The Great Movie Ride needs a new facade...this is Disney World, not Hollywood.
But it is going to soon be called "Disney's Hollywood Studios"
The Great Movie Ride needs a new facade...this is Disney World, not Hollywood.
The hat is fine as long as it is moved. How about putting it outside the park just in front of the entrance where they put the Christmas Tree. The view of the Chinese Theater is very much missed and is much more Hollywood than the hat.
Several people on this board have already debunked the 'legal reason' for blocking the theatre with the hat. It's an urban legend. The hat was put there for some anniversary. Don't remember which one. 25th?
No offense... but why?? That would ruin all of the aesthetics of Hollywood Blvd* and make the entrance plaza cramped and ugly. And it can't be outside the gates - the icons have to be in the park.I think the idea of moving it in front of the entrance is a good one....
Not really...while I misspoke (typed) that the theatre was owned by MGM, it was in fact an issue to have the theatre be so prominant at the end of the street.Several people on this board have already debunked the 'legal reason' for blocking the theatre with the hat. It's an urban legend. The hat was put there for some anniversary. Don't remember which one. 25th?
ed: As for Icon "continuity," one only has to look at California Adventure to see that the so-called rule that it be the first thing you see when you enter is not true. The Icon is the Bear head of Grizzly River Rapids. But when you first enter you see two things - The Golden Gate Bridge, and the Sun sculpture at the end of Sunshine Plaza. You have to veer right before you really see the Bear.
First step: Remove its status as the Icon. Redo the Chinese Theater as I've mentioned before to make it an opulent, "generic" 20s/30s Hollywood style theater, and make THAT the Icon.
Second step: Move the Hat to the front of the entrance to the Animation Courtyard. Right now the Disney-MGM sign is there. Since that name is going the way of the dodo, take the whole thing out, eliminate the Mickey hand tipping the Hat, set the Hat down on the ground, carve out a walkway through it (they might even be able to still have a dippy pin store in it), and the Hat can survive. Heck, they could even leave the hand in it still tipping the Hat. It just won't look quite as balanced...like now. With the Hat over there it will not so easily mess with the 20s/30s Hollywood look the "main street" was originally supposed to have.
Third step: Enjoy.
ed: As for Icon "continuity," one only has to look at California Adventure to see that the so-called rule that it be the first thing you see when you enter is not true. The Icon is the Bear head of Grizzly River Rapids. But when you first enter you see two things - The Golden Gate Bridge, and the Sun sculpture at the end of Sunshine Plaza. You have to veer right before you really see the Bear.
This is my vote for best response to the hat contorversy yet! Well said:sohappy:
Unlike the Magic Kingdom, for example, the current entrance area for the Studios is rather barren and devoid of 'life'.
I absolutely hate the fact that the park's "icon" is a @#$&^% pin shop. :fork:
I thought the bear was a wolf til I remembered the ride was called Grizzly River Rapids.
I dont think they ever plan on removing it.
well you are correct there. It's a mathematical certainty that one day our planet will come to a catastrophic end...it's just an issue of when. But when it does, bye-bye hat.The hat will be going it's just a matter of time. Why they decided to park it right in front of the great movie ride is pure stupidity. Now what they need is to build a mountain with "Hollywood" sign on the front. Disney "Hollywood" studios and a ride inside the mountain. That would be a icon that would work.
I sure hope so. You can never have to many DVC kiosk, Well... at least that's what WDW thinks.Agree completely - however changes are a'brewin. I have good information that the pin shop will soon be turned into a DVC kiosk! Happier days are ahead of us...
:lookaroun
Excellent post, and what I believe is fact.My best guess would be that Mann's (formerly Grauman's) Chinese Theater isn't owned by MGM, so there isn't a threat of action being taken by MGM for the use of the facade. :shrug:
I remember back when they announced the hat, and the whole time they were building it, the company line was that they wanted an icon for the park that was 1) Wholly owned by WDCo, and 2) Not in the backlot (like the Earful Tower) but more easily visible (and photograph-able) and accessible, and 3) Representative of the concept for the park, and the direction it was believed to be heading in at the time (thus you get the spiel about the hat representing the Magic of Disney and movie making and Hollywood and blah blah...). They (and they, by the way, is everyone from "lowly" guest service managers up to people such as Ed Grier and Al Weiss) made it clear, at the time, that the structure was permanent (and that any possible changes would be BEHIND the hat, not the hat ittself). And, after watching the construction of the thing, I have a hard time believing they'll "just move it". It was built to last...
well you are correct there. It's a mathematical certainty that one day our planet will come to a catastrophic end...it's just an issue of when. But when it does, bye-bye hat.
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