Carousel of Progress' Future?

[Friendly Frog]

I love COP and have always. Even my DD8 enjoys it.

As far as updating the last scene, I guess I'm in the minority. It's supposed to reflect life in the TWENTIETH century -- which ended 8 years ago. It's should get dated. It'll get more dated over time. I'm going according to the spiel at the beginning of the attraction that says that's what Walt's vision was. Of course, that's not really "Tomorrowland"-ish.

I agree, I like the last scene just like it is!

I also have to say that I am a fan of that style of kitchen and I like the feel of the den and looking out the windows in that scene.

 

[epaddon]

I'm a long time fan of the attraction since the mid-70s and have written extensively on its earlier years, and I must echo the argument that if the COP is to continue it needs a major overhaul, but it has to be one that goes way beyond redoing the Act IV settings and wardrobe. What it needs more than anything else is a redo that will actually get the COP back to the basic idea of celebrating advances in technological progress through time, because IMO the entire 1994 redo is a program that frequently and annoyingly undermines that theme at a lot of junctures.

Jean Shepherd's narration has always made me cringe because not only is his Father (unlike his predecessors Rex Allen and Andrew Duggan) a total doofus but hearing asides about how the Wright Brothers will never fly and Lindbergh will never make it is absolutely untrue to the spirit of the show (and has anyone else ever noticed how bizarre it is for Shepherd to close Act II about how things can never get better but then he starts singing "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" which makes nonsensical what he just said a second before??) . And that stuff about the "rat race" at the beginning of Act III has always struck me as a pompous social history lecture from a 90s academic looking back at post-WWII America and not reflective at all of what someone living in that era would have said (the same kind of pretentiousness that also screwed up the Hall Of Presidents).

Revamp the whole program by getting it back to the basic theme of celebrating technological progress and de-emphasize the "WALT DISNEY's Carousel Of Progress" angle because I have always felt that they stress that to sell the idea of "We're keeping this around because it's a quaint piece of nostalgia for something Walt liked" and not because they think there's any merit left in what the COP stood for in its original vision.

 

[wildviper]

I was just reading on the WDW Magic forums about the various rumors regarding the future of CoP. Which raises the questions:

1. Do you think CoP should stay put?
2. What would you do to improve the attraction or increase its attendance?

My oldest daughter and I love Carousel of Progress. The nostalgia of seeing something so dear to Walt's heart is worth it. Even though it needs updates, i think the simple fact that Walt himself worked on it means it should stay.

 

[Goofy45]

I love COP. That was one ride that Walt designed himself. My family and I come down to Disney like three/four times a year and COP is a must do when we're at MK. I think everything is fine with it except for the final scene. That's supposed to be now. It doesn't look like now though. Other than that, COP is like history. I think it should stay open.

 

[TSMAMI]

My family just loves this ride...It just wouldnt be the same if it was gone.

 

[Johnfish]

I happen to love the Jean Sheppard naration. He was a wonderful orator and I love his almost sarcastic wit. I never felt his naration was sarcastic in COP though. I guess it all depends on how you look at it. I will always have fond memories of Mr Sheppard as I used to listen to his radio broadcasts as a kid. This is another reason why I so enjoy COP. (the first being that it was Walts creation and I actually have dim memories of seeing it at the 64 worlds fair)

If they were evr to remove it from tomorrow land i think there are 2 places it would be perfect. Either in Epcot or in the new section of POP ... the Golden Years.

John

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I just can't imagine (though it's happened before) that they would take away a ride that is sooooo much a reflection of Walt himself! But you never know! I definitely think it needs a good strong rehab...the last scene is terribly outdated (roller blades, sweaters from the 80/90s and the kitchen is horrible) but I pray they never do away with this since it was an original Walt idea!! After all, I always leave WDW singing "It's a great big beautiful tomorrow!!"

.....and we always begin our WDW trips by playing the music from this ride as we pass under the Welcome to Walt Disney World. ("Now Is The Time" song)

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

.....and we always begin our WDW trips by playing the music from this ride as we pass under the Welcome to Walt Disney World. ("Now Is The Time" song)

I love COP and all they need to do is fix the seats and the last scene and it will be perfect. I too saw it at the World's Fair and it is in the same format as America Sings which used to be at Disneyland. For crying out loud they got rid of Dreamfinder can't they leave us SOME nostalgia?By the way the figures from America Sings are now in re-used in Splash Mountain.

 

[SpaceAce]

I really hope they update that last scene. I have some great ideas to show our country's progress in the current millennium.

Gas station sign out the window that clearly posts $4.09 per gallon.
Closed steel plant on other side of the street (job shipped to China.)
Closed mom and pop storefronts because only Walmart can survive in our economy.
Don't forget the foreclosure sign!
And the old man should be reading a newspaper with a headline "No Weapons of Mass Destruction Found in Iraq."

Like my ideas?

