Some cool news and facts on the New Hat at MGM.....

[NHMickey]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As Walt Disney World Resort prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of its visionary founder Walt Disney, construction is underway on a giant new icon at Disney-MGM Studios.

A 122-foot-tall Sorcerer Mickey hat will crown Disney-MGM Studios as its new icon, representing the magic of show business and the entertainment wizardry of Disney that is captured throughout shows and attractions at the park.

When finished, this giant showpiece, made from composite fiberglass and shaped like the pointed hat worn by Mickey in the animated classic “Fantasia,” will weigh 156 tons. It will be a brilliant blue, and decorated with moon and star shapes of glittering gold.

As designed, an equally great Mickey hand tips the hat, which rests on two shimmering ribbon loops that are stylized versions of Mickey’s ears. The hat and ears will sit atop a solid foundation that uses enough concrete to cover the length of a football field.

With a message under its brim, the park’s new icon also alerts guests that Disney-MGM Studios is the center of Disney’s property-wide 100 Years of Magic celebration. The year-long observance, which begins Oct. 1, will celebrate Walt Disney’s legacy of innovation, imagination and family entertainment. The event will feature new entertainment and attractions across the Walt Disney World Resort. More details will be released as they become available.

Construction for the new icon is underway and will take about nine months. It will stand at the end of Hollywood Boulevard directly in front of the Chinese Theater.

The exciting Sorcerer Mickey Hat at Disney-MGM Studios follows Disney’s icon tradition of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot and The Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Disney-MGM Studios immerses guests in the glamour of show biz 365 days a year with thrilling attractions, incredible Broadway-style shows, world-class entertainment and interactive film, television, radio and animation production facilities. The theme park is part of the 30,500-acre Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.


Disney-MGM Studios Icon Facts

Head Measurements: The hat size is 605 7/8.

On Top of the Mouse: Mickey would have to be 350 feet tall if he were to wear this giant hat.

The Hat: The hat itself is 100 feet tall. The interior space equals nearly 60,000 cubic feet. It can hold 444,744 gallons of water. Six stars and two moons adorn the hat.

Paint Job: The hat will be painted with a custom technique called “chameleon paint” which shifts color as guests move around it. Painting the hat will require enough paint to cover 500 Cadillacs.

Mickey Ears: The Mickey ears feature a new special effect called “Light Ribbons,” which change color and sparkle with internal pixie dust lighting.

Holding it All Together: There are 13,493 bolts that hold the hat together; 26,986 washers; and 17,000 feet (or 57 football field) of underground utility piping