Sorcerer's Hat Gone

[Strmchsr]

INTERCOT's Sources are telling us that Disney will announce the removal of the Sorcerer's Hat from Disney's Hollywood Studios shortly. The park icon (much like the wand over Epcot's Spaceship Earth) has been a source of minor controversy since it's introduction. Purists argue that the Great Movie Ride was designed to be the "weenie" of the park while others point to the Earful Tower as the parks symbol. In other news, the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow is also mentioned to be closing next month.

This is the next step in the complete re-imagining of DHS. Big changes are in store for that park over the next 4-5 years.

[seanyred]

Yes! I hope they go back to the original look. And the hat could be placed just outside the main entrance.

[Altair]

They are just replacing it with a giant tiara from Frozen.

[LandFan]

I wouldn't mind if they put it out in front of the park - it is a nice and well-known symbol - just not in front of Graumman's theater!

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

They are just replacing it with a giant tiara from Frozen.

Don't give them any ideas.

I'm kinda meh about this change ... and excited to see all of the changes coming, hopefully it will be awesome as I'm imagining it.

[Strmchsr]

They are just replacing it with a giant tiara from Frozen.

I was thinking it would be a giant magic band.

[PirateLover]

While it's a cool "icon" and good for photo ops, overall it's an eyesore and interrupts the flow of foot traffic, especially on really crowded days. I won't be sad to see it go. Tower of Terror is my preferred park icon for DHS photo ops, anyway.

[Crow]

I was thinking it would be a giant magic band.

both of those ideas made it to the final cuts for ideas.....lets hope DHS gets the loving it deserves...and hoping for Epcot too..although the invasion of more princesses to Norway doesn't boost my hopes

[joanna71985]

Thank goodness!

[DizneyFreak2002]

Lots of good sources confirming this is a done deal... See ya later you big hat... you won't be missed...

[barnaby]

This is the next step in the complete re-imagining of DHS. Big changes are in store for that park over the next 4-5 years.

Question for everyone:
Why hasn't Disney announced what they are doing at DHS yet? Still being planned? A little gun shy about being specific, possibly because they had to change up New Fantasyland plans, and Avatar plans were met with a mediocre response?
Just curious as to what the thinking may be.

[yankeesfan123]

Question for everyone:
Why hasn't Disney announced what they are doing at DHS yet? Still being planned? A little gun shy about being specific, possibly because they had to change up New Fantasyland plans, and Avatar plans were met with a mediocre response?
Just curious as to what the thinking may be.

Because they don't want to mess up like they did with Pandora.

They announced Pandora WAY too early. They should have waited until they moved FOTLK and started construction.

It seems like, this time, they are waiting so it doesn't appear as though it takes so long to build something.

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

I was thinking it would be a giant magic band.

You guys think you know everything. My sources tell me it will be a giant Death Star!


I actually never felt it fit in. The other three icons "castle-spaceship earth-tree of life" were all part of the original park design, and this wasn't (and it shows).

I hope they keep it somewhere, but as a main focal icon, no, time to move it along.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Legend of Jack Sparrow is rumored to close November 6... Apparently operating times have been removed from the Hub... Any CMs confirm?

[TheVBs]

I saw an article a couple of days ago about how one of the WDW brochures at the FL welcome center had a map of DHS without the hat, with the speculation that it was going away.

Even though I know we must have seen it without the hat (when did that get put in?), I can't remember it. So, I have to admit it will be a little sad and weird for me to see it without the hat. Love the idea of putting it outside the entrance or somewhere else visible though! And really excited to see what all the changes will be.

[Goofy4TheWorld]

Question for everyone:
Why hasn't Disney announced what they are doing at DHS yet? Still being planned? A little gun shy about being specific, possibly because they had to change up New Fantasyland plans, and Avatar plans were met with a mediocre response?
Just curious as to what the thinking may be.

My armchair Imagineering tells me that they don't know what they are going to do at DHS, but they just can't resist closing all of this stuff ASAP to save money. Any plans for replacing the near-demolished DHS are likely to be several pie-in-the-sky ideas that the bean counters are working on to significantly strip of any real cash flow.

In all seriousness, I truly do believe Disney does not have a firm plan on what is next at DHS, and it may well be YEARS before they do.

[DonaldDuck1117]

Aw I'll be a little sad to see it go. I hated it when it was first put in, but it has really grown on me. However, if this is the first step towards a majir Studios refurb I'm all for it. Now what becomes the icon of the park? I hope it's not the theater, that would be weak. I'd vote for the water tower. So much cooler than the theater.

[BrerGnat]

Good riddance. And, come on Disney...announce something BIG!

[azcavalier]

I like the hat. Not necessarily THERE, but I like it. I would love it if they would relocate it somewhere. I have some great pictures of that hat.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/25939479@N03/8509618111/

[DisneyKim22]

I never really minded the hat. I preferred the original view of the theater, but it didn't bother me one way or another. However, I did always feel that it took up too much room for something that was essentially an odd gift shop. Here's to hoping GREAT things are coming to DHS in that 4-5 year time frame!!