Reason the Wand may come down?

[Shaman]

Seeing the wand go is up there with having a thrilling Space Mountain in my list of Disney wishes. :lol:

Whatever the excuse...er I mean...reasoning...I just hope they bring it down sometime in the near future.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Tell me the same thing about the stupid Hat and you will have made my millenium. Maybe that could be Disney World's promotion for 2008: Year of the Bare Ball and Unobstructed Views. Not as catchy as Happiest Homecoming on Earth, but then not as dumb as Year of a Million Dreams either. I'd buy the t-shirt...

That doesn't exactly sound like a kid-friendly campaign....

 

[Legacy]

That doesn't exactly sound like a kid-friendly campaign....

Maybe not... but it would probably win over Universal's target demographic...

:lookaroun

 

[Gorjus]

Tell me the same thing about the stupid Hat and you will have made my millenium. Maybe that could be Disney World's promotion for 2008: Year of the Bare Ball and Unobstructed Views. Not as catchy as Happiest Homecoming on Earth, but then not as dumb as Year of a Million Dreams either. I'd buy the t-shirt...

Just to take this thread in a slight turn...

1. Every park has an icon you can see as you are walking down the main entrance street/courtyard of the park. The Disney MGM Studios needed a main icon to photograph. They can't use the Chinese Theater because of copyright issues so we have Sorcerer Mickey's hat instead. It represents Mickey, Disney movies, as well as movie magic in general.

2. I LOVE the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and it is working. People come up to me all the time and ask if I am one of the Dream team giving away prizes or where is the dream team. Also, the merchandise is selling like hot cakes because it is timeless. The merchandise can stay long past the celebration is over because it will always apply. It is the first "celebration" merchandise I have EVER bought. These things are true about WDW always: "Where dreams come true", "Where a cup of tea can bring you together and apart and together", "Where you never have to grow up", "Where a hero becomes a sidekick", etc.

 

[Legacy]

People come up to me all the time and ask if I am one of the Dream team giving away prizes or where is the dream team. Also, the merchandise is selling like hot cakes because it is timeless. The merchandise can stay long past the celebration is over because it will always apply. It is the first "celebration" merchandise I have EVER bought. These things are true about WDW always: "Where dreams come true", "Where a cup of tea can bring you together and apart and together", "Where you never have to grow up", "Where a hero becomes a sidekick", etc.

Two things... with the first statement. Those people are probably going around ASKING for prizes... and chances are good they are locals or Disney freaks who would probably be there anyway.

Secondly, the merchandise being able to apply after the celebration ends is only an examply of how irrelevant the whole campaign is.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Just to take this thread in a slight turn...

1. Every park has an icon you can see as you are walking down the main entrance street/courtyard of the park. The Disney MGM Studios needed a main icon to photograph. They can't use the Chinese Theater because of copyright issues so we have Sorcerer Mickey's hat instead. It represents Mickey, Disney movies, as well as movie magic in general.

2. I LOVE the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and it is working. People come up to me all the time and ask if I am one of the Dream team giving away prizes or where is the dream team. Also, the merchandise is selling like hot cakes because it is timeless. The merchandise can stay long past the celebration is over because it will always apply. It is the first "celebration" merchandise I have EVER bought. These things are true about WDW always: "Where dreams come true", "Where a cup of tea can bring you together and apart and together", "Where you never have to grow up", "Where a hero becomes a sidekick", etc.

I disagree, actually, on all points. I don't think the Studios needed a huge disney icon that blocks the view of a near perfect replica of the Chinese Theatre which was really a great project. And to create a gift shop in it istead of some display or small attraction or diversion? It just smacks of poor decision making. (Just like killing the backlot for an overrated stunt show...) The YoMD promoton is only working with people who were Disney nuts anyway! It isn't bringing new people to the parks, because no matter how many things you give away, it isn't enticing new patrons. Note the attendance figures aren't drastically improved. I think that this increased push to have the same celebrations everywhere is bad for business and bad for the parks. Case in Point: Where is the Epcot 25th celebration????