 

[rebecca06261]

Who reads the newspaper anymore?? I read all of my news online. Here's a few more issues with updating CoP

1. MP3 players aren't really visible from where the guest is. I suppose the white IPOD ear-pieces would be a give-away but otherwise, it would be too small to notice

2. It would also be this way seeing the one of the teens text messaging on cell phone or IMing on the puter.

3. Blue-tooth technology isn't visible either.


Now that I think about it, many of our advancements within the last decades are as a direct result of nano-technology. Nano-technology just doesn't work on that ride.

The problem with leaving it as a visual of the 20th century is that it will become dated quickly and really leave little to be desired. Part of the appeal is seeing how far our society has advanced. Without seeing technology as it is currently applied, the younger generations will not appreciate it's value.

Although it's on my top 5 favorites list, I look for it to close for rehab one day soon (think skyway) and simply never reopen it.

 

[Rora]

I love the CoP. I think that the CoP is a big part of Walt and it would be a shame to remove the ride. It could have a little facelift but nothing extreme. I hate it when Disney removes the classics (still not over Mr. Toad's Wild Ride being closed at WDW ).

 

[Whimages]

My oldest daughter (12) and I would be broken hearted! :-(

 

[puffkin]

Looks like it is staying put, at least for awhile. Just rode on Sunday. The theater looks great.....new seat, carpets and ceiling tiles. Rover is also fixed up in all the scenes.

I find it hard to believe they would spend the $$ for this if it wasn't staying for awhile.

I think eventually I would like to see it moved to Epcot....and maybe expand it with the house of tomorrow concept? I would leave the scenes as is....then have you exit into some kind of revamped house of tomorrow.....I think it would be a great way to tie the two attractions together and still keep the charm of Walt's original.

 

[HeidiPA]

I love this ride as much as I did on my first trip to Disney! It's just a must for me. They can change it or leave it the same - I'll still visit!

 

[rebecca06261]

Looks like it is staying put, at least for awhile. Just rode on Sunday. The theater looks great.....new seat, carpets and ceiling tiles. Rover is also fixed up in all the scenes.

I find it hard to believe they would spend the $$ for this if it wasn't staying for awhile.

I think eventually I would like to see it moved to Epcot....and maybe expand it with the house of tomorrow concept? I would leave the scenes as is....then have you exit into some kind of revamped house of tomorrow.....I think it would be a great way to tie the two attractions together and still keep the charm of Walt's original.

Think "Beach Club"... 'nuff said.

 

[addicted2dizney]

I kind of remember hearing or reading somewhere that COP would be a permanent Disney fixture due to Walt's involovement in the ride and the history behind it. I don't think we have to worry about it going away. Me and DD 14 actually go on youtube from time to time and watch the whole ride from home when we need a little Disney "fix"! lol.. DD loves the Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow song.. I am however showing my age and must admit that the "now is the time, now is the best time" song is still my fave... I still know all the words!

 

[nrod]

We just spent a terrific week at WDW last week. My SIL was in line for the TTA and overheard a CM talking to a guest, and she said they were taking the COP and the theatre down to make room for a Table Service restaurant and some other new rides. Can anyone confirm this? I came to this thread to see if anyone else had heard anything about it? Apparently there have been many complaints that there is nowhere to eat in Tomorrowland.

I hate the thought of getting rid of this ride, but like the idea of moving it to EPCOT or elsewhere in the park. I've always loved this one and agree it its a huge part of Disney, as much as IASW.

 

[WDWFan4Life]

We just spent a terrific week at WDW last week. My SIL was in line for the TTA and overheard a CM talking to a guest, and she said they were taking the COP and the theatre down to make room for a Table Service restaurant and some other new rides. Can anyone confirm this? I came to this thread to see if anyone else had heard anything about it? Apparently there have been many complaints that there is nowhere to eat in Tomorrowland.

I hate the thought of getting rid of this ride, but like the idea of moving it to EPCOT or elsewhere in the park. I've always loved this one and agree it its a huge part of Disney, as much as IASW.

I have heard that they were going to get rid of the Galaxy theater and the skyway building in order to make way for new rides and a table service restaurant. I haven't heard anything about COP being involved in all of this however and hope that they don't move it.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

We just spent a terrific week at WDW last week. My SIL was in line for the TTA and overheard a CM talking to a guest, and she said they were taking the COP and the theatre down to make room for a Table Service restaurant and some other new rides. Can anyone confirm this? I came to this thread to see if anyone else had heard anything about it? Apparently there have been many complaints that there is nowhere to eat in Tomorrowland.

I hate the thought of getting rid of this ride, but like the idea of moving it to EPCOT or elsewhere in the park. I've always loved this one and agree it its a huge part of Disney, as much as IASW.

Oh I hope this is not true, or if it is, CoP will move to Epcot and not just be GONE!

We were also at WDW last week and did CoP on Sunday 9/21. I would say the theater we were in was at least 2/3 full, probably the most full CoP ride I've done in years.

 

[nrod]

I have heard that they were going to get rid of the Galaxy theater and the skyway building in order to make way for new rides and a table service restaurant. I haven't heard anything about COP being involved in all of this however and hope that they don't move it.

I'm hoping you're right and that my SIL misunderstood. With the dining plan being so popular it does seem that the MK could use another table service restaurant.