Is the clock ticking on the Sorcerer Mickey Hat icon at the Studios? YES!

[Goofyernmost]

Actually, this would correspond to a fiberglass structure that is about 1.5 inches thick, on average.

A 100 foot tall hat, 54 feet in diameter is pretty massive.

Now if you want to argue that it is steel, first of all it would probably be rusty by now. Secondly, steel is about 5 times more dense than fiberglass, meaning it would be 1/5 as thick. That would translate to 1/3 inch thick steel plate, pretty impossible to form into the hat shape and more for battleship construction.

Finally, at each level they use a replicating curved shape. That means one mold for many pieces. That's how they can make it cost effectively. There is one mold for the brim, 5 for the 5 levels in the hat, and one for the round cap on the top. The entire skin would have been constructed from 8 molds, with fiberglas/polyester blown into them.

There are a total of 127 panels (I think), each with an average weight of 425 pounds. Pretty reasonable (the weight of two hefty guys per panel).

So I stand by my conjecture that the BAH is fiberglass.

And there is a better than even chance that you are correct. Also there is a better than even chance that I don't really care that much. I'm just expressing what I think, not what I know for sure. All I really care about is that it will be gone. Also, I wasn't referring just too the hat itself, I was referring to the fact that there is a skeletal structure holding all that in place and I don't think that was made out of fiberglass.

I know I started out saying the the jagged way that it seemed to be cut looked like torch work, but, I do also see that there would be some burn marks if that were the case. So be it an aluminum, plastic, bubblegum or molded clay... it is leaving and I am happy about that.

 

[Cesar R M]

I'm wondering if I should warn my family - it's probably slightly evil of me to just be waiting to see their reaction when we walk in and it's gone.

make it sound like you pulled a magic act..
POOF! THE HAT IS GONE!

 

[Horizons1]

Why do you need to worry about benches and shade when your sitting in a wood trimmed leather high back executive chair in your air conditioned office?

They have been building a lot more low stone/concrete walls as of late for guests to be able to sit, but they are nearly all in the sun.

Well if those guests would buy Anna hats and Olaf slushies it wouldn't be a problem for them.

 

[Father Robinson]

Found it really humorous that this is in my work parking lot LOL!!!

 

[note2001]

Found it really humorous that this is in my work parking lot LOL!!!

I'd paint it blue and start chopping out chunks daily to match the DHS hat. See if anyone at work comments on it slowly shrinking.

 

[GhostHost1000]

I found out today that my so called "I love everything about Walt Disney World and its legacy" work friend thought the BAH at Disney's Hollywood Studios worked because it was and I quote "A great representation of the park, and you know Mickey, and Fantasmic."

actually I think a lot of people think that...more Fantasia than Fantasmic but yeah... of course many of those don't remember what is was like before the hat either.

I personally think Disney stuck the hat there because they wanted each park to have a central icon and symbol... the key word being central, unlike the water tower

 

[Seabasealpha1]

actually I think a lot of people think that... more Fantasia than Fantasmic but yeah... of course many of those don't remember what is was like before the hat either.

School house Rocky (who IS a chip off the block) would say that "Knowledge is Power!"

 

[raymusiccity]

As long as we don't have any throwbacks to World Championship Wrestling, we'll be good.

That means they'll be on when I get there, so I'm fine with that!

I love you. I think I may be the only person who DVR'd his show just to watch it. And now it's gone. Unlike the BAH, I'll miss it.

Craig has hit the road. Tkts go on sale this week for his appearance in Nashville

 

[Kman101]

It's just sad that a cartoon hat is what "screams Disney" to some. I mean, I'm NOT knocking someone for liking the hat, that's fine (I hated it's location), but it amazes me what some think "Disney is".

 

[Mike S]

It's just sad that a cartoon hat is what "screams Disney" to some. I mean, I'm NOT knocking someone for liking the hat, that's fine (I hated it's location), but it amazes me what some think "Disney is".

Something like Spaceship Earth, to me, screams Disney WAY more than the BAH.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Something like Spaceship Earth, to me, screams Disney WAY more than the BAH.

Spaceship earth screams Disney when related to Theme Parks. However, The Hat (a.k.a. Fantasia) screams the animated film division of Disney. Both have their place, just not in front of the Theater please.

