The Epcot wand is officially coming down

[Tom Morrow]

The Epcot wand is officially coming down



Mickey Mouse arm, wand coming down from Epcot sphere at Disney World (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-epcot070507,0,7211167.story)
Orlando Sentinel - FL

The 257-foot-tall Mickey Mouse arm, glove and wand logo structure at Epcot is coming down. Epcot Vice President Jim MacPhee announced this morning that the time has come to remove the structure, which has served both as a colorful, lighted Epcot sign since 2000, and as a lightning rod for criticism from Epcot purists who contended the image was out of character for Epcot's architecture.

The structure leans on Epcot's previous and future iconic figure, the Spaceship Earth Pavilion, a 180-foot geodesic sphere that can be seen for miles. The arm and glove went up for Walt Disney World's 2000 millennium celebration. Now, with Epcot's 25th anniversary this fall, and the temporary closing of Spaceship Earth ride, MacPhee said, "We think the timing of the removal is right."

Deconstruction of the 50-ton structure begins Monday, and will be completed shortly before the park's 25th anniversary, October 1. Also coming down are the 36-foot-high "Epcot" letters and colored stars splashing across the sphere.
complete article (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-epcot070507,0,7211167.story)





Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[bm2506]

Interesting

[BCC]

:( I loved the wand. It gives the photo's I'm taking a little more spice.

[ah92us]

Do you think they'll put the entire sphere in tarps?

[mickey mouse]

OMG.. that stinks. I think they should leave it.. unless there doing somthing big for Epcot's 25th anniversary! But I like the wand still..

[Dragon003]

Here is a picture of the Epcot sphere, Mickey glove and wand taken in November of 2006.


http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/Dragongst_2006/november2006Floridavacation306.jpg

[spivejb]

"Now, with Epcot's 25th anniversary this fall, and the temporary closing of Spaceship Earth ride, MacPhee said, "We think the timing of the removal is right."

Yeah, great. I'm going to Disney next week. That is one of my favorite rides. Yeah, perfect time.

[byucougs]

I can't wait till the arm and wand shows up on ebay! I will be first to bid on it... LOL!!

[ah92us]

Now that the wand will be taken down, you never know, maybe, by chance, we will have some swirly clouds "floating" on top of the sphere saying "Year of a Million Dreams-- EPCOT's 25th!" LOL, that would be funny.

[Kileli]

I can't wait till the arm and wand shows up on ebay! I will be first to bid on it... LOL!! Where would you put it!? lol

I am happy it is coming down, it takes away the futuristic look the front part of EPCOT is supposed to have.

[Alex_Toto_Disneyland]

Now that the wand will be taken down, you never know, maybe, by chance, we will have some swirly clouds "floating" on top of the sphere saying "Year of a Million Dreams-- EPCOT's 25th!" LOL, that would be funny.


^ please... you are gonna make me nightmares!

[phd516]

Now that the wand will be taken down, you never know, maybe, by chance, we will have some swirly clouds "floating" on top of the sphere saying "Year of a Million Dreams-- EPCOT's 25th!" LOL, that would be funny.

... wow. I can actually see that happening. :eek:

[bm2506]

^ yeah whats sad I could see that happening also

[Ezra]

The Orlando Sentinel now has a follow-up article (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-epcot0607jul06,0,495917.story) mostly citing opinions on the internet.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

No way, people are giving opinions on the internet now? :eek:

-- PMM :cool:

[ttztotdca50]

No way, people are giving opinions on the internet now? :eek:

-- PMM :cool:
The LA Times often quotes Al Lutz and posters of Micechat when writing articles about Disneyland. It's really cool!

[mara47]

without the wand it makes it a little bland ya know

[candystandman]

hopefully it doesnt make epcot llok plain...

[PeoplemoverMatt]

The LA Times often quotes Al Lutz and posters of Micechat when writing articles about Disneyland. It's really cool!

Doesn't say much for the LA Times... *chuckle*

-- PMM :cool:

[Ezra]

So if VF becomes any more popular, we could make The Times! :biggrin:

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ Not that that's a real accomplishment, but what happened last year with the reaction to the Pirate's Lair announcement does show us a few things.

1) They're watching.
2) Disney's good at and would rather be making excuses that pacify objectors, instead of dealing with the issues those against certain potential changes talk about.

-- PMM :cool: