Why do some people hate the Sorcerer's Hat at Hollywood Studios?

[Kelblum]

Love it!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

^ This. I cannot stand the hat blocking what was once a lovely and unified streetscape. The fact that it is a glorified pin kiosk is all the more galling. Put it out in front of the gates and let it be the symbol of the park there.

I think that is a large part of it. Spaceship Earth is a major ride for teh park, the Tree of Life is the hub of the park and has the It's a Bug's Life attraction and the Castle is the castle and has Cinderella's royal table, etc.

it seems like the hat was just put up to block the Chinese Theater and seems an intrusion rather than something that adds to the experience

I don't think it is the fact that it is the sorcerer's hat specifically that is the issue

 

[BAMLuvMickey]

I too always wondered why people didnt like the "HAT" there. I love going and seeing it...
HOWEVER, I never went to Disney when it wasn't there. Recently, I saw a picture when the park first opened, and now I think: "WHAT WAS DISNEY THINKING?!!!"

And now to me while I still love the hat, and so do my kids, they should move it. Especially since unlike the other three parks, it does not house anyhing but pin trading. Not that I am against pins, but I now think for it to be a true "Park Icon", it should have something else to it other than pins.

And slightly off topic, I have a story I laugh about everytime I think about it.
My boyfriend took his father on a road trip 2 years ago. My boyfriend went to use the restroom and his father started looking around. Well, his father got lost for a little while. Anyhow, when his father FINALLY answered his cel phone, My boyfriend said: "I am standing under the big blue hat." At this point, my boyfriend could see his dad and was playing around with him. His fathers response was: "What big blue hat?" and my boyfriend told him to look up and his fathers jaw dropped and all he could say was: "OH...."

Still have no clue how he could not have seen or not remembered seeing it when he walked into the park...

 

[mmtska]

I liked when the icon was the Earful Tower. I have no objection really to the hat, but I don't like where it is. I agree that it would be so much better if it had a ride or something instead of a stupid pin kiosk.

 

[umichigan10]

maybe I'm stirring the pot a bit, but how does the Earful Tower fall under the same "Park icon" category as SE, Cinderella's Castle, etc.?

 

[kirasaurus]

Because some people want EVERYTHING to remain EXACTLY the same as it was the first time they were there. Any change makes it worse.

 

[Andtototoo]

I don't hate the hat at all and I never saw the park without it.

The sole problem I have is that its placement is stupid ~ To deliberately cover the focal point of the entry is a perplexing choice.

I'd much rather the hat were somewhere else, like the Animation Area.

 

[JoshK47]

I would incorporate the hat into the entrance to Animation Plaza and that would result in two great picture spots at DHS. Just my opinion, of course.

This is actually a *really* good idea, though it messes with the whole "first thing you see when you enter the park" vibe of the other park icons, although the Tree of Life isn't visible when you first enter Animal Kingdom, either, so I guess that argument is moot!

 

[kirasaurus]

maybe I'm stirring the pot a bit, but how does the Earful Tower fall under the same "Park icon" category as SE, Cinderella's Castle, etc.?

It's not so much the "icon" issue. I do compeltely agree, all three of the icons you mentioned have much more value and meaning over the earful tower.
The thing a lot of people don't agree with is the fact that MGM wasn't meant to have an "icon." MGM was meant to be more of an immersive experience. The tower represented that experience of 1930s hollywood by reminding everyone of a soundstage, just like how the exteriors of buildings do. And the debate is the placing of the hat and the fact that it doesn't fit with the theme whatsoever, besides being related to movies. They might as well stick a giant transformer in that spot! laughing:, joking)

Does that make a little more sense?

 

[scion5220]

maybe I'm stirring the pot a bit, but how does the Earful Tower fall under the same "Park icon" category as SE, Cinderella's Castle, etc.?

Well, for one thing, there is an iconic water tower very similar to it at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

and one at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank

and one at Paramount Studios in Hollywood

and one at the old MGM lot which became Sony Pictures

 

[umichigan10]

It's not so much the "icon" issue. I do compeltely agree, all three of the icons you mentioned have much more value and meaning over the earful tower.
The thing a lot of people don't agree with is the fact that MGM wasn't meant to have an "icon." MGM was meant to be more of an immersive experience. The tower represented that experience of 1930s hollywood by reminding everyone of a soundstage, just like how the exteriors of buildings do. And the debate is the placing of the hat and the fact that it doesn't fit with the theme whatsoever, besides being related to movies. They might as well stick a giant transformer in that spot! laughing:, joking)

Does that make a little more sense?

You definitely cleared a bit up, as I didn't know MGM wasn't supposed to have an icon. Although, in terms of moving the hat to Animation Plaza, it is a good idea, as the argument can't be made about how it isn't visible from everywhere, because, as a pp said about the Tree of Life, not to mention the Earful Tower is barely visible from anywhere in the park anymore (not sure if it was more visible in the earlier years, as I never was able to go then).

