The Removal of the Sorcerers Hat

So today I thought I would discuss my thoughts on the removal of the Sorcerer's hat at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I do have memories of a hat-less Hollywood Boulevard, and memories of when I saw the hat for the first time. I thought, "Finally MGM has a real icon!" I thought the park icon should be front and center like the Tree of Life, Spaceship Earth, and Cinderella Castle.
 
I knew the water tower was the icon, but to me the icon should be seen from any part of the park, and you could only see The Earful Tower from the Backlot Tour and some areas in the distance. It wasn't until I started going to Disney message boards that I even realized people didn't like the hat. They brought up good points that I hadn't really thought about.

First of all, it disrupts the theme. Hollywood Boulevard really does feel like you're going downtown in California. The hat at the end of the street kills that as everything on Hollywood Boulevard is a replica of buildings in Hollywood and various other places. There's a great article about this at yesterland.com called "Real Buildings That Inspired MGM Studios." It's six parts and shows how many of the facades, fountains, and stores are inspired by real buildings and such. That's why The Chinese Theater at the end of the street fits in so well, being that it's a replica. You have to appreciate how much thought is put into these facades, like most areas of Disney, when most guests likely do not give a second thought about what these buildings are.

Secondly, it kind of looks like a giant parking cone. Once that was pointed out, I couldn't stop seeing it as a big cone with stars on it. Finally, the area underneath the hat originally had kiosks underneath it with facts about Walt Disney. That evolved into One Man's Dream in a new location, turning the area below the hat into a generic pin store. I think that was a bad decision and added another level of  tackiness to the hat.

Obviously the hat needs to go from its current spot, but I think the park still needs an icon. Maybe one that's outside the park gates so that it doesn't intrude on the carefully thought out layout. The Earful Tower was mainly seen from the Backlot Tour and with that closing, we won't have any way to get a good view of it. I think they could make a better, more permanent looking and less parking cone-like hat outside the park. Or something entirely different. My only question left is- will the giant hidden Mickey in the middle of the hub be restored?

What do you think of the removal of The Sorcerer's Hat? Do you think it should be moved to a new location of the park? Do you think the park needs a new icon? Comment below!

The World's Fair

The 1964-65 New York World's Fair has always interested me. It's mostly because Walt Disney created four attractions for the World's Fair and much of it still is used today at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World's Carousel of Progress originated at The World's Fair; and so did Disneyland's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and the original "it's a small world." The Magic Skyway was the fourth attraction, and although it wasn't used at the Disney parks, many of its aspects have been incorporated into current attractions. For example, the dinosaur audio animatronics from The Magic Skyway are now part of the Disneyland railroad.

Magic Skyway Model

Last month I went to The Eastern States Exposition, more commonly known as 'The Big E'. It's part country fair, part carnival, and part exhibition, with a focus on the six New England States. I go because it's fun, but it doesn't hold a candle to Disney. I was very excited, however, when I discovered they had a special exhibit dedicated to The World's Fair this year for its 50th anniversary. It had displays of old souvenirs, a model of The Magic Skyway, and video clips playing from the fair.

It's fascinating to learn about The World's Fair. Both my parents have fond memories going to the fair as young children and agree that many of its ideas were brought to EPCOT, where the focus is on the future and different countries.

Magic Skyway Exterior

by auntie rain

 Two EPCOT pavilions eventually used concepts from The Magic Skyway. The Dinosaur animatronic section inspired Universe of Energy's Primeval Diorama (new versions though, as the original animatronics remain along the Disneyland Railroad.) It also had concepts used in World of Motion. The Magic Skyway and World of Motion's exterior have a striking resemblance. They are both wheel shaped buildings with ride vehicles looping outside the buildings. World of Motion however used the entire circular building for its attraction, while Magic Skyway has a show building in the back that its cars travel to outside. It also had a similar scene to The World of Motion depicting the invention of the wheel, cavemen, and a futuristic city depicting the future of travel. Magic Skyway featured narration by Walt Disney himself. My father remembers receiving a clip with the exterior of the building on it and the state the visitor was from written on their clip. They would then add that to the count of visitors from there and show how many have visited the fair from each state/ country. Here's a souvenir clip on display at The Big E:

Souvenir Clip

                                          More pictures of The Magic Skyway Model:

1965 Ford Mustang at The Big E

Magazine souvenir

A few souvenirs from "it's a small world" were at The Big E as well. There were miniature dolls from the attraction as well as a souvenir record featuring the song. It says Disneyland on the record though so I'm not sure if it's from The World's Fair.

Souvenir puzzle with the World's Fair attractions

  More souvenirs displayed at The Big E:

 

 

Souvenir Toy Tram

Miniature version of U.S. Royal Tire Ferris Wheel

Other side of the Ferris Wheel

Old souvenir camera

Souvenir bags

Souvenir hats

 Many companies at the fair eventually represented Disney attractions as well. General Motors sponsored The Futurama II, a sequel to the original attraction at the 1939 World's Fair. GM still is present at EPCOT. It sponsored The World of Motion and its successor Test Track. Test Track is now sponsored by Chevrolet which is a part of GM. General Electric sponsored The Carousel of Progress at the World's Fair, and at Disneyland/ WDW until 1985. They also sponsored Horizons from 1983 through 1993 at EPCOT.

 This exhibit was fascinating to look at. The Big E is over and the exhibit is now closed but I'm glad I got to see it. I also discovered a few other attractions from The World's Fair I didn't know about. They had their own versions of the Skyway buckets called the Swiss Sky Ride, and a monorail! Both of these were already operating at Disneyland but I had no idea the fair had them as well. The monorail at the fair had a track above the monorail, while Disneyland has its track below the monorail.

