Carousel of Progress - last scene too different?

[VacationDad]

I don't know if this requires a spoiler warning for anyone who has never seen it...I may have been the only one who never saw it before.

I actually thought it was very interesting, and I was impressed that Walt Disney thought of an exhibit like this to demonstrate the changes the American family has gone through in the 20th century due to new technology. But I wonder if the last scene has been constantly changing over the years? Has anyone seen this attraction through the years from it's beginning? I can imagine that in 1964 the last scene was a better transition in the progression from the 1900, 1920's and 1940's scenes, but today we jump from the 1940's all the way to the 2000 era in the last scene. That becomes quite a jump. What was once a cozy antique home that stayed relatively the same except for some "modern" appliances and decor is now some huge, high-tech open architecture home. I'm not even sure if the Dad from the previous scenes is the Grandfather in the last scene. I know if they had to do a scene for every 20 years of the 20th century the carousel would be huge and the ride would be pushing an hour, but I would probably ride it.

I guess I wish I could have seen it as it existed in the 1960's and how it has changed over the past 40 years.

 

[betterlatethannever]

I don't know if this requires a spoiler warning for anyone who has never seen it...I may have been the only one who never saw it before.

I actually thought it was very interesting, and I was impressed that Walt Disney thought of an exhibit like this to demonstrate the changes the American family has gone through in the 20th century due to new technology. But I wonder if the last scene has been constantly changing over the years? Has anyone seen this attraction through the years from it's beginning? I can imagine that in 1964 the last scene was a better transition in the progression from the 1900, 1920's and 1940's scenes, but today we jump from the 1940's all the way to the 2000 era in the last scene. That becomes quite a jump. What was once a cozy antique home that stayed relatively the same except for some "modern" appliances and decor is now some huge, high-tech open architecture home. I'm not even sure if the Dad from the previous scenes is the Grandfather in the last scene. I know if they had to do a scene for every 20 years of the 20th century the carousel would be huge and the ride would be pushing an hour, but I would probably ride it.

I guess I wish I could have seen it as it existed in the 1960's and how it has changed over the past 40 years.

Actually, the last scene of the 1964 version was a wide open scene indicating a big jump in technology. There is a web site dedicated to the Carousel of Progress with pictures.

Yes, the last scene has been updated over the years. I think two or three times. Once when they changed the song (new sponsor), and another time when they changed back to the original song.

Ed

 

[DeterminedOne]

Ooh, good question. I don't know the answer but I'm interested to see what type of responses this gets. I love CoP!

 

[makinorlando]

I am told I saw this at the 1964 World's Fair, but also I was only 6 years old and do not recall this particular ride.... wish I did... I remember other parts of the trip...

We saw it the other night, and much like It's a Small World, hard to get that song out of your head... It's a great big beautiful tomorrow....it's a nice break on a hot day or for tired feet.

 

[minnie61650]

Actually, the last scene of the 1964 version was a wide open scene indicating a big jump in technology. There is a web site dedicated to the Carousel of Progress with pictures.

Yes, the last scene has been updated over the years. I think two or three times. Once when they changed the song (new sponsor), and another time when they changed back to the original song.

Ed

Here is a link to The Carousel of Progress:
http://www.carouselofprogress.com/
Enjoy!

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I thought the same thing. It seemed like a drastic leap between the second to the last and the last scene. However, it is definitely a catchy song. We have only ridden it once and my whole family can sing all the words..."It's a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day..."

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Same here. I made that remark also after we finished. Maybe do 00, 40, 70, and the modern one.

Plus, it doesn't get a ton of riders like it used to. Maybe fill in that last blank zone and unload and load from the same one.

