Epcot wand coming down?

[MainSt1993]

Here's one vote for it staying permanently.

It is a nice reminder of the 2000 year. I think it actually does a lot for the park. If they want to get rid of something, get rid of that stupid hat in MGM.

I HATE THE HAT TOO!! And, an icon that is a simply a store? Lame.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I agree with removing the WAND. The concept of a sign over the icon would only work in Epcot. I certainly miss the grandeur of the original EPCOT Center and the challenge it presented. But, Disney is pandering to a much different crowd with Epcot today. Therefore, a large sign over SSE is more fun. It is reminiscent of something that might have appeared in the Worlds Fair. However, it's the fact it is Mickey's hand with a wand that creates the problem for me. I can't get around how that in no way fits with the theme, even now, of Epcot. Epcot was about discovery and celebration of what we have actually achieved. Even if the Disney characters must "disease" this approach as "ambassadors", having a magic wand overarching the icon of the park is simply bad storytelling (although quite interesting regarding the statement Disney makes about its history and then-current marketing/strategy decisions). The sign looks good from afar. It adds an interesting element of whimsy. However, the execution with Mickey instead of a modernist scultpure similar to what we have dotting future world already would have been a much better approach IMHO.

And, sign me onto the bandwagon that says the hat is cool but horrendously misplaced.

 

[hokielutz]

...in other local stories...the monorail will be expanded...Spaceship earth is going to be turned into a roller coaster...and harry potter land is just around the corner

This has to be the absolute best news day that I can remember for a long while... i can't wait until they put in the FireBolt ride at HP Land.

 

[cmor42180]

when it comes down i want to buy it and put it on my house....lol

 

[Cynderella]

Put me down as another for liking the wand and hating that stuuupid hat.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

All they gotta do is a pyro demo show with the Wand being demolished...even though it would turn half of SSE grey. Then they can sell anything left of it, send the stars to mousesurplus, and make pins with freaking stitch wearing the MGM hat on his while standing next to the wand, and can make a major marketing push like everything Disney seems to do these days.

If Epcot is to push forward than its time say goodbye to Y2K and 1999 and change spaceship earth into its simple symetrical self again, and it can better co-exist with the graveyard of the future which showcases guests who didn't spend enough money when they went to Epcot.

 

[dxwwf3]

The wand won't be there forever. It will come down one day and when it does come down, it will be a great day

I can't wait until the Epcot Entrance Plaza gets an overhaul. It doesn't have to be anything remotely close to what was originally there. Just something different from what is currently there.

 

[PaisleyMF]

I hate the Wand. But i hear that It can't be removed, since is hidding a Celphone tower. But for how long the graveyard is supposed to last. I remember that "The Walk Around the World" at MK was for 10 years (this has ended). so when we can expect to that be moved out.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

I just hope dxwwf3 and I aren't old and having to be pushed around by our great grandchildren to see the day the wand comes down. :hammer:

I do agree also that the entrance plaza needs a much needed change. It seems too tossed together, without much planning on terms of the surrounded architecture etc. They even had to paint the legs of Spaceship Earth to try and convince guests that leave a legacy was even remotely part of the the entrance plaza.

Now I'm not saying we need 80s colors, and print and all that, but the idea of the original entrance, flowers, plants, and the palm trees that gradually increased in height toward SSE, made a welcoming and nice entrance. People say, we have to make Epcot not so boring, and yet here we have a most unwelcoming sterile, and boring entrance! Perhaps the man who did create the wand and stars, and also the MGM hat felt he needed to incoprate mickey mouse, but to me that is an insult to the many other people who took the time to create a replica of the chinese theatre.

...and a hollywood of yesteryear, and a modern entrance with the world's first geodesicsphere, and never were they supposed to succomb to the rediculous and thoughtless commercialism Disney did with placing the hat in front of the chinese theatre, or putting the wand over SSE. These places are supposed to but us in a specific mood, and place, and are not meant to be overidden with Disney icons mixing in with vacation kingdom icons.

 

[hcswingfield]

Did someone say TIME WARP??

Thanks so much for this! Drew Carey show at its best. Made my day!!!!

 

[PhilharMagician]

So does that mean that coaster kingdom is a no-go?:lol:

A bus driver told me that Coaster Kingdom was to open in 2008. He said that all the work going on at Pleasure Island was all really for the new Roller Coaster park that was going in. Also all the guests staying at SSR would have direct access to the park since they were going to have a few coasters that will be suspended over Village Lake. So SSR guests will be able to hop onto a special coaster that will take them over to the main park. All of the rides will have exits into DTD Market Place so this will save Disney money on having to build new merchandise shops and restaurants.

I am just so excited that the bus driver told me this great news, but he told me not to say anything to anyone. So please don't spread this around. SSSSSHHHHHHHH:lookaroun :lol:

 

[utrythinkinof1]

All they gotta do is a pyro demo show with the Wand being demolished...even though it would turn half of SSE grey. Then they can sell anything left of it, send the stars to mousesurplus, and make pins with freaking stitch wearing the MGM hat on his while standing next to the wand, and can make a major marketing push like everything Disney seems to do these days.

Sometimes, I really do start to believe The Walt Disney Company is out there for the money....and nothing else.

 

[joel_maxwell]

Thanks so much for this! Drew Carey show at its best. Made my day!!!!

glad it made somebody happy..... that woman on that show always shows up in my nightmares. NOW she will be doing drag in them. GREAT!

:lol:

 

[Master Yoda]

A bus driver told me that Coaster Kingdom was to open in 2008. He said that all the work going on at Pleasure Island was all really for the new Roller Coaster park that was going in. Also all the guests staying at SSR would have direct access to the park since they were going to have a few coasters that will be suspended over Village Lake. So SSR guests will be able to hop onto a special coaster that will take them over to the main park. All of the rides will have exits into DTD Market Place so this will save Disney money on having to build new merchandise shops and restaurants.

I am just so excited that the bus driver told me this great news, but he told me not to say anything to anyone. So please don't spread this around. SSSSSHHHHHHHH:lookaroun :lol:

A bus driver told you this! I am going to call DVC right now and buy in at Saratoga Springs before this secret gets out!:lol:

 

[Slowjack]

I do agree that I would rather see the wand gone than present, but the hat was put up for the very reason people are complaining about it. It was built to hide the Grauman's Chinese Theater.

So I've heard, but that doesn't mean there's no reason to complain. I mean, if the facade of Graumann's Chinese offends Disney for some reason now, they could change it--make it look like a different theater or something else entirely. It's just silly to have an elaborately designed facade and then put something in front of it. It makes the center of the park look like a mistake! The hat doesn't hide the theater, anyway, it just obscures it from the most favorable viewing angle. If they wanted something else to draw one's attention in the area, they could have designed something that fit in with the early Hollywood look of the rest of the street.

 

[disneyracefan]

I like it the way it is now i say leave the wand alone!!

 

[SGT623]

Here's one vote for it staying permanently.

Here's another vote, I like it

 

[Yanks07]

when it comes down i want to buy it and put it on my house....lol

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[haveyoumetmark]

People still won't get the concept of SSE and call it a golf ball forever, so I don't care for the wand staying or going.

The hat was built to hide the Theater. Why did they want to hide the theater?

 

[frankster]

I don't hate the wand over SE, it just really annoys me.

But the big Mickey hat at MGM is a different story...