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

[Christian Fronckowiak]

Earful Tower is now on merchandise, planning DVDs, and construction walls. HTH doesn't work, in my opinion because there's a Tower of Terror at DLR, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disney although they're different facades than the original, they all have the same story except Tokyo. Icons are supposed to be unique to the park. Why does DHS even need a huge icon? They're is several iconic structures in the park. DCA has an icon problem too, there's the Fun Wheel, Grizzley Peak, and Carthay Circle Theater. According to Wikipedia( I know it's not a trusted source) Grizzley peak is the icon even though people think it's Carthay circle. People will assume the same with the Chinese Theater and the Earful Tower. You're right the park is in transition. We'll see soon enough.

I agree with your argument in theory, but Tokyo Disneyland and Magic Kingdom DO share Cinderella Castle, and California and Hong Kong do share Sleeping Beauty's.

 

[wdwfan757]

And when DCA was built, Carthay Circle didn't exist. Pretty much every piece of DCA merchandise since the "relaunch" features carthay circle as the icon.

 

[pumpkin7]

Another angle - I like the way they went right around the moon:

This is one beautiful picture.

 

[marni1971]

I agree with your argument in theory, but Tokyo Disneyland and Magic Kingdom DO share Cinderella Castle, and California and Hong Kong do share Sleeping Beauty's.

DHS and WDSP share a water tower with ears...

 

[Darth Sidious]

The new DHS icon should be construction walls.

 

[Admiral01]

DHS and WDSP share a water tower with ears...

If I'm not mistaken, the only parks with "unique" icons are EPCOT, DAK, DCA, and Tokyo DisneySea.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I think Grizzly Peak is still a better icon than Carthay Circle Theater for DCA.

 

[BrerJon]

I think Grizzly Peak is still a better icon than Carthay Circle Theater for DCA.

I wonder if anyone knows where the notion of each park having an 'icon' comes from, or when it dates to? I don't, but others might. Did it start with the Earful Tower, as they had three things to market then, or was it DAK that retroactively established every park should have one?

Certainly many of the younger Disney fans moaning about the hat seem to see 'it's the icon' as being a reason in itself, instead of any sense of why an icon is important or what they even mean by an icon.

Sea World, Busch, Six Flags etc. don't seem to have them, so it's clearly a Disney exclusive concept. Has it just emerged from marketing materials over the years, or was there a specific promotion sometime that sealed the notion in place that each park has a symbol to represent it?

 

[Bing Bong]

I think Grizzly Peak is still a better icon than Carthay Circle Theater for DCA.

I don't, Carthay is miles better. That and you can hardly see Grizzly Peak anymore because of the trees.

 

[Bing Bong]

I wonder if anyone knows where the notion of each park having an 'icon' comes from, or when it dates to? I don't, but others might. Did it start with the Earful Tower, as they had three things to market then, or was it DAK that retroactively established every park should have one?

Certainly many of the younger Disney fans moaning about the hat seem to see 'its the icon' as being a reason in itself, instead of any sense of why an icon is important or what they even mean by an icon.

Sea World, Busch, Six Flags etc. don't seem to have them, so it's clearly a Disney exclusive concept. Has it just emerged from marketing materials over the years, or was there a specific promotion sometime that sealed the notion in place that each park has a symbol to represent it?

Universal Studios has the arch/globe, and Islands of Adventure has Pharos Lighthouse. Just throwing that out there...

 

[BrerJon]

The new DHS icon should be construction walls.

Here's the new park icon:

 

[asianway]

That's glorious. Look at that jagged edge!

Nice texture like a good scar

 

[Cesar R M]

Yea, the inflatable Sorcerer in the Sky Mickey is eating it! Nom nom nom!

 

[note2001]

Here's the new park icon:

They can't have three parks in the same area with the same icon. It makes marketing's job impossible.

 

[Tom Morrow]

A few other parks have an icon, like the "Eiffel tower" at Kings Island and Kings Dominion, and a double decker carousel at Six Flags Great America.

 

[Mike S]

If I'm not mistaken, the only parks with "unique" icons are EPCOT, DAK, DCA, and Tokyo DisneySea.

Would DLP's Sleeping Beauty Castle count? Because it is pretty unique. Also Enchanted Storybook Castle when Shanghai opens.

 

[zarpman]

The idea of an icon is purely for marketing purposes. It has existed since Walt Disney World became a multi-gate location, and since most theme park operators don't have to try to market and distinguish multiple parks in a single location, this has not caught on outside of Disney.

One could argue that Disneyland has always been identified by a castle icon and so did Magic Kingdom from opening day.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I wonder if anyone knows where the notion of each park having an 'icon' comes from, or when it dates to? I don't, but others might. Did it start with the Earful Tower, as they had three things to market then, or was it DAK that retroactively established every park should have one?

Certainly many of the younger Disney fans moaning about the hat seem to see 'it's the icon' as being a reason in itself, instead of any sense of why an icon is important or what they even mean by an icon.

Sea World, Busch, Six Flags etc. don't seem to have them, so it's clearly a Disney exclusive concept. Has it just emerged from marketing materials over the years, or was there a specific promotion sometime that sealed the notion in place that each park has a symbol to represent it?

I think you're on to something that speaks more to the connection to a brand than a type of experience. The Castle was rather prominent from the beginning for Disneyland, but each of the lands had their weenie as well that would also often be featured in larger promotional materials. Spaceship Earth and Cinderella Castle were similarly featured, but also often with images of other activities at the Vacation Kingdom. The whole notion of an icon is only important from a marketing view and that is why there is such a discussion around the Hat. The Hat is themed decor, an image that recalls, it is marketing in a built form. If your connection to Disney is through recall of known images (the brand) then the Hat and a notion of an icon (park branding that is repeatedly recalled) is of great importance.

 

[imagineer boy]

I think Grizzly Peak is still a better icon than Carthay Circle Theater for DCA.

I always thought the icon was supposed to be Grizzly Peak yet for some reason it's facing away and they sun sculpture thing was supposed to be the icon. But I agree, even if it was facing the right way I think it's a better looking icon. Carthway Circle Theater is kinda weak IMO.

 

[danlb_2000]

The idea of an icon is purely for marketing purposes. It has existed since Walt Disney World became a multi-gate location, and since most theme park operators don't have to try to market and distinguish multiple parks in a single location, this has not caught on outside of Disney.

One could argue that Disneyland has always been identified by a castle icon and so did Magic Kingdom from opening day.

Not according to John Hench.