It will come as no surprise to readers of my columns that I love Walt Disney World and the beauty of its design and philosophy. As I reflected a few years ago, “Walt Disney World is a place that inspires and enlightens, a place that offers a temporary respite from the responsibilities of daily life.” After visiting Walt Disney World, we return to our routines refreshed and enlightened with a renewed sense of hope and optimism about ourselves and about the world at large. These feelings are not the result of some sort of happy serendipity; rather, they reflect countless hours of planning by Disney Imagineers and countless man-hours on the part of front line Cast Members.
Walt Disney World devotees like myself differ from casual visitors or “once in a lifetime” visitors; we're here for the duration. We have a past, present, and a future with Walt Disney World. It's easy to explain why many such guests form deep connections with this special place and why we can become so passionate about significant changes to a place very dear to our hearts. It's important to keep in mind, however, that Disney parks are not museums; they are ever-evolving places that, in Walt Disney's own words, will never be complete “as long as there is imagination left in the world.” This phrase has sadly been misapplied as justification for all sorts of unnecessary changes and losses, so it is best to keep in mind that while Walt famously proclaimed that the parks will always evolve, he also said that “even the trees will grow; the place will get more beautiful each year.”
The online community has often been accused of being overly critical of the current state of Walt Disney World. While it's valid to point to some indiscriminate criticism of every move by Team Disney, it's utterly unfair to label all criticism as unfounded or overly harsh. After all, constructive criticism is essential for growth and improvement. This idea of constructive criticism, coupled with an ardent love and admiration for all things Disney, can be a very healthy reflection of the passion many people feel for the parks created by Walt Disney and his Imagineers.
One consistent concern of mine has been the recent trend to disrupt many of Walt Disney World's garden places—areas of quiet, understated beauty that add immeasurably to the overall story of each park. Whether it's the leafy Hub in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, the spectacular fountain in the lobby of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, the rose garden at the American Adventure, or the fountains that once graced both the Spaceship Earth plaza and the interior courtyard of The Land, there have been far too many renovations that have scarred the landscape of Walt Disney World.
One of my most passionate rallies was aimed at the Sorcerer's Hat that appeared at the end of Hollywood Boulevard at Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2001 as part of the “100 Years of Magic” promotion. In many ways, the contradiction of the hat represented the initial decline in Disney quality and, in my opinion, the decline in Disney sincerity. After all, celebrating Walt Disney's 100th birthday was more than a little odd and smacked of forced sentiment and blatant exploitation on the part of the marketing department. The fact that two very unDisney-like additions accompanied this birthday celebration did little to calm the fears of the Disney faithful. The construction of Chester and Hester's Dino-rama at Disney's Animal Kingdom has long been criticized for its off-the-shelf attractions and misplacement in a park noted for natural beauty. Like so many of the attractions that opened as part of Disney California Adventure in its initial incarnation, these “rides” fell far below the standards established by the classic attractions of Imagineering's halcyon days. But even these blasphemies could not compare with the Sorcerer's Hat. Its in-your-face, over-the-top Las Vegas style garishness never meshed with the authentic architecture of the rest of Hollywood Boulevard.
The Chinese Theater may become more visible once again after removal of the hat. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
After all, every structure, every planting, every color at Disney theme parks is chosen with careful deliberation by the artists at Walt Disney Imagineering. In his classic book Designing Disney, Imagineer John Hench wrote that “Imagineers carefully select images essential to each story [they] want to tell in a Disney park.” The Sorcerer's Hat—that large contradiction at the end of Hollywood Boulevard—destroys the theme and ambiance of this park's entrance. According to John Hench, Disney guests “engage in a special world that [Imagineering] created.” The illusion of Hollywood Boulevard, with the serenity of the Chinese Theater Courtyard, was very compelling before the addition of the big hat. On nights when the much-loved Sorcery in the Sky fireworks were presented, this area of the park was at its most atmospheric. In a park that lacks the well-themed lands of the Magic Kingdom or the well-defined “worlds” of Epcot Center, the courtyard in front of the theater once provided a sophisticated hub that unified the uncluttered look of the entire park.
Sadly, the construction of the hat made it impossible to suspend disbelief. It broke one of Imagineering's cardinal rules: this “single out-of-place element shatter[ed] an artfully constructed story environment.” Much like the Swan and Dolphin invade the skyline of World Showcase, the hat's size and location violated the skyline of the Studios. By obscuring the Chinese Theater with this oversized knick-knack, the “rules of the land” were violated and “the background narrative, geography, and historical time period appropriate” to the Studios were ignored. To add insult to injury, the hat was nothing more than a pin store with an unattractive stage in front of it.
The Sorcerer's Hat serves as a backdrop for an ESPN stage in this photo from 2009. Photo by Bruce Danderline.
Imagine the rejoicing, then, when Disney announced two weeks ago that the Sorcerer's Hat is scheduled for removal sometime in early 2015 as part of a long-term plan for Disney's Hollywood Studios. Most of the Disney sites I frequent echoed my enthusiasm for this announcement, and I was encouraged once again by the deep love and commitment that so many thoughtful fans have for Walt Disney World. My excitement was tempered, however, after reading some of the heartfelt comments posted online in favor of the hat. For many guests, it was part of their history with Walt Disney World, and some were sincerely saddened to lose this icon. While I can sympathize with the feelings of these Disney fans, I can't help but look with great anticipation for the changes coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Let's hope that the removal of the hat might be that “one little spark” that leads to all sorts of exciting new adventures at this park. The Studios has so much untapped potential, and while I'll miss the original “behind-the-scenes” production facility theme that once permeated the Studios, I welcome more immersive lands based on favorite films and Hollywood classics. Look what has been done to re-imagine Disney's Calfornia Adventure, now home to some of Imagineering's best work in decades. Just think what the Disney team can do for the Studios, a park that has good bones and some truly outstanding attractions in its current line-up. So “hats off” to Imagineering as the rebirth of Disney's Hollywood Studios begins!
