After many many years and rumors of the giant Sorcerer’s Hat leaving Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it appears as if they are finally going to come true. While Disney has not yet confirmed it or announced it publicly, I have gotten confirmation from a very reliable source that has never been wrong…and that’s for very good reasons known to me.
UPDATE: Disney Spokesman Bryan Malenius has confirmed the change is coming, and this was a message sent out to Cast Members at DHS:
“We will soon begin to re-imagine the park’s central hub by removing the sorcerer’s Hat in early 2015. As part of that change, the store located underneath the hat will be closing, A closing date will be shared as we get closer to it.”
Also, the Legend of Jack Sparrow will be leaving as well. The closing date for this attraction is going to be on Nov. 6, 2014, so get your last visits in on it now before it is gone for good. On the Disney website, this is now shown:
As for the Sorcerer’s Hat that has been the icon of the park for some years now? I’ve gotten word from my source that it will take a bit longer to remove and won’t begin until the new year in 2015.
There has been no word on what will replace Jack Sparrow in that space or if anything will go in place of the hat or what will happen to the pin location.
Please know that until Disney officially announces anything regarding the Sorcerer’s Hat and Legend of Jack Sparrow, things can and have been known to change. Solid confirmation comes when Disney officially gives the word publicly.
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Excited and disappointed all at once.
I’m thrilled to see signs of change at DHS. I also know that these attractions that have closed are low foot traffic attractions. I do worry that my visit in December will feel a bit like walking through a dying mall with store closures left and right.
I also have someone in my party who would have gotten a real kick out of seeing Jack.
I did, however, feel like this was more of a technology test than a proper attraction.
It does say on the Disney website (on the LoCJS page) that the attraction is closing on November 6th, so that pretty much confirms it. Lots of changes going on at WDW right now. My family and I are taking our first trip down next November. So many attractions are changing or shutting down I’m worried I’m going to miss seeing so many things…(bye-bye Maelstrom!) I don’t like all this change at once–and so suddenly, without warning. They’re only giving people a 2 week notice on this attraction closing. That’s crazy to me. What attraction will be next?? It seems not many things are safe. If they get rid of Muppets before I get to see it I’ll flip!
The Sorcerer’s Hat is an iconic landmark for the park. To remove it would be the same as removing Cinderella’s castle from the Magic Kingdom, or Spaceship Earth in Epcot. The hat should be left right where it is and preserved for future park goers, as well as old aquaintances.
It has been removed for some time now. It also isn’t that iconic, and certainly not in the same category as Cinderella Castle and Spaceship Earth. Both of those have been in the parks since they opened, while the Sorcerer’s Hat was only put in there in late 2001.