Epcot VP Announces Removal of Mickey Mouse Arm and Wand Structure

[GrmGrninGost]

I will miss the wand. Spaceship Earth will look so naked without it. It has grown to be a part of EPCOT for me.

[handa]

They're laser-writing on the globe again. I was pleased to see this when we visited in January.

I also understand that a large part of Siemens' agreement to sponsor SE had to do with maintaining the original spirit/integrity of the ride and that rehabs would be "enhancements" as opposed to a complete refabrication of the interior.

EPCOT was, and still is, my favorite park. I love a balance of the "Old EPCOT Center" and the "New EPCOT" and hope that the changes reflect this balance.

Chris

[joelkfla]

I also wish the would laser write on it like they use to

They do.

They've been displaying special animation following Illuminations during Christmas season and the F&G Festival for at least a couple of years now. And when Siemens took over sponsorship, they started writing "Siemens" with the rotating globe for a few minutes each night after Illuminations.

I heard that the Illuminations production cm's pushed to start this up again. They just had to demonstrate that they could control the laser well enough that it wouldn't bounce off the wand's spangles into guests eyes!

[EpcotFan182]

ahhh I'm so happy and excited!!

[trackbarroness]

Boo no I kind of like the sphere with the hand and wand.
Only day off this week and it past already. Boo no

[Darbylew]

I did not mind the wand and hand. I have seen
it both ways and it was a little hard to get use
to when they put it up and now that it is coming
down it will be bare to me. But Spaceship earth
will be itself once again. It would have been ok
with me either way.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT AND GOING BACK IN
NOVEMBER!

[Victor Kelly]

1) THANK YOU!

2) You have made my day!
3) After the celebration, I wanted the hand down.
4) The ball IS the ball.
5) Spaceship Earth IS Spaceship Earth.
6) Who ever heard of a space ship with a hand attached?
7) Who ever heard of the Earth with a hand attached?
8) I don't need a hand to tell me it is Epcot.
9) And I am sure others don't, either.

SO true, great post.

1. Glad the Hand will be gone.
2. Obviously people that like the hand............
3. The monstrosity should have been down long ago.
4. Disney Execs finally listened or came to their senses or both.
5. Now I know there is a God and Walt is sitting next to God.

[NYdaily]

Wonderful news! Can't wait to see it again as it was originally designed. I am glad that they care to "plus" the park icons now and again. But I am even more glad that they know when to take them down.

[Crow]

well its been there awhile.
id rather have them move the tombstones to the side first. (LAL)
ill see the wand down but not the inside of SE in Sept.

[lockedoutlogic]

It was a nice gimmick....

but it should have ended as a gimmick in 2001. When it said "2000" it had a purpose....an advertisement for the 2000 activities at EPCOT.


When they changed it to say "EPCOT"...it just became stupid...as if someone was driving on 536 and said, "Ohhh...there's a sign on top of that gigantic ball that says "EPCOT"...so that's where it is..."

It's time has come...the hat at the studios can go as well....that was a 20 million dollar waste of a pin trading station....
...which is so much worse because MGM needs major work...not window dressing distractions and cheap tricks like that.

[Tekneek]

well its been there awhile.
id rather have them move the tombstones to the side first. (LAL)
ill see the wand down but not the inside of SE in Sept.

Indeed. As I was saying, this is just a good start. Restoring the front of Epcot to its original beauty would be much more inspiring, although it might not convince anyone to throw down some money like the Legacy stones presumably do. Convincing you to part with money is the primary mission of Disney these days, rather than pleasing the senses and minds (and counting the money on the backend).

[TheRustyScupper]

. . .
id rather have them move the tombstones . . .

From your lips to Walt's ears.

[Joannelet]

I wish it was the MGM hat that was gone! Do you know that it is covering up the BIGGEST hidden mickey in all the parks and it makes me soooo mad that I can't see it!!!
ugghhh!!! It use to be one of my favorite things to look at the MGM map just to see it. But now with the sorcerers hat there it can no longer be seen! I didn't really care for the Epcot one either so I just hope that they plan on taking the MGM hat down next!
I'm a huge hidden mickey fan!

[Ian]

...the hat at the studios can go as well....that was a 20 million dollar waste of a pin trading station....

I wish it was the MGM hat that was gone!

Man, I couldn't agree more!

Death to the hat!!!

[LibertyTreeGal]

Oh I love the hat, I think it would look great -- in the middle of a swamp

[lockedoutlogic]

I just hate what it seems to represent....

Kinda like "ok...we created an icon for the park...but it's small...and no one is awed by it....so since we still have the tower with the ears on it (which...of course...you really can't see inside the park)...let's plop a big hat infront of the theater and leave it there indefinitely....."

MGM needs some serious TLC....and now that Pixar is going to be attached to it...I hope Lasseter gets free reign to ride in on the white horse and make the park a true all day location...

Dear Disney Bean Counters: let the creative people take care of AK and MGM.

[Horizon93]

I agree. The hat must go! Of course, I don't believe it is accidental that you can't see the theater anymore. Now they can knock that down with the belief that no one will notice or miss TGMR. That would be very sad.

[SpecJoe Magic]

I agree with the quote in the article that says the timing is right. Spaceship Earth will reopen later this year with updates on the inside, and the changes on the outside will complement that. I look forward to seeing Spaceship Earth in its original state again.

[jaredkari]

I always really liked the wand. Not that the ball isn't cool by itself but the hand and wand added a little something.

[Wells]

I prefer the pre-wand appearance of SSE myself; I think it helped give EPCOT a more individual identity. By the way, the latest vacation planning video, the year of a million dreams one that I know many of you have, has a segment on EPCOT. At the beginning of this segment, there is a “fly over” of the park starting at the entrance and going over SSE to a view of the world showcase. This footage must be at least eight years old since it does not include the wand or the “Leave a Legacy” monoliths. I think that this is even older than this as the original gardens at the entrance are shown and the plaza behind SSE and the entry to the world showcase is as it was originally. So anyone who wants to see EPCOT in its original splendor, just hit pause.