Epcot VP Announces Removal of Mickey Mouse Arm and Wand Structure

[dolphinmickey9170]

I am so . I love the decorations. The ball will surely be naked to me. I have seen both ways, but I truly love the wand. I hope they do something special for the 25th anniversary.

[mickey-mouse35]

I hope they do something special for the 25th anniversary

Me too!!!!

[mickey-mouse35]

Amazing that this post has only been up a day and already has four pages of responses--lots of emotion here people!

[GoinGoofyPlanninThisTrip]

Great news. I'll start looking for it on ebay, but my wife will not be happy if it ends up in our backyard!

[DisneyorBust]

Based on the headline, I'm still a bit uncertain of their opinion of the wand?
I like the wand, it was in place during my first trip to Epcot in 2001. I would like to see it remain but all of the theme parks need to change and grow. When I return, I'll go with an open mind and have another great WDW vacation!

[mttafire]

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.

Agreed, SSE IS SSE...Its kinda like the Statue of Liberty, It doesnt need any add- ons.

[pdrlkr]

I kinda liked it.

[Figment!]

**Internal Announcement Added to Original Post**

[Jasper]

Now that the arm and wand are going to be removed Disney can move forward with that Callaway Golf sponsorship and have a 550 foot long Great Big Bertha making contact. After all, Spaceship Earth is teed up perfectly!

Great comment!!! I spent twenty minutes laughing before I could calm down enough to reply!!!

[playdead88]

we have never seen the ball without the wand - our first trip to disney was in 2005 - of course we have been every year since but still the wand has always been there! im excited to see what it will be like without it but at the same time its what we have come to expect when we go to epcot.

[markyv]

See ya wand and hand. Maybe now Epcot won't look like such a Casino at Night. I've got an idea. Move the Hand to Disney Quest. Maybe then the wand can use its magic to turn DQ into something people actually want to visit. Did I just say that? Ooopps!

[MauiMouse]

Wow, I don't know what to think. I like the wand, but I'd also like to see it back to it's original state. But I know that I'll be watching the webcam a little more often in the next coming days/weeks.

[WEDTOPIA]

It truly only looked good at night. It always seemed out of place in the daytime.

It's amazing to think how long it's been up , especially after seing all the comments from people who have never seen Epcot without it.
We visited 18 years without it , so I guess I'm a purist on this issue.

One thing that everyone will notice after it's gone - Spaceship Earth will appear much , much larger. I suppose , for me , that will be the biggest improvement.

R.I.P. 2000 to 2007

[Vinny]

To me, the hand/wand and EPCOT display over Spaceship Earth was not really that big of an issue. I have seen it both previous to the 2000 Millennium Celebration and with the changing displays since then. I know they were not really a favorite of the majority here on the boards but they never stopped me from enjoying Epcot or WDW as a whole on any of my trips.

[WEDTOPIA]

Since all the satellite threads on this subject are being directed here , I'd like to comment on the V.P.'s decision to take the wand down.

First , I don't think that this was such a " bold " decision ,since the hand and wand were never meant to be permanent anyways. It was just a matter of time.

Second. I certainly hope that this is the first step towards a renewed focus on Epcot . Cosmetic surgery up front is a start. Now , how about doing something with WoL , JII 3 , the Odyssey building, and adding some new countries with rides would be nice as well.......

[Horizon93]

Disney usually does a great job keeping construction (or destruction) from affecting the guest experience. I am disappointed that SE will not be open on my next trip, but I am looking forward to the new SE and I think losing the wand helps to signal a new beginning for the great geodesic sphere!

[Jasper]

I am no psychologist or anything, but I think this thread really points out how important our first exposure to something is in determining our opinions of it. What I am getting at is that most of the posters here who say they want the arm/wand to stay had their first visit to Epcot and Spaceship Earth after the arm/wand was in place. On the other hand, most of the posters who say they want it to go had their first visit before the arm/wand went up.

Now don’t get in a lather thinking that I am saying this is an across the board comment because it certainly is not. It is just a comment based on the posters to this thread up to this point. This was just something interesting that I noticed.

[LibertyTreeGal]

hip hip hoooray!!!!!!! I have never seen SSE without it, but it just doesn't fit in.

BURN IT UP!!!!

[Tinkermom]

[dtootsie42]

I'm bummed that the wand is going!!!! I have seen Spaceship earth with and without the wand and I really liked the wand. I don't know it added a kind of pizazz!