Earfell Tower to be removed

[Clamman73]

Just seems like a lot of work to take it down carefully, move it, repaint, and put back up compared to just ordering one to spec, brand new and ready to go.

 

[BalooChicago]

you cannot 'move' a structure like that, as with the BAH, its going in the can

When one of the water towers in our town was decommissioned it was carefully dismantled and sold to a community down state. Evidentially it was cheaper than buying a new one.

 

[JoeCamel]

When one of the water towers in our town was decommissioned it was carefully dismantled and sold to a community down state. Evidentially it was cheaper than buying a new one.

That was a real water tower, this is a prop.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

It's an iconic Disney landmark in its own way and has been associated with MGM and WDW for a long time now. I don't doubt that they will trash it with little hope for relocation or another version, but it makes the lifespan of actually detested crap such as the EPCOT wand and giant hat all the more disturbing. RIP Earfell Tower, you will soon be with the Castle Cake in Disney heaven.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It's an iconic Disney landmark in its own way and has been associated with MGM and WDW for a long time now. I don't doubt that they will trash it with little hope for relocation or another version, but it makes the lifespan of actually detested crap such as the EPCOT wand and giant hat all the more disturbing. RIP Earfell Tower, you will soon be with the Castle Cake in Disney heaven.

The Castle Cake certainly didn't go to heaven.

For the record, I believe they plan to trash it. I just feel the timing with it coming down sooner than necessary and Disney Springs getting a water tower this year is conspicuous. It's probably easier just to build a new prop for Springs but what ever happened to that environmentality that guides WDW (or so they said on the monorail. "If we can dream it, we can do it," and all that)?

The timing is probably coincidental.

Now the reason for all of the closures in the back of the park so soon...

 

[JoeCamel]

The Castle Cake certainly didn't go to heaven.

For the record, I believe they plan to trash it. I just find the timing with it coming down sooner than necessary and Disney Springs getting a water tower this year is conspicuous. It's probably easier just to build a new prop for Springs but what ever happened to that environmentality that guides WDW (or so they said on the monorail. "If we can dream it, we can do it," and all that)?

I don't doubt that the tower will be recycled. I can almost see the ship from China pulling up to load it so it can be melted into something else.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I don't doubt that the tower will be recycled. I can almost see the ship from China pulling up to load it so it can be melted into something else.

Haha. Wonder what the Epcot Wand was melted into...King Iger's Iron Throne?

 

[WhatJaneSays]

How many people actually pay near $100 bucks to get in the park?

Basically no one. MK is the only park that has any reasonably measured attendance from one park/one day tickets purchased at “retail” price. I’d say at maximum it's 1% of daily attendance but realistically it’s probably less than 100 people a day.

 

[Wisconsin]

So what's left from Opening Day?

1. Great Movie Ride
2. Brown Derby
3. Crossroads of the World
4.The Darkroom
5.Oscar's Super Service
6. 50's Prime Time Cafe
7. Indiana Jones

Correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[Meeko77]

So what's left from Opening Day?

1. Great Movie Ride
2. Brown Derby
3. Crossroads of the World
4.The Darkroom
5.Oscar's Super Service
6. 50's Prime Time Cafe
7. Indiana Jones

Correct me if I'm wrong...

What about Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction and Min & Bill's Dockside Diner? Still so hopeful Gertie will stay. Love her!

 

[zakattack99]

Sad to see the tower go. Agree that it is going the way of the BAH, seems like wishful thinking to have it moved elsewhere on property. Heard the same ideas from fans when the BAH went, and we know how that ended...

 

[draybook]

Haha. Wonder what the Epcot Wand was melted into...King Iger's Iron Throne?

Hopefully, mints for the men's urinals across the property......

 

[Next Big Thing]

Basically no one. MK is the only park that has any reasonably measured attendance from one park/one day tickets purchased at “retail” price. I’d say at maximum it's 1% of daily attendance but realistically it’s probably less than 100 people a day.

You'd be very wrong on that percentage. It's actually pretty high.

 

[JohnD]

Wasn't there a water tower included in all of the concept art and models for Disney springs located in front of the new town center area?
Wouldn't this make sense if they are going to recover it from here that it could be positioned at springs now the transformation is progressing with its latter stages?

I like that idea. You'll be able to see it from I-4.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I don't understand why everyone thinks it can't be seen from World Drive because it most certainly can be seen, then I remember that so many people come in from the airport via ME and that goes in from a different side. I don't care one way or the other if it's there or not, but, I will miss seeing it as I drive onto the property. I don't find it nostalgic really, but, it did always amuse me for it's uniqueness and the instant recognition that you are in Mickey Land. I also am not excited about wasting things, but, I am realistic that it might be cheaper to just build a new one over in DS then try and dismantle that one and reuse it there. I'm sure that there is enough hurricane resistant steel in that tower to pull a few bucks in recycling.

 

[FettFan]

I'd like it if Animation Courtyard and the RNRC/Sunset Showcase area got linked and were turned into the only remnant of the Studio theme, and a smaller Earful Tower could be made there. So the Hollywood side of the park could have "Hollywood Boulevard" with GMR and the Echo Lake dining areas, "Sunset Boulevard" with TOT, Fantasmic, and the BATB theater, and "Hollywood Studios" with the Earful Tower, RNRC, Disney Jr, the LM theater, and Sunset Showcase. Maybe they could put something in the Animation Academy's place as well, such as a dark ride or a refined animation exhibit. Then the other half of the park could be where all the IP worlds go. That way, everybody wins.

Buena Vista Street, complete with Oswald M&G.

 

[DManRightHere]

Basically no one. MK is the only park that has any reasonably measured attendance from one park/one day tickets purchased at “retail” price. I’d say at maximum it's 1% of daily attendance but realistically it’s probably less than 100 people a day.

I disagree. Just think of how many people are at ticket booths in the mornings.

 

[FettFan]

Some views of the Tower through the years... (cue up the Sarah McLachan)

Advertising the live-action 101 Dalmatians in 1996.

Advertising the arrival of Fantasmic! in 1998/1999. While this angle makes the "Fantasmic" logo look superimposed onto a photo of the Tower, it was indeed really there.

Being repainted with the new "Hollywood Studios" logo:

 

[Goofyernmost]

I disagree. Just think of how many people are at ticket booths in the mornings.

My experience is just the opposite. I have hardly ever seen a big line up at the ticket booths, especially for DHS, but, even for MK. Even if it there were lines, that doesn't mean that the people are buying just one day tickets. I know that when I had to change my 10 paper ticket to the new one, I had to do it at the ticket booth and the wait was less then two minutes.

 

[Sped2424]

They have already including concept art. They showed it back in August ....

They showed us star wars land bits and pieces, and then toy story land which are the only thing we have seen. Given what we have heard and what is closing far more is going into hollywood than we know. I think it's time they give the public something to bite on at least so that these closures don't seem as harrowing.