 

[GhostHost1000]

It's just sad that a cartoon hat is what "screams Disney" to some. I mean, I'm NOT knocking someone for liking the hat, that's fine (I hated it's location), but it amazes me what some think "Disney is".

the value resorts are all "cartoon" Disney and many love them as well

I'm glad the hat is leaving... one could argue it fits in the Disney Hollywood theme as much as one could argue it doesn't... just saying there are many who like it as well because it's all they've known

I think mainly the hat was in the wrong place

 

[Unplugged]

It's just sad that a cartoon hat is what "screams Disney" to some. I mean, I'm NOT knocking someone for liking the hat, that's fine (I hated it's location), but it amazes me what some think "Disney is".

(Not picking on your post, just using it as reference.)

But the Chinese theater, not owned or operated by Disney, screams Disney to many as well. While there is the history of some premiers, it's not a unique Disney symbol, just a Hollywood symbol. I too am not critiquing people opinions, but I don't see the value in the theater beyond a great choice for the GMR facade. I've seen the real theater and I've seen the original view at DMS (Disney-MGM Studios). IMHO, there is nothing dramatic nor impressive about the theater facade, which I'll venture to bet, was one of the um-teen reasons the hat was installed after the dropping of "MGM".

Had DHS maintained and grown the on-prem facility use for animation, the BAH would have been a keeper. But at this point, with the working studio concept dead, dead, dead....I don't think either (BAH or water tower) make sense. Hopefully any re-theming/branding of the park, the water tower will once again hold value as the icon.

 

[Kathyjacks78]

I'm sorry to ask but what is going into the place of the hat? I always liked that each park had a central icon that as soon as you saw it you thought of that park.

 

[wdrive]

I'm sorry to ask but what is going into the place of the hat? I always liked that each park had a central icon that as soon as you saw it you thought of that park.

Nothing/no one knows

 

[Goofyernmost]

the value resorts are all "cartoon" Disney and many love them as well

I'm glad the hat is leaving... one could argue it fits in the Disney Hollywood theme as much as one could argue it doesn't... just saying there are many who like it as well because it's all they've known

I think mainly the hat was in the wrong place

You are correct it can justifiably fit the Disney Hollywood theme. What puts it out of place is #1.. It's location and #2 it should never have been considered a focal point in a park that was celebrating all of Hollywood, not just Disney's place in it. That makes two reasons why, although it certainly is a part of Hollywood history, it didn't belong where they put it. Again, fine as a temporary salute to Walt Disney on his 100th Birthday, however, as a permanent structure and the attempt to make it the park Icon. I don't think so.

I know that it is all a lot of Guests have ever known, but, I used to love 20K, but, for some reason, that didn't stop it from going away. Things change and I think if they get a chance to see how much more balanced the park looks without it, they might decide that taking it out was a good decision. Change is hard for everybody.

 

[JohnD]

I'm sorry to ask but what is going into the place of the hat? I always liked that each park had a central icon that as soon as you saw it you thought of that park.

What is it with automatically assuming that anything removed MUST be replaced with something else? All Disney has ever said is that the BAH is being removed. My answer would be nothing. You will once again have an unobstructed view of the Chinese Theatre as originally intended when the park was built.

Please, people, can we get it out of our heads that EVERY single Disney park must have some icon squatting in the middle of it?

 

[Communicore]

You will once again have an unobstructed view of the Chinese Theatre as originally intended when the park was built.

No way! That was how it looked like before? That is bare!! Let's put up a stage!

 

[flynnibus]

I hated the stage and music almost more than the hat. Almost

 

[Captain Chaos]

I'm sorry to ask but what is going into the place of the hat? I always liked that each park had a central icon that as soon as you saw it you thought of that park.

A giant ice castle with a giant Elsa AA hanging out the window singing Let it Go all day long, over and over, in a nonstop loop.... Of course, the AA will break 3 days after being turned on, won't get fixed, and will look odd in its stationary position, yet still singing that annoying song (as annoying as Small World is)... Then, they may just put up some strobe lights to make it look like she is moving... And online fans will rejoice and sing the praises of management, declaring once and for all... IGER AND HIS MINIONS LOVE US, THEY REALLY REALLY LOVE US!!!!