4. The Sorcerer's Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Image: disney

The Sorcerer's Hat readers of Theme Park Tourist are likely most familiar with is the 122-foot-tall one at Hollywood Studios. It’s been maligned by many since 2001 when it was introduced, because it both blocked the view of the Chinese Theatre and negatively affected the ambience of the part of Hollywood Studios dedicated to Hollywood's golden age from the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

It was finally confirmed recently that the Sorcerer Hat will come down in 2015. Even though the hat has been a fixture for 13 years and has appeared in a whole lot of tourist photos, many members of the theme park community will be more than happy to see it go.

5. Post-Sorcerer's Hat

The Sorcerer's Hat isn’t the only thing being removed from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. American Idol Experience and the Studio Backlot Tour were already put out to pasture and The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow will close in early November. This Theme Park Tourist article has more detail on what that might mean. To sum it up, the big rumor that’s been circulating for awhile is that Walt Disney World will make a major push to incorporate more attractions and entertainment from Star Wars, a relatively recent Disney acquisition. Nothing’s official yet, but a lot of signs point to something from long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

So, the removal of the Sorcerer's Hat may be symbolic, as well as practical. It marks the end of an era for Disney's Hollywood Studios, and its replacement - if it has one - will likely point the way to the park's future.

6. The Legacy of the Sorcerer's Hat

Even though the most prominent version is being taken down, the Sorcerer's Hat is of course still an iconic symbol of Disney. It probably always will be, which is a good thing. It has a rich history and swells up happy memories of one of the greatest periods in the history of Disney, when Fantasia and other early animated features were being released. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing that hat for a long time to com. What about you?