In a way The World's Fair lives on at Disney World and Disneyland. Its attractions exist in some form and they inspired new attractions as well. Hall of Presidents and American Adventure are more advanced versions of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, while World Showcase at EPCOT is still a celebration of nations where you can learn about and experience different cultures around the world, like The World's Fair.

Please comment below if you enjoyed this topic or have any knowledge of the World's Fair that you want to discuss. Tell me if you have suggestions for my next subject as well.

My Hopes for Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios or DHS (formerly Disney-MGM Studios) is rumored to be getting an expansion. Since the Backlot closed there have been many rumors out there. Certain insiders on message boards have confirmed a few things, that Toy Story Midway Mania should be getting an expansion with a new track added, and that an indefinite plan is coming to add new attractions where the Backlot Tour was, as well as removing the Hat at the entrance.

DHS has always been lacking in things that appeal to me. When I go to DHS I never ride Tower of Terror or Rockin' Rollercoaster. I always say I'm going to try them, but I never do. I do like thrill rides such as Test Track, Big Thunder Mt., etc but the ones at DHS seem too intense for me. I always ride The Great Movie Ride, Toy Story Mania, and Star Tours. I'll often eat at The Brown Derby or 50's Prime Time Cafe, walk around One Man's Dream, see Muppet Vision 3D, and once in a while see the shows like Lights, Motors, Action, and The Little Mermaid. I would only go on the Backlot Tour once every two or three trips.

I think an expanded Toy Story Mania could be a good thing, more capacity should mean lower lines and if we get the expansion, new rides should help alleviate capacity issues. Something also unconfirmed coming to DHS is Toy Story Playland from Paris and Hong Kong. What can I say about this? As long as that's not all we get I guess I would be OK with it, but I kind of hope for more than a clone of a cheap land with basic amusement park style rides. Radiator Springs Racers may not be feasible but I think it would be a good addition. That Monsters Inc. Coaster rumored for years would be nice as well. Since these are Pixar Movies it would obviously fit in Pixar Place. That area needs to have more than just one attraction.

How about a Frozen E ticket? People are upset we are losing The Maelstrom to Frozen. I get Disney wants it added quickly, but adding a new E ticket ride to DHS would give them more time to build while people ride the version in Norway. I personally don't think DHS is in worse shape than DCA. Yes they had more rides, but how many were carnival style rides? Paradise Pier and A Bugs Land was/is filled with them. They didn't have an audio animatronic show either like The Great Movie Ride. Radiator Springs Racers and The Little Mermaid managed to give them AA attractions. 

Obviously there could be a lot more to do at DHS. I know Star Wars is rumored to be added as well, but not necessarily as apart of this expansion. I hope for at least 5 new D/ E ticket rides in the expansion. Maybe a few B/ C tickets as well. What do you want to see in a DHS expansion? Do you have any topics you would like me to discuss my opinions on?

Disney Site Negativity

  Today I want to talk about something that I noticed is happening a lot on Disney fan pages. Today there seems to be so much negativity and disgust by Disney fans because of decisions Disney has been making lately. The conversion of Maelstrom into a Frozen attraction is causing a lot of negative reactions. I completely understand it- Maelstrom was Norway's main way to talk about Norwegian culture and people are worried Frozen will turn the World's Fair type vibe of World Showcase into an extension of Fantasyland.

 These fan pages definitely give me new perspective and I admit, reading this negativity does somewhat make me less excited for Disney trips. But when I get there, the negativity completely disappears. Why is it that these sites make me feel disappointed in Disney but once I'm there I forget? Maybe because it saddens me to see longtime Disney fans lose interest in a place they once loved. Maybe it worries me that someday, I too will share these negative feelings and think about how much better it used to be.

 You might ask, "Why do you go on these websites if they bother you"? It still excites me to see the few positives Disney fans post about. Maybe because it shares updates of whats happening in Walt Disney World. For instance, there's talk of an expansion coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Every day I check the site to see if any insiders have shared new info. Disney's future excites me even if other fans complain they are running their parks into the ground.

 I do have my own disappointments. As a kid I really didn't like Epcot. I only liked going on Spaceship Earth, play games in Innoventions and try Kidcots in World Showcase (though looking back at its former attractions I can say I would appreciate them now more than when I was a kid). One thing I did love was the food. The buffet in Norway was a must do every trip. When it converted into a princess character dinner not only did it lose it's appeal, it lost its great buffet. They still have a small buffet for appetizers but it's nothing like how it used to be. A few years ago my family finally tried the German buffet and I'm so glad we did! We've eaten there three times and each time we enjoyed talking to/ getting to know the families we've eaten with.

My point is this: don't let other people's disappointments ruin your experience. I'm going to wait until the new Frozen ride comes out before I decide if "Norway is ruined". If you have a disappointment try to find an alternative. Some people feel Disney lost it's charm, but not for me. It helps that I'm still young and Disney hasn't completely changed from the Disney of the early 90's to now.

First Blog

This is my first blog post. I created this blog to talk about one of my favorite places: Walt Disney World. I've been going there since I was two and a half years old and have been going at least twice a year for the last seven years. My family has a DVC membership at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort. My blog is named Grand Canyon Concourse after the name of the fourth floor main lobby at The Contemporary Resort. I plan to write about my trips at Disney World, how my perspective has changed over the years, comment on changes at Disney now, and in the future!