DarkMeasures said:
The location of the hat is what makes it a problem. I would have absolutly no problem if it were almost anywhere else. (besides Sunset BLVD).
I do wish that it was moved to either the animation courtyard or Echo lake.
I should point out that I was there when it was built and it was done so in a matter of weeks. It wouldn't be hard at all to build a new one or move the hat.
Matter of weeks? Not really. It took about 8 months. I went in February of 2001 and the area was already cleared with construction of the ring that forms the base of the hat nearing completion, and the hat was finished only slightly before the kick-off of 100 Years of Magic in October of 2001. You can check out pictures of its construction here:
http://www.wdwmagic.com/100years_archive.htm Notice that construction started before January 17, 2001, and it was completed around August 29, 2001....probably 8 months it took to build. It would take well over a year to move the hat, and the current location is such for several reasons, particularly because it would not have feasibly fit in anywhere else--in Animation Courtyard, it would have likely been too crowded with it between three reasonably popular attractions--in front of the Great Movie Ride, where there is much more space, it fits. Secondly, its current location is extremely visible all the way down Hollywood Blvd, to the entrance, much like Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, and the Tree of Life (at least visible upon exiting the Oasis) are visible to all guests upon entering the park. It also allows a heck of a lot more opportunities for them to take photos of our families in front of the hat to sell to us. I don't particularly miss the Chinese Theatre facade being in clear view...it is by no means uniquely Disney, and the hat certainly meets the new theming of MGM, involving a variety of movie sets and soundstages scattered throughout. I do agree with Grizz, though, that the hat would fit in better if it were the entrance to a new attraction pertaining more to it, as opposed to a gift shop, but I don't hate the hat as is by any means...I think it's really pretty at night, actually. I also like the wand, too...I think it makes Spaceship Earth look less like a 180-foot tall golf ball and it certainly adds color to Epcot. I did like the 2000 better than the Epcot lettering though, although it would not be reasonable to change the year on it every year. I am reminded of the mid-90s when Epcot changed its name yearly, like Epcot94...oh well, now it's just Epcot underlined in toothpaste...maybe they could put a 200-foot santa hat on Spaceship Earth every Christmas and wrap everything in tinsel floss to promote good dental hygeine (Epcot© Sponsored by Krest)