Sorcerer hat going?

[Luv2Roam]

I don't think many (such as myself) would be so against the hat if it served a purpose. A nice display of Fantasia history and free interactive games would be more appropriate. (And I am a pin person.)
However the darn thing really belongs at Fantasmic. Of course when the shows are limited now, that's not such a good idea any longer.
It obviously was meant to block the view, and to become the icon. Just a shame it is what it is. It should have been made into something people cared out, other than an open air gift shop. Then to make it more of a specialty gift shop yet.

 

[sellsje]

There's an idea... Move the hat to Fantasmic. It's a cool looking peice of art, but not in it's current location.

I never understood why they didnt build a mountain behind the theatre with a replica HOLLYWOOD sign. Especially now with the name change to Hollywood Studios?

The original sign said HOLLYWOODLAND and was lit up with 4000 individual bulbs!!... The sign was built in 1923... eh hem, the year Walt opened his Studios. I think a remake of that would be quite fitting. And you could fit a dark ride/coaster inside the SoCal mountain... Maybe a runaway L.A. Street Car...

Check it out http://www.hollywoodsign.org/history-5.html

 

[bentleygirl22]

One can only hope that the BAH is finally going.

As far as the icon of the park - they already have one. Long before the hat was there, the icon of the park was the Earful Tower. Its still there - the water tower with mouse ears on it.

I Agree I loved the Earful Tower !! I wish they would get that hat out of there...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I always liked the Sorcerer hat because it's a Disney original and it's great seeing it as we enter Hollywood Studios.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I always liked the Sorcerer hat because it's a Disney original and it's great seeing it as we enter Hollywood Studios.

Requesting clarification from our friends from the north... What makes it a Disney original? The fact it doesn't fit the theme or it's a crass attempt at pushing pins?

 

[btcrane]

There's an idea... Move the hat to Fantasmic. It's a cool looking peice of art, but not in it's current location.

I never understood why they didnt build a mountain behind the theatre with a replica HOLLYWOOD sign. Especially now with the name change to Hollywood Studios?

The original sign said HOLLYWOODLAND and was lit up with 4000 individual bulbs!!... The sign was built in 1923... eh hem, the year Walt opened his Studios. I think a remake of that would be quite fitting. And you could fit a dark ride/coaster inside the SoCal mountain... Maybe a runaway L.A. Street Car...

Check it out http://www.hollywoodsign.org/history-5.html

Best idea yet!

 

[Dznefreek]

I think a remake of that would be quite fitting. And you could fit a dark ride/coaster inside the SoCal mountain... Maybe a runaway L.A. Street Car...

The original concept for RnRC was just that.
It started out as another rmountain to be built and the cars of the 40's abd 50's were to be used for the train instead of a limousine. The cars would move in and out of the mountain passing through various Hollywood landmarks. As the project progressed changes occurred as they normally do.
At the same time WDW was considering building a drive-in theater in the parking lot at DHS.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Requesting clarification from our friends from the north... What makes it a Disney original? The fact it doesn't fit the theme or it's a crass attempt at pushing pins?

Well the way I see it that was the hat Mickey was wearing in Fantasia, so in my opinion that makes it a Disney original. Plus I think looks a lot better then seeing Mann's Chinese Theater right away when walking into the park, because the real one is in Los Angeles and not part of Disney.

 

[WDWtraveler27]

i hope so cuz I dont like it

 

[big_thunder_girl]

That's odd. Isn't that suppoused to be "original" or something?
But I wouldn't be TOO upset though, I mean It's not anything like taking down the castle in MK.

 

[samual332]

i dont mind it, but i've always thought of the main icon as the water tower. i've been to disney many years before the hat, so i will always think of the water tower when i think of dhs....

......saying that i keep thinking of it as mgm..!

 

[D. Crockett]

If they find something else to symbolize DHS, then its possible,

Any takers on a "Celebrate Eisner" mural?

No?

In all seriousness, I don't see the hat leaving park grounds anytime soon. I do miss having the Chinese Theater as the main focal point when entering the park, but the hat will have to do for now.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I miss seeing Mann's Chinese Theater when I walk done the street. Now there's a BAH in the way - and it's parked so close to the theater you can't get a good pic of it anymore (perhaps by design). If the hat has to stay; fine. But a pin store? Seriously? It should be an attraction or a restaurant. That park is in serious need of a new restaurant anyway, why not put it in the hat?

Anyone have dimensions on the BAH?

If the BAHand can come down from SE - then there is hope. Why don't you put a hat *on* the Earful Tower?

D4D

 

[DisneyInsider]

The hat was one of the worst ideas ever.
It totally took away from the Chinese Theater.
What was the point?
I think they have to at least move it. You can tell they were bathing in money when they built that stupid thing just to add a gift shop

 

[Area 4]

It still pains me to see that monstrosity every time I walk into the park. The main strip just doesn't have the same vibe as you walk in anymore.

I worked in that area while they built it years ago so I had to sit there and watch them ruin a perfectly good view.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Interesting reading, yet no consensus. Personally, I don't hate the BAH (this had me lol) I hate its current location. It is a huge break in theming and I just feel like theming is my favorite thing about WDW and if you're just seeing Mickey or princesses everywhere, it takes away from it. I want to feel like I am in HOLLYWOOD, more specifically the old, clean, beautiful vintage-y looking Hollywood that "never was and always will be".

I like the idea of a Hollywood icon like the mountain and sign, too. Move the hat somewhere, throw it away, I don't care, but I don't think it has anything to do with Hollywood Boulevard!

 

[Mag7515]

I always thought the Earful Tower was the Icon of DHS. I've always considered the Earful Tower to be the Icon.

 

[MountNittany]

I actually like the "BAH" so I wouldn't mind them keeping it up

 

[Capt. Barbosa]

I will give you an imagineers view of the hat. The whole article is at thebottom of the page.
http://imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_archive.html

The whole blog is a good read, if you have time take a look and read the articles.


But here is a brief cut and paste.

In classic Disney fashion there was a nice architectural draw at the end of the street, a faithful full scale re-creation of Grauman's Chinese Theater. Somehow, someway, the management at the parks saw fit to sign off on a huge blue Mickey's Sorcerer Hat at the end of the Blvd., completely blocking the Chinese Theater. Where once stood an intricate and magical architectural icon now sits a giant blue zit of a thing with weird gold swirlies spraying out of it and what appear to be enormous gold cardboard stars superglued on its side. All that's missing is four hundred children bouncing around on plastic pellots inside.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Great blog, Capt Barbosa. I totally agree with how it adds a "carny" look instead of real architectural detail. I had to laugh abt the giant pin part lol.