 

[coasterridr]

I doubt the wand structure would be at risk of falling, however I always wondered why they even considered putting SE at risk by placing tons of steel over the top of it. ???

 

[kcnole]

As others have said, how ironic that the wand finally going away (which I've been praying for for years) would happen not because of the blight it is upon SSE, but because it costs too much to maintain it (which has been my other main problem with Disney lately in that they aren't willing to spend the money to keep things up to level.)

 

[marni1971]

Just to take this thread in a slight turn...

1. Every park has an icon you can see as you are walking down the main entrance street/courtyard of the park. The Disney MGM Studios needed a main icon to photograph. They can't use the Chinese Theater because of copyright issues so we have Sorcerer Mickey's hat instead..

Um, no - it`s because the Theatre wasn't accociated enough with Disney for Managements liking. So now we have to take pictures of a shop.

 

[Gorjus]

Two things... with the first statement. Those people are probably going around ASKING for prizes... and chances are good they are locals or Disney freaks who would probably be there anyway.

Secondly, the merchandise being able to apply after the celebration ends is only an examply of how irrelevant the whole campaign is.

My, some of you are determined not to like it. I hear people say it isn't drawing people in and no one understands about the million dreams, yet when I provide evidence that they do understand it and are coming to the parks looking to participate in the celebration you choose to brush it off. BTW, the park is filled with people who are there for the first time wearing their "My first visit" buttons. And many of them are asking about the prizes. So they do understand it.

I disagree, actually, on all points. I don't think the Studios needed a huge disney icon that blocks the view of a near perfect replica of the Chinese Theatre which was really a great project.

You may not think it needs an Icon, but the fact of the matter is that each park must have an icon close to the entrance that is identifiable with the park that people want to have their photo taken with. Period end of story. It has to be something that can be sold as a photo because that is what people enjoy purchasing or photographing themselves. They purchase infinitely more Hat photos than TOT photos. It would be nice if the Chinese theater could have been the icon, but it can't so we had to build something instead.

The YoMD promoton is only working with people who were Disney nuts anyway! It isn't bringing new people to the parks, because no matter how many things you give away, it isn't enticing new patrons. Note the attendance figures aren't drastically improved. I think that this increased push to have the same celebrations everywhere is bad for business and bad for the parks. Case in Point: Where is the Epcot 25th celebration????

You are incorrect. Attendance figures are up drastically. Take a look at the holiday seasons of late. Thanksgiving, Christmas, MLK weekend, and Presidents week were an absolute zoo at the parks. Attendance has been soaring and a very large percentage of them are first time visitors as evidenced by all the badges that say "my first visit".

However, I will agree with you on the Epcot 25th celebration. Not to have it is lame.

Just because you don't like a celebration doesn't mean it isn't working overall.

 

[Gorjus]

Um, no - it`s because the Theatre wasn't accociated enough with Disney for Managements liking. So now we have to take pictures of a shop.

No, it is copyright issues. There are many things that can not be professionally photographed at WDW. Among them is the Chinese Theater. Photographers are specifically told that you may not take a photo of a guest in front of the Chinese Theater due to copyright issues. Other things are the poster next to RNR and the entire word Aerosmith when getting your photo taken with the guitar; the logo Kodak; the logo Brawny; the Herbie car; High School Musical; and most recently anything Star Wars. Apparently a legal issue came up and we had to stop photographing anything dealing with Star Wars.

 

[Ragetti]

Secondly, the merchandise being able to apply after the celebration ends is only an examply of how irrelevant the whole campaign is.

Says you!

I can tell you the commercials for the YOAMD is what put me and DW over the top in deciding to go. We think the campaign is precious... and reminds us of teh magical times we had in WDW years ago.