 

[auwoo]

to original poster:

I think that the ride should do this. When Walt first created the ride in the sixties you had turn of the century, 20's, 40's and the future. To me it would make sense to update the ride every twenty years. The whole pertains to progress so I don't believe Walt would be upset with updating the ride when need be. So today, I think the ride should show the 40's, 60's, 80's and then a look at the future like the last scene. In 2020 the ride would be the 60's, 80's and 2000 then a look at the future and so on from now on.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I'm not even sure if the Dad from the previous scenes is the Grandfather in the last scene. I know if they had to do a scene for every 20 years of the 20th century the carousel would be huge and the ride would be pushing an hour, but I would probably ride it.

I guess I wish I could have seen it as it existed in the 1960's and how it has changed over the past 40 years.

Actually, I am not 100 percent sure, but the Dad is "constant" in all scenes as the father. The father in once scene is not suppose to be the grandfather in the next. The scenes show the same father, mother, sister and brother living in different decades. If you listen to the kid's names, they change with the era - the daughter is Patrica in one, Trish in another, etc. The son is Jimmy in one era, and James in another. This family is the same family in all scenes - I think Uncle Orville is mentioned in two scenes, too.

I also think the last scene is a little off, since virtual reality never really took off. I think they should have shown the family all on computers using the Internet and talking on cell phones or something!

 

[minnie61650]

The Carousel of Progress is supposed to be about all the progress that took place during the 20th century with a look forward to the 21 century. Of course since the 60's the Imagineers changed thier ideas of what the 21st century would be like--thus the changes.
I agree that the last scene should be chaned to how our world is now since this is the 21st century!

 

[bettyann29]

Me and DD8 went of the COP last September and I really liked it.. I never made it there on previous trips.. Me and my 3 children are headed back next month and I will definitely do it again so the other kids can experience it.. It definitely is a godsend for tired feet...

 

[VacationDad]

Actually
I also think the last scene is a little off, since virtual reality never really took off. I think they should have shown the family all on computers using the Internet and talking on cell phones or something!

That would be funny to see everyone talking on their own cellphones and not paying attention to each other. The Dad could start singing "It's a great big beautiful tomorrow" and everyone would yell at him to be quiet because they were on the phone.

Probably a cynical look at the modern family but probably not too inaccurate either.

 

[dbanzai]

I don't know about getting rid of the earlier scenes to make it all fit, but maybe they could make the intervals 25 years or so instead of 20: '20, '45, '70. '90. tomorrow.

 

[bicker]

I think, if they're going to keep the attraction open, that they should leave well-enough alone, and only update the final scene every so often. The attraction is about the progress of the 20th century, and as long as that remains relevant, that's what the attraction should be about. When that's no longer relevant, then I'm sure there are dozens of other idea for attractions for that spot in the park.

 

[Robo]

I don't know about getting rid of the earlier scenes to make it all fit, but maybe they could make the intervals 25 years or so instead of 20: '20, '45, '70. '90. tomorrow.

And, its very easy to forget that this would only work NOW.

If we assume WDW will keep the ride open for 40 more years (if ONLY)... what would you do THEN.

I have been riding the CoP since it began.
It only NEEDED to be "updated" when it was SPONSORED by a company that was...
SELLING "new technology".
GE was always the corporate sponsor, BTW.
The song changed for a while when they moved CoP from DL to WDW.
The management (THEN) at GE didn't want people to "wait until TOMORROW" to by a new 'fridge, so "NOW is the Time" became the theme song.
(BOTH songs were written by the Sherman Brothers of "its a small world" and "Mary Poppins" fame, et al.)
This time they used the voice talents of Jean Shepard, the man who wrote and narrated "A Christmas Story", as the narrator and "Father".

When GE left the CoP sponsorship (and went over to Epcot, (Horizons, IllumiNations, et al) the MK Imagineers (to their credit) restored (for the most part) the "original attraction"... but made it more "politically correct" and again, updated the "TODAY" scene.

Jean Shepard is very good as "Father" in the current show, but as a "purist" myself, I still LOVE the Rex Allen. Sr. original tracks (I have them on CD.) Rex's voice is still in the show today (the voice of "Grandpa" in the present show's final scene).
Sadly both of these fine talents have passed away.
As has another prominent voice in the show (Uncle Orville -'No pease a'toll around this place'-, and the 'parrot') Mel Blanc, Sr. (yes, THE Mel Blanc of Bugs, Daffy, Yosemite Sam fame).

