DHS 25th Anniversary Rumors... Hat Removed?

[Since1976]

Though I lamented the loss of the view of the Chinese theater in the beginning, I've since become accustomed to the hat, so much so that whenever someone mentions DHS I think of the hat immediately (and not in a negative way).

Would removing the hat be a huge deal in terms of marketing? I'd say no, since Disney was able to replace the Chinese Theater and the Earful Tower in their ads and merchandise with no problems. But then again, those landmarks still exist. I'm sure there would be a huge uproar from the generation of kids (now adults) who associate DHS with the hat if Disney were remove it.

And then there's the matter of the Chinese theater itself. One thing that was always problematic for Disney is that the real theater in California is a landmark that Disney does not own. Having it as the centerpiece of the park may have seemed like a brilliant idea in '89 (indeed, I *loved* taking pictures in front of the theater when it was exposed), but it's akin to having a fake Statue of Liberty or White House or Eiffel Tower be at the center of the park. It's an imitation of something else, not a unique Disney creation.

 

[mkt]

Okay, think about it epcot has the huge ball thing magic kingdom has the castle and animal kingdom has the tree of life. Now without the hat its gonna be as boring as universal studios. i didnt care about the chinese theater when i was a kid and i still dont. the hat is an icon which every park has. dont say the hat doesnt fit the park cause the park is about movies and was the sorcerers hat in a movie ? yea i think so and i would rather them take away the chinese theater and i dont remember that being in a movie.

ohhh and this isnt that importANT but just to say , yesterday i bought i keychain with the castle, the hat, the tree, and the epcot ball on it now wats it gonna look like without the hat. dont make the chinese theater an icon. Hello!! we live in america make the chinese theater an icon in china!

?

 

[devoy1701]

?

casual Disney fan?

Obviously a weakness to mention in my SWOT analysis...

:lookaroun

 

[yeti]

PCP! Really. I'm glad we have you on the inside to inform us of all things Disney. Hope you enjoy your pic at HS 10 years from now when that HAT is still in the same place.

Now he's into the jt-P's. Somebody call a freaking doctor already.

 

[WASaMATTR]

I love the giant Sorcerer's Hat. With that in place, all of the 4 parks now have an icon. I don't see the hat coming down anytime soon. :king:

Besides, the Great Movie Ride needs a major refirb so coving it up, is the least of the problem... Just Saying

 

[HMF]

dont make the chinese theater an icon. Hello!! we live in america make the chinese theater an icon in china!

Where do I begin?:veryconfu

 

[HMF]

Regarding moving the hat to the Entrance Plaza:

I say it fits nice.

That would create sight line problems in Epcot but whatever.

 

[HMF]

I do hope thats true, but havent they said this will happen for several years now and nothing has come of it? Im guessing mainly becuase TDO sees it as unneeded spending, like always. :brick:

and how many times have we seen these exact same arguments prior to the wand's demise?

 

[ABigBrassBand]

Hello!! we live in america make the chinese theater an icon in china!

This might just be the most ignorant comment I've seen all month :wave:

 

[MichWolv]

This might just be the most ignorant comment I've seen all month :wave:

Could you link us to the other contenders, please. I could use a few more laughs.

 

[ArtieJim]

I think the hat needs to go, big time. I think it's time to hand the torch back to the Earful Tower.

Does any one remember when the Orlando Magic traded for/signed Horace Grant back in '94 or '95 and they put the big sports goggles on it? Not sure why but that's my main memory of the Earful Tower from when I was younger.

 

[fractal]

Which is the better view: a or b?

A)

B)

That pretty much says it all. The hat must go!

 

[Keppyslinger]

Boy the Hat arguement really hijacks a thread. :brick:

As for the original post about updates to the park, I think two new attractions could make a huge difference. How far in advance would they need to start work to be ready on time?

 

[lazyboy97o]

I'm amazed with how many people hate the hat! I'm even more amazed that all the haters of the hat, have yet to come up with, a suitable replacement.

Why does something that was plopped into a plaza need a replacement? It is already blocking the designed view, the plaza space, and Mickey's face.

Perhaps Disney wanted to get away from the "MGM" theming when they changed the name of the park to Disney's Hollywoood Studio's which is why they built the Hat in the first place. I'm just as happy walking into DHS and viewing the hat as I was viewing the Chinese Theater when it was MGM. Frankly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. To me, it never really felt like I was in the glitter and glamour of a MGM movie Studio when I was there. That great big water tower with ears kind of gave it away that I was in a Disney Park. Besides, the fact that it was called "DISNEY' MGM Studio and then "DISNEYS" Hollywood Studios always made me feel pretty clear where I was at even before the hat was installed.

Except that there is a six year difference and the Chinese Theater is not owned, operated or closely associated with MGM. It had nothing to do with MGM, it was about Hollywood.

dont say the hat doesnt fit the park cause the park is about movies and was the sorcerers hat in a movie ? yea i think so and i would rather them take away the chinese theater and i dont remember that being in a movie.

The Chinese Theater is a prominent movie palace. The sorcerer's hat was only present in one short cartoon, a segment in a larger feature, and in a theme park 3D film. Each time it causes the primary character to exhibit jealousy and arrogance. Why is the park celebrating Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck causing havoc because they were too proud to understand what they were dealing with?

Do you seriously think they will move that hat! Put your personal feelings aside and reason it out! Use logic! Take into account the millions of dollars in merchandise based around that hat. The research done in putting that hat there. The Cubs have a better chance of winning the World Series than that hat getting moved. I will take that bet all day long!

It is a structure designed to be temporary. Merchandise can and does get changed rather frequently.


For those talking about moving the hat, it would cause just as many problems. Here are some mock ups I did awhile ago when this topic came up illustrating the problems with some of the more common locations suggested.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lazyboy97o/BAH

 

[marni1971]

Do you seriously think they will move that hat! Put your personal feelings aside and reason it out!

What I think doesn`t matter. More and more of the right people in TDO, Glendale and Burbank don't like it either. That is why there are plans in place to move it.

Take your photo in a decade and it`ll look different to today.

 

[DocMcHulk]

Based on looking at the google map of the area, there's no way it would work int he animation courtyard, it's just too big. it would clog the space.

 

[Master Yoda]

Based on looking at the google map of the area, there's no way it would work int he animation courtyard, it's just too big. it would clog the space.

I know a few metal recycling plants that would love to have it.

 

[aladdin2007]

What I think doesn`t matter. More and more of the right people in TDO, Glendale and Burbank don't like it either. That is why there are plans in place to move it.

Take your photo in a decade and it`ll look different to today.

:sohappy:

 

[BigThunderMatt]

Which is the better view: a or b?

A)

B)

I vote for A for the view, but B for the fashion sense of the guests.

 

[WDWGoof07]

You may want to waive that bet

Before the hat people said `lets go to the studios` - the one with the studio water tower as a logo. The park will probably still have the hat. Just not blocking one of the most detailed facades ever to come from Glendale.

What I think doesn`t matter. More and more of the right people in TDO, Glendale and Burbank don't like it either. That is why there are plans in place to move it.

Take your photo in a decade and it`ll look different to today.

I find it interesting that they would go to the expense of moving the hat, but that would be the way to satisfy both the fans and the detractors. Though, where would they put it?

If they do remove the hat, could they also restore the world's largest Hidden Mickey?