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

[keypooh90]

I love the Hat! I think it fits the theme and magic of the movies/hollywood perfectly!

 

[FireDancer]

I wouldn't say I hate the hat. I don't want it to be forced to wear a gold star or sent via train to a death camp. I just think it looks out of place where it is. DHS already has a park icon, the Earful tower, and putting the hat where it is just makes it looked shoehorned into the park IMO. I have also yet to see anything on that stage they have under it that I think is good.

 

[wcpamotm]

How about this scenario?

A few executive types sitting around a table.

"Ya know, we have this place called the Magic Kingdom, but really there's not a lot there that has anything to do with magic."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. There's history, adventure... but what does any of that have to do with magic? We need to do somthing to fix that!"

"Well there are magical things in Fantasyland. Take that film, Mickey's Philharmagic..."

"Isn't that story built around a magical sorcerer's hat?"

"Yes it is! That'd be a great idea to run with! Why don't we design a nice 30-foot high sorcerer's hat and put it in the middle of Town Square! That way, everybody coming in would no doubt immediately be put into the magic frame of mind!"

"And it's not like we're doing anything important with Town Square anyway."



OK, this conversation about the Magic Kingdom is incredibly unlikely. But substitute DHS for MK, and change a few other words, and I could almost imagine it happening.

And to a similar effect.

 

[kirasaurus]

Beautiful.

 

[nancygirl1]

Beautiful.

Thank you for the pictures! I have never seen it without the hat and can see why people are disturbed at it being there. The two views have nothing in common. I guess you either love it or hate it.

 

[Finally08]

The hat doesn't bug me, because the real Chinese theater doesn't sit at the end of a boulevard like that anyway...so it's not like it would feel "real" even if the hat were gone. And Disney is full of cheese. I hear mice like it!

 

[wcpamotm]

The hat doesn't bug me, because the real Chinese theater doesn't sit at the end of a boulevard like that anyway...so it's not like it would feel "real" even if the hat were gone. And Disney is full of cheese. I hear mice like it!

No, of course not. And the real Crossroads of the World doesn't sit in the middle of a plaza. And the Real Hollywood Brown Derby was largely destroyed by fire.

No, the original idea was to create a stylized and romanticized version of Hollywood, just as Main Street USA is a stylized version of a turn-of-the-century town that likely never existed. Not the literal Hollywood that after all has some rather sleazy elements to it.

And that is why the hat fails. It belongs in neither version.

 

[bigdisz]

the hat should be taken away because it has absolutely nothing to do with the parks theme whatsoever. the 100 years celebration has passed and it can be taken away now. its also an eyesore because its blocking the great movie ride (which should be mgms real symbol). it doesnt have to leave disney world completely. it can just be moved to all stars or pop century or somewhere where it has a use.

 

[MelissathePooh]

I think I'm just numbed to the BAH anymore, but I think to some degree it goes along the lines of when you started going to the parks. Not that either is right or wrong (although I'm right and the hat is horrible ) I just think that if you were used to the original sightline and icon, the BAH is just gawdy and out of place. If you're only used to the park since the BAH - its just normal.

Its like that stupid wand on SE - although I think most people really hated that as a majority.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

another shot pre-hat.

 

[Yubbie]

Leave the hat and tear down the butt ugly Chinese theater facade then the hat won't be blocking anything.

Or...

Let's remove Toy Story Mania, Rockin' rollercoaster, The Little Mermaid attraction, the Beauty and the Beast show, and Fantasmic along with the hat because they have very little to do with "Hollywood".

 

[iheartdisney]

Leave the hat and tear down the butt ugly Chinese theater facade then the hat won't be blocking anything.

Or...

Let's remove Toy Story Mania, Rockin' rollercoaster, The Little Mermaid attraction, the Beauty and the Beast show, and Fantasmic along with the hat because they have very little to do with "Hollywood".

How can you say Rockin' Rollercoaster has nothing to do with Hollywood? It is our freeways at their finest, with a few so cal landmarks thrown in under the blacklights!
But as far as theming, I don't think anyone can state that it isn't a little weird to have 1930's Hollywood standing next to modern Hollywood. But again, Rockin' Rollercoaster was built when TDO decided they just didn't give a flying flip, and since most people are satisfied with mediocrity, it flourishes.
Yay hat.