The Hat - MGM

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Nov Sun 16, 2008 7:05 pm

jiminycricket wrote:Its now the trademark of MGM. The MK has the castle, Epcot has the ball, the AK has the tree, and the Hollywood studios has the hat. If not the hat, what would be a new and better object that could represent the Studios???

"Come to our park and visit our amazing knickknack shop!"

Magical Wonder · Post by **Magical Wonder** » Nov Sat 22, 2008 12:03 pm

jiminycricket wrote:I wonder if when the arm from Spaceship Earth came down, should they have pulled down the hat also? Its now the trademark of MGM. The MK has the castle, Epcot has the ball, the AK has the tree, and the Hollywood studios has the hat. If not the hat, what would be a new and better object that could represent the Studios??? Its just in a bad location in the park.

I agree. It used to be the "Earful Tower" that was MGM's 'landmark' although many thought it was the Chinese theater. I donâ€™t have a problem with the hat. Theâ€™s hatâ€™s great. I have a problem with the hatâ€™s location. That partâ€™s not great. But I understand why they had to do it. But Iâ€™m not happy about it.

Future Guy · Post by **Future Guy** » Nov Sat 22, 2008 3:58 pm

Yes, I believe that the hat is out of place. As to where they should put it, how about the collective personal orifice of present management?

secondstar · Post by **secondstar** » Dec Sun 21, 2008 11:46 pm

Originally, the area in front of the Chinese Theatre was part of the largest hidden Mickey. The circle in front of the theater was the head, and the pond and the small circle by the animation courtyard were the ears. It could only be seen from above, however. The hat ruins the illusion.

Mr.ToadWildRider · Post by **Mr.ToadWildRider** » Dec Mon 22, 2008 9:32 am

They should've just put it in Animation Courtyard at a smaller scale. A much smaller scale. Or removed that obsolete Animation Tour. Do people even still go on it?

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Dec Mon 22, 2008 11:07 am

Is the Animation Tour where they show you how to draw? Or am I thinking of something else?! B/c we really loved it when they showed us how to draw different characters!!!

jenhen27 · Post by **jenhen27** » Dec Mon 22, 2008 12:13 pm

Wouldn't it make more sense to move it over near the Fantasmic area? Fantasmic/Fantasia/Sorcerer Mickey... seems to go hand in hand. Of course, I'm not sure where they would put it and it would be pretty hidden back there.

Personally the hat doesn't bother me that much. I understand what everyone is saying about obscurring GCT but that's OK with me.

I just don't like the layout of the park. I find it incredibly confusing. After 8 trips in 5 years DHS is the only park that I still need a map. I have no idea where I'm going most of the time. Did the layout of the park every make any sense? It really lacks the spoke symmetry of the other parks.

And yes, the Animation Tour is where they show you how to draw. Well, it's where you get to go to a location where you can "paint", sing, draw, and meet some characters.

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Dec Mon 22, 2008 1:24 pm

boilerbabe wrote:Is the Animation Tour where they show you how to draw? Or am I thinking of something else?! B/c we really loved it when they showed us how to draw different characters!!!

At one time the animation tour was really neat, because you could watch animators working on actual movies. But now Disney has moved all the animators to the West coast, so it is just a shell of what it once was (just like the backlot tour and so many other attractions...*sigh*).

Mr.ToadWildRider · Post by **Mr.ToadWildRider** » Dec Mon 22, 2008 3:21 pm

agingerbugg wrote:
boilerbabe wrote:Is the Animation Tour where they show you how to draw? Or am I thinking of something else?! B/c we really loved it when they showed us how to draw different characters!!!
At one time the animation tour was really neat, because you could watch animators working on actual movies. But now Disney has moved all the animators to the West coast, so it is just a shell of what it once was (just like the backlot tour and so many other attractions...*sigh*).

Bingo. It used to be neat, now it's just kinda a time killer. They can teach you to draw (and print your drawings) characters at DisneyQuest.

The problem putting the hat anywhere other than where it is is that the icon is apparently supposed to either be the central point of the park (MK, AK, and semi-DHS) or at least what greets you upon your entrance to the park (MK, EPCOT, DHS). If it were moved to the Animation Courtyard or Fantasmic area (which is a great idea but I don't know how they'd justify that given that that area of the park is locked up til showtime) it would be neither of the two aforementioned icon-criteria. I think this is ultimately what doomed the Earful Tower. You really only get decent views of the Earful Tower on the Backlot Tour (where they make it a point to say "This is the closest any guest comes to the Tower"... as you drive by it from about 30 feet away) or if you look off to the side of the stands from L,M,A!

I don't know why they never just made the Mann's Chinese Theater the Icon. I guess a) it's not big enough and b) it's not a Disney-created piece of architecture- but then again the majority of the park is based on non-Disney created things (Star Wars, Muppets, Twilight Zone, Aerosmith, GMR for most part, Indiana Jones, etc.). It's a very fitting symbol of Hollywood, especially for the age when the majority of the park is set. The other idea I always thought would make sense in plunking down a mock-Hollywood sign and even make it like Disney's Hollywood Studios; again I wouldn't know where to put it but I feel like it'd be less disruptive. Does anyone know what's behind RnR/ToT? Is it the Animation Courtyard? I still think if there were a big ol' hill erected near ToT overlooking the park it'd fit in as ToT is supposed to be in the Hollywood Hills. Oh well just a thought.

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Dec Mon 22, 2008 3:48 pm

There is a facility of some sort and a parking lot behind ToT. If they want to make it the focus of the park, or the first thing people see, why not replace the Crossroads with the hat? It isn't any worse of a spot than where it currently is. I know what people will say, it's too big, it won't fit. True, it wouldn't fit in its current state, but raise it up, above the crossroads. Everyone will be able to see it from the parking lot and it would provide shelter for all sorts of kiosks, including the round base building of crossroads. It isn't any worse of an idea then sticking it in the middle of Mickey's face and blocking one of the most spectacular views to come out of the Eisner era.

castmember04 · Post by **castmember04** » Dec Wed 24, 2008 7:08 pm

I agree as well. it totally takes away from the GMR. its an eye sore. i'm for removing it and going back to the earful tower as the symbol.