I'm amused that people think CoP NEEDS to be changed to "TODAY" to stay relevant. If it had a new "TODAY" scene it would NOT draw more "young people" anyway.
They just don't like the whole "sitting still quietly for 15 minutes looking at grownups talking" thing while at WDW. (Think of Epcot WS attractions.)

Its my opinion that the CoP ride should be changed all-the-way BACK to the NY World's Fair and original Disneyland Attraction. (It WAS a bit better.)

It would then make the "60's Modern Scene" fit back into the continuity of the rest of the ride scenes... and a Voice-Over Film at the EXIT SCENE could remind us that we are STILL LIVING in an ever-changing world of technology and the "Beautiful Tomorrows" are still "just a dream away".

Heck, we don't need to SEE kids ignoring their parents talking on a cell-phone, we KNOW about that...
and THAT will become just as dated as anything ELSE we might "add" to the CoP.

So just PUT IT ALL BACK, like a "restored film," to its pure, original, WALT DISNEY produced condition for future generations to enjoy.

Snow White, Bambi, Pinocchio... play just fine "TODAY."
They were "complete works" of their time and should "play that way".

You know, in the ORIGINAL show, all guests exited DOWN THROUGH the FRONT (there was a passageway where the final "stage" is today).
You went out to another room where you could view "the City of Tomorrow" (Father and Mother guided you in voice-over narration).
The city (many say it was an early prototype of what WALT called EPCOT*) was created as a fully lighted miniature with moving cars and other effects.
That SAME model (it doesn't MOVE anymore.. but it COULD) can now be seen as you pass by in the Tommorowland Transit Authority.

*Epcot was never concieved by Walt as an "amusement park".
His vision called for a totally PLANNED unban environment (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow).

 

[bicker]

I agree with you that CoP shouldn't be changed to be more relevant to "today" but I think you miss the point with your examples. While Snow White, Bambi and Pinocchio "play just fine TODAY" they aren't as valued by people as The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. As such, there may come a time when there just isn't enough room on the shelf for every single title (especially since CoP costs lots of money, every day, to operate and maintain).

 

[dbanzai]

Bicker, considering what's going on for PoC, I don't think Disney Inc. would have a problem with "progressing" progress. Afterall, as said, the end has alway been something they update.

Considering the progress that was been made in the last 20 years alone, so much gets left out. Sure, you can still burn the turkey in your voice-recognition over, but we've gone from the C-64 (64 bit) to computers using mega-and gigabytes. How much progress is being left out because the biggest advancement have come in such a short period? Plus since nothing will change in the past, you can easily rescript things to combine two segments.

I'd say start in the same place, make sure you show the importance of electricity, and consolidate so you can add a more modern scene before the future. Jumping from black and white to HDTV and virtual games? Aren't we forgetting a major step, one which Disney himself prided his work on?

Robo, I don't think it needs to be updated for the sake of relavence. I think the ride, sponsored or not (yes, I know the history of the "ride"), is more a tribute to technology than anything, and as a ride through history, it leaves a bit out.

Again, PoC is being rennovated (for better or worse... That's one I would say should be left alone) as many rides have. That is part of Disney, and I would say that is also very Walt. To have a ride here which is meant to be updated and leave it alone while other rides that are set in a set history seems awkward.

 

[bicker]

Well, to be fair, PoC is a lot more popular among regular (non-fanatical) guests than CoP.

 

[dbanzai]

Well, to be fair, PoC is a lot more popular among regular (non-fanatical) guests than CoP.

All the more reason it shouldn't need a rehab as much as CoP.

 

[bicker]

I consider the PoC rehab as "gilding the lily". That's often a valuable effort, and especially so as compared to "throwing good money after bad".