boys is in front of the hat.