The Hat - MGM

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Aug Mon 11, 2008 3:16 pm

BirdandRobot wrote:I'm not sure if this has already been said or not but putting the hat in front of the Chinese theatre is like putting a hat in front of Cinderella's Castle.

I don't necessarily agree. I have never thought of the Chinese theatre as the icon of MGM. Yes it is prominent when you are walking down Hollywood Blvd, but it isn't "Disney." I think they should bring back the Earful Tower as the park's icon. Not only is it "Disney" (i.e. big Mickey ears) but it is also Hollywood/Studio related. How were the studios identified in the 20s and 30s? By their water towers. My idea for the hat, throw it on some empty lot, surround it by some other oversized crap and make it into Fairyland. See this post to know what I am talking about, viewtopic.php?t=4664&start=0&postdays=0 ... highlight=

ctrain2281 · Post by **ctrain2281** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 7:05 am

Well, I think the whole Hat being out of place discussion is a microcosm of the park's problem in general, that being it was not laid out well and too small in general. Personallly, I love the park and consider it on of if not my favorite park. However, it suffers from just a general lack of space. Everything seems so jampacked and stuffed in. Also, the park as a whole functions differently then when it first opened. I remember a time when you could actually attend a live taping of some ABC comedy or Star Search and when the backstage tour was actually a real tour. However, I remember reading somewhere that there are no more living tapings at DHS (or MGM Studios as I remember it) and everyone agrees that the backstage tour is a farce now. Anyways, just an early morning rant as I try to get in the work mood for the day. Back to the topic, the

Hat stinks but it looks like it's here to stay.

spodie · Post by **spodie** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 9:37 am

ctrain2281 wrote:Well, I think the whole Hat being out of place discussion is a microcosm of the park's problem in general, that being it was not laid out well and too small in general.

Yeah, I think it is just a layout and space issue. But remember, one of the main reasons why this park was built was in response to the opening of Universal Studios - it was a race to see who would open first (which I'm pretty sure Disney won). There were also only two attractions when they first opened and, obviously, they have expanded over the years. I guess that would explain some of the current space issues...

Chernabog · Post by **Chernabog** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 9:38 am

The hat is great! (In and of itself.) It is just in a bad spot, which has been mentioned once or twice. While HS is tight, there are plenty of places to move it, it is just a matter of Disney wanting to de-centraize it and w/the great recognition of the hat and the success of Fantasmic, I don't know if they will. I would put it near Fantasmic, ideally set it up so you walk thru it to get into Fantasmic. Plus you would be able to see it outside the park and it may even give the appearance that the park is bigger, from the outside. And I feel it would fit in by Tower of Terror and RR, since they are 'bigger than life' and don't really fit w/each other anyway.

IMFearless · Post by **IMFearless** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 9:55 am

The problem with the water tower is, unlike, say, Cinderella's Castle, Spaceship Earth, or the Tree of Life is that you CAN'T SEE THE THING from most of the park, not to mention outside the park. I remember there was a brief period when Tower of Terror was pretty much the icon. I would say, if you insist on having the water tower be the icon, then make a larger one and put it in a central location. Maybe replace the hat with it.

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 10:10 am

IMFearless wrote:The problem with the water tower is, unlike, say, Cinderella's Castle, Spaceship Earth, or the Tree of Life is that you CAN'T SEE THE THING from most of the park, not to mention outside the park. I remember there was a brief period when Tower of Terror was pretty much the icon. I would say, if you insist on having the water tower be the icon, then make a larger one and put it in a central location. Maybe replace the hat with it.

I agree that the tower outside the park makes it an unlikely icon, but it is better than THE hat. As far as putting in place of the hat? That would be just as bad to have these spindly steel legs in the way of the Chinese Theatre. There is no perfect solution.

spodie · Post by **spodie** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 10:24 am

agingerbugg wrote:I agree that the tower outside the park makes it an unlikely icon, but it is better than THE hat. As far as putting in place of the hat? That would be just as bad to have these spindly steel legs in the way of the Chinese Theatre. There is no perfect solution.

I think if they took away the Hat, though, and replaced it with either the tower or the Chinese Theater, I feel it would make the park look a little "outdated" to many people. I think of both the Earful Tower and the Chines Theater to look a little "90's" since they've added the Hat. The more I think about it, the more I like the Hat - I just am not crazy about the location.

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 10:34 am

I agree, I don't care for the hat, the first time I went to WDW after the hat had been put up, I gasped! EEEEKKKK! I sure wish they'd take that down! Can't they use the ToT for the park icon!

j/k. They do need to come up with something better. It was meant to be temporary and really looks it!

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 10:35 am

It was meant to be temporary and really looks it!

That's one of my other complaints! It's just a giant hunk of plastic!

Yet, I still hear people walking by talking about how beautiful it is.
WHAT!?

It's definitley not one of Disney's most detailed structures.

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 3:53 pm

I wouldn't have a problem with the hat if it was elevated to a height that left other areas with unobstructed views. It would become even more prominently placed at that point but at least you wouldn't have to see it unless you looked up!

Post by **js3901** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 5:39 pm

IMFearless wrote:The problem with the water tower is, unlike, say, Cinderella's Castle, Spaceship Earth, or the Tree of Life is that you CAN'T SEE THE THING from most of the park, not to mention outside the park. I remember there was a brief period when Tower of Terror was pretty much the icon. I would say, if you insist on having the water tower be the icon, then make a larger one and put it in a central location. Maybe replace the hat with it.

but, you can see the watertower from much farther away that the hat, last I checked. the only difference between Cinderella Castle, SSE, or the ToL and the Earful tower is that ET is not in the CENTER of the park like the other 3 (also, there's no attraction of any kind in the ET) . If they increased the size a little bit, and put it right behind the Chinese Theater, I think the ET could be the park icon again...

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 6:10 pm

If they increased the size a little bit, and put it right behind the Chinese Theater, I think the ET could be the park icon again...

Like the picture on the green trash cans

WVParkfan · Post by **WVParkfan** » Aug Wed 13, 2008 7:10 am

How about moving the hat to the hill by the Fantasmic show. It could be something you walk under as you go up the hill. It would be visible from outside of the park, and the "theme" of the hat would lend itself more to the "theme" of Fantasmic.

Chernabog · Post by **Chernabog** » Aug Fri 15, 2008 9:07 am

WVParkfan wrote:How about moving the hat to the hill by the Fantasmic show. It could be something you walk under as you go up the hill. It would be visible from outside of the park, and the "theme" of the hat would lend itself more to the "theme" of Fantasmic.

Wow! What a great idea!!

Croaker · Post by **Croaker** » Aug Fri 15, 2008 10:39 am

cept Fantasmic is going to 2 nights a week. looks like its on the wrong side of budget cuts right now. still a great idea though! would look very cool!