The Hat - MGM

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Mar Wed 22, 2006 9:22 pm

The Hat does serve at least one purpose- as a landmark. People always ask me where the exit is, or where Rockin and ToT, or Millionaire etc... Since I'm back near Muppets and Star Tours, the Hat helps people find things. I think without the Hat, people would get lost...more than usual.

Also it's a good picture spot

But I guess it does look rather odd just standing there.

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Mar Thu 23, 2006 2:35 pm

People need to start reading maps, otherwise Disney might build giant hats in all their parks!

bayouminnie · Post by **bayouminnie** » Mar Fri 24, 2006 9:51 pm

Thumbs down.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Mar Thu 30, 2006 1:17 pm

Last night I asked my manager about The Hat. He basically said that since all the other parks have noticable icons pretty much smack dab in the middle of the parks, MGM needed one as well, so the park could be marketed better. He told me that guests thought the Chinese theatre was the Icon, becuase the Earful Tower wasn't noticable enough. He did say it was supposed to be temporary, then he laughed. So yeah, not sure why it's a Sorceror Mickey Hat, but it helps bring the cha-ching to the Studios. And there you have it, money talks.

SimonTemplar · Post by **SimonTemplar** » May Tue 23, 2006 3:48 pm

I don't so much mind the hat, just don't stick it right in front of The Chinese Theatre!!! Put it somewhere else in the park. I can't figure out for the life of me why they put it where they did. It ruins the ambience of walking up Hollywood Blvd to see a monstrous hat at the end.

SpookyBear · Post by **SpookyBear** » May Tue 23, 2006 4:11 pm

I think this hat represents what is wrong with the parks honestly. I never thought that Disney would obstruct a beautiful view of the Grauman's Chinese Theater with an eyesore like that hat which is a store! It makes me a little mad everytime I think about it. Get rid of it. The only place it belongs is the trash.

Before

After

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » May Tue 23, 2006 7:35 pm

Darn tooting!! Thanks for the Picture of the original "better" view. Although I do think they should just move the hat. Maybe to the uninpresive outside. Right around where the buses let you off. I just thought of it because if I remember correctly MGM has no SHADE as you approach the entrance.

OH And "I see your schwartz is as big as mine"

GoofyInOhio · Post by **GoofyInOhio** » May Tue 23, 2006 9:26 pm

Wow you know until I just saw those pictures, the hat didn't bother me at all. Now it does. I'm a huge movie ride fan too. I'm for it being moved or removed all together.

Mr.ToadWildRider · Post by **Mr.ToadWildRider** » May Wed 24, 2006 6:50 am

Ever since they added that hat I always said "Why even have the intricate Chinese theater detail now?" and that was when it was marketed as tempirary as it was during the 100 Years of Magic. It does pretty much kil the feel of walking into Hollywood of the 20's/30's which is sad. I still don't think it's as bad as the wand though, that's just stupid and ugly, at least the hat is kind of nice looking just misplaced. I understand why Disney did it though, the Earful Tower was pretty much worthless as an icon, you could see it for like 15 seconds from the tram tour only basically.

On a side note is it no longer "The Disney MGM Studios"? Because in all of their official marketing, such as the vacation planning video, it's referred to as simply "The Disney Studios"

fecns · Post by **fecns** » Jul Wed 05, 2006 3:34 pm

I agree it is nice but it takes away from the great movie ride building. but i don't think there are going to take it down for quite sometime since they didn't remove the sign on top of spaceship earth which also takes away the effect of sse

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Jul Wed 05, 2006 4:35 pm

My DW and I HATE the hat! Not the structure itself but the location.It totally ruins the image of old Hollywood that MGM use to have. I really think it needs to be moved somewhere else in the park.Too bad there isn't room on Mickey Avenue or the Animation Courtyard where to me it "belongs".I liked the Earful Tower as the Studios icon.It seemed appropriate for the theme...not that big,blue,pointy monstrosity!!!

My DW remembers the Mickey Santa Hat on the tower.She also said she's seen it painted white with black spots for the opening of the live action 101 Dalmation movie.And she saw it painted like a basketball with huge goggles (one of the players wore goggles) on it when the Orlando Magic were in the finals.

That's one of those special Disney magic things...changing the tower...that went by the wayside over the years.

The magic is there at WDW but not as magical as it use to be.

Hopefully with the new people in power those little things will make a come back!

WDW1971 · Post by **WDW1971** » Jul Thu 13, 2006 11:59 am

Just my two cents worth, but I think the hat goes with the theme just as well as lets say... a half-burnt hotel, rock-in roller coster and not to mention a Dinosaur in water. I took a behind the seen tour once and I don't think its supposed to be so much like "Hollywood" more like a "Hollywood Studio Lot" and most of the buildings have to do with Walt's legacy more than anything.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Jul Sat 15, 2006 12:54 am

WDW1971 wrote:...I think the hat goes with the theme just as well as lets say... a half-burnt hotel, rock-in roller coster and not to mention a Dinosaur in water.

All those things aren't on the main drag, however.

My major beef is that the Chinese Theatre is truly a symbol of Hollywood and you can't actually see the friggin' thing any more.

For the record, I don't think the Aerosmith coaster has any business being in the park either, but that's another story.

Dinosaur Gertie combines film history with Hollywood kitsch architecture. Also the treats are pretty good.

Happy HalloWishes · Post by **Happy HalloWishes** » Jul Sat 15, 2006 11:32 am

I don't mind the hat... It helps when I'm trying to give people directions to other rides. But -- I didn't say I liked it.

Mr.ToadWildRider · Post by **Mr.ToadWildRider** » Jul Sat 15, 2006 12:25 pm

Well to be honest MGM has never really had a strong themeing other than production of movies & television. It's sort of like Universal Studios where they can't really do much to theme it. They have buildings acting as "Sets" and city streets as "sets" in different parts of the park but it's hard to really theme it. I think that's one major argument a lot of anti-MGM folks bring up. I will say, however, that the one part of the park that I felt always had the strongest themeing was the entrance with Hollywood Blvd. but that has suffered with the hat. ToT is sort of an interesting attraction in regards to the theme of the park as it is supposed to be an actual Hollywood hotel from the 20's & 30's which fits the whole Hollywood & Sunset theme of that section of the park, but additionally adds a television show to tie back into that aspect of the park. RnR I think probably best fits this park too because the ride is about music production theoretically and LA/Hollywood have their fair share of that which also sort of goes with the movie/tv production aspect of the park. The hat just doesn't seem to fit, just like the wand doesn't fit EPCOT (nor does Nemo at the Seas imo)