I couldn't have cared less about the previous campaigns, but this one struck a chord.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I would go with the notion that the wand structure is engineered to a very high level. It's proximity to Spaceship Earth and to guests would mean that it's structural integrity would be taken very seriously. I can't beleive it would fail. If it ever is removed (which I dont think it will be), I think it will be due to some other decision, other than structural failure.

Steve, I agree but IMO the only way they would ever take the wand down is if its structural stability ever came into question. I don't believe they'd actually spend the money to have it removed otherwise.

I also don't believe we've reached the point where it's stability would be taken into question. That would be a major safety hazard to guests and that whole area would more than likely get blocked off if there were an issue.

 

[iheartdisney91]

i like the wand, and i dont want it to come down, don't kill me lol ... if they take it own SE is gunna look so bare and possibly smaller(even though it'll be the same size haha) i'm sorry but i like the wand especialy at night.

 

[marni1971]

No, it is copyright issues..

I stand corrected :wave:

 

[Ragetti]

I haven't been to Epcot since they've had the wand, or MGM since the hat went up. I wanna see both! Maybe I'm a heretic, but I found Epcot to be a bit of a bore the last time I was there (except for Illuminations, which was cool even then) and I'm looking forward to seeing Epcot as it is now. Outta be fun!

 

[kcnole]

i like the wand, and i dont want it to come down, don't kill me lol ... if they take it own SE is gunna look so bare and possibly smaller(even though it'll be the same size haha) i'm sorry but i like the wand especialy at night.

SSE will actually look larger without the wand. The wand makes its true size so readily apparent. It's like the castle when it had the mirror last year. That mirror really showed that the castle wasn't nearly as big as it looked.

 

[Tim G]

I stumbled across a bit of info..
Rumor has it that the reason for the Wand to finally come down is because it costs too much to maintain. It's said that the storms and extended life beyond the original plans for Millenium have taken their toll on the structure - and if they don't tear it down, it would cost a small fortune to keep it up.
Food for thought..

Still hungry... ain't gonna happen...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing will happen to the wand...

I HIGHLY doubt this. There is no way Disney would build ANYTHING that couldn't survive a Cat. 5 Hurricane (the parks would surely be damaged, but I would not expect to see any rides blown away). For one, it'd be a safety hazard since it is possible that there could be guests in the parks during bad weather (admittedly, Disney tries to prevent this during major storms, but there is a chance), and for the other, it's built on top of Spaceship Earth. If this came crashing down in a storm, there would be MAJOR damages to Spaceship Earth, so there's no way they built it so poorly. I doubt the maintenance costs are very high. With the way Disney works these days, if there were ever any expensive damages, we would see them working on it during the day, which we don't (and we'd likely see a crane if it were major). I think it just sits there calmly, and will continue to.

And you're very right... the wand will stay...

I think Merf means it`d be cheaper to remove it than to keep maintaining it.

True... but still... the wand is here to stay...

That doesn't exactly sound like a kid-friendly campaign....

Doesn't really matter... It'll still be there...

i like the wand, and i dont want it to come down, don't kill me lol ... if they take it own SE is gunna look so bare and possibly smaller(even though it'll be the same size haha) i'm sorry but i like the wand especialy at night.

So you don't have to be worried... The wand is there... and it's going to stay there... right on the same spot... whwre it alway was...

 

[hokielutz]

I would go with the notion that the wand structure is engineered to a very high level. It's proximity to Spaceship Earth and to guests would mean that it's structural integrity would be taken very seriously. I can't beleive it would fail. If it ever is removed (which I dont think it will be), I think it will be due to some other decision, other than structural failure.

Bingo... just what I was starting to write.

 

[Tim G]

Bingo... just what I was starting to write.

The structure is indeed engineerd at a high level...

And I stated already several times

The Wand Is Going To Stay!!!!

Believe me... No matter what y'all might asume or whatever the rumors say... or will say...