 

[Planogirl]

I like the idea of the hat being at the entrance to Animation Plaza or even at the entrance of the park itself. That way the theming of the street is consistent and everyone gets their hat.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I am wondering am I the only person who happens to like the Sorcerer's Hat at Hollywood Studios because I have seen various threads before saying it should be taken away. What I like is how it's a Disney icon which is a symbol of Hollywood Studios meaning how it was in Walt Disney's Fantasia and it goes with the movie theme of Hollywood Studios. The Magic Kingdom has Cinderella's Castle, Epcot has Spaceship Earth and the Animal Kingdom has the Tree of Life, all were Disney originals. When I think of Man's Chinese Theather I don't think of Disney because they have it out in Los Angeles, so that's why I like having the Sorcerer's Hat be the first thing I see when going there.

I LOVE it too. I saw it years ago without, but can't really remember. But can't imagine it without it. I have learned from being a member here, that someone will complain about EVERYTHING.

 

[umichigan10]

Well, for one thing, there is an iconic water tower very similar to it at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

and one at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank

and one at Paramount Studios in Hollywood

and one at the old MGM lot which became Sony Pictures

I understand that, it's that as a pp said, that an "icon" needed to involve something such as SE having a ride, the castle having CRT, and the Tree of Life having Tough to Be a Bug, and Earful Tower doesn't have a ride, restaurant, or show within it.

 

[scion5220]

I understand that, it's that as a pp said, that an "icon" needed to involve something such as SE having a ride, the castle having CRT, and the Tree of Life having Tough to Be a Bug, and Earful Tower doesn't have a ride, restaurant, or show within it.

True...but neither does the hat.

I think the suggestion of moving it to the animation plaza is a great one...it's sad to me that the Chinese Theater is basically hidden now and you can't take a great Hollywood street photo. Oh well.

 

[Cafeen]

It is called freedom of speech: a great right that Americans enjoy. No one forced you to open this thread

Except, this isn't congress and they aren't talking about passing laws. This is a privately owned message board and this freedom does not apply here in that particular sense.

Speech here (and pretty much every other privately owned outlet) is limited first by what the government itself limits (which is very little, and a very good thing), and then further by what the moderators and admin (who act on behalf of the "owners") will allow (which, in most of the cases here, is another very good thing).

Not trying to start a debate or anything, but people have a strong tendency to misunderstand the inherent freedoms that we've fought for. It's not about just spouting what you want, it's about preventing government control of our language (and thus our thoughts, e.g. 1984).

BTW, I'm against the hat. Move it to the courtyard or blow it up (and sell tickets. DHS Hard-ticket event perhaps? 79.99 per person, 68.99 children, 10% discount DVC/AP/FL Residents, includes 1 park-wide FP per person!)

 

[wdw4rfam]

Please educate us on what exactly this means. I get the "Santa" hat on Earful tower is a decoration, it's temporary. BUT I don't get what your saying about POP or the All Stars??? Having been to Grand Floridian, Contemporary etc etc...they are just hotels to me...like the Paris or Mirage in Vegas..just a hotel with a small touch of Disney. The All Stars and POP are MORE "Disney In your face"..true, but to me, or I should say US, they are MORE Disney than the others..please explain so I can better unbderstand your POV, TIA.

Totally agree. I can't get my family to try any other resorts because they say it doesn't "feel" like Disney. We've tried, and they say it was not as "disney" as the value resorts. There is characters EVERYWHERE, while staying ay POFQ last year- it was like New Orleans with a Disney gift shop. I guess thats the point, but it doesn't feel as much like Disney

 

[umichigan10]

Also, when people say that the hat kills the theming, doesn't the almost 200 foot castle kill the theming of the small town early 1900's America that you get as you enter MK.

 

[scion5220]

Also, when people say that the hat kills the theming, doesn't the almost 200 foot castle kill the theming of the small town early 1900's America that you get as you enter MK.

That might be true...if Main Street U.S.A. continued on behind the castle...which it doesn't.

 

[Cafeen]

I understand that, it's that as a pp said, that an "icon" needed to involve something such as SE having a ride, the castle having CRT, and the Tree of Life having Tough to Be a Bug, and Earful Tower doesn't have a ride, restaurant, or show within it.

It was part of the show though. DHS was themed to be a working Hollywood studio, and the icons of the various studios (as quoted in your post) were the giant, decorated water towers. Earful went a step beyond by adding the mouse ears to the traditional tower. It was part of the theme and in-step with popular studio icons of the past and present.

Where it sits now, it breaks the idealized Hollywood theme that exists in that portion of the park. It's akin to placing a large space craft (that sells pins) in the grassy area of the central hub in Magic Kingdom (Or a giant wand on the side of Spaceship Earth...erm, wait...) It's something that may fit with the park, but not in that spot and certainly not in that spot and for what it's being used for.