Carousel of Progress Rumors

[ChrisFL]

This is my favorite ride in all of Dinsey World! Completely for nostalgia reasons, I say leave it alone. On the other hand, I think they could really do alot with the ride to bring it into the new times.

Question:

Has it ever been updated or is this the original version?

Yes, it's been upgraded a few times, 1994 is the most recent

 

[ntsammy5]

There have been several rumors over the years about tearing down CoP. I hope they never come true. It is a great ride that surprisingly everybody loves! Like the people mover!

 

[BabyPiglet]

I love love love this ride.

 

[TinkerbEllnor]

On the rumors board someone posted that last week, Disney was conducting a survey after the show to see what people liked and disliked. Also says there is talk of a new E-Ticket attraction that would occupy the area between the old Skyway and the Galaxy Theatre, which is precisely where CoP lies.

I can at least confirm that on Sept 5 we were stopped exiting the CoP to do one of those surveys. We love it so gave it high marks. The CM running the show was awesome- really could tell he loved his job! But we did get 'stuck' for a couple extra minutes in the last room and that last room needs some updating (at a minimum with the animatronic's fashions!) so we mentioned those two points on the survey.

We did take notice of a somewhat lame attempt by Disney to boost attendance at CoP. When we retrieved our fastpasses for Space Mountain, a "complimentary" fastpass for CoP also spit out of the Space Mountain FP machine. This may work on getting a few newbie's butts into the seats, but anyone who's been to MK before knows that there is never a need for a FP at CoP. What made it even more comical is that CoP actually had a dedicated FP line- they went in the door to the right, standby to the left- um, hello, there were all of 10 people in the theatre, but still a couple of people felt the need to come in through the FP side.

We also saw Stitch stationed close by CoP for autographs, so perhaps Disney is trying to get some more foot traffic over by CoP. It is kind of out of the way unless you are seeking it out.

I'm hoping these aren't a last ditch effort to save a classic.

 

[bradk]

buzz should actually be closer to CoP (stitch is closer to the galaxy theatre typically).. but speaking of buzz, interesting to know they were giving CoP FPs with Space Mountain.. someone else wrote they were giving them with buzz lightyear FPs too.

i wonder if they're trying to make people more aware CoP is alive and well, or if they're trying to see if people just don't care despite knowing it.

 

[Rocktire]

The CoP can never leave...at the very least for historical reasons...and for the practical purpose of providing a much needed break from a day in the heat.

 

[HUFF590]

Also my sons fav ,it was when he was nine and is now at 25.( mine too)

 

[Disney Anna]

CoP is my favorite ride. I grew up going to Disneyland and was crushed when it was removed (although I also loved America Sings). Anyway, on my first visit to WDW in 1999 I was SO, SO, SO, HAPPY to ride it again. What a trip that was...it was light being zapped straight back to the early-mid 1970s. I totally cried.

Now when I go, it's always my first and last ride at the MK. My neice and nephew love it, they are now 14 and 12.

I also have It'a a great big, beautiful tomorrow on my IPOD and burned it to a CD. I love that song.

 

[labattblue]

Without gutting it there is probably not much they can do, but the large gap in decades between the last scene and the one prior is kind of awkward and it will only get worse if they continue to update the last scene and leave the others alone. No easy answer to this problem.

PS Unlike other WDW attractions which are long gone, this is a true Disney classic which can never be removed.

 

[Madi100]

On our very first trip in 1999 we were going to go on the attraction and when we asked the CM working it what it was he said it wasn't worth the time. Fast forward to 2005. It's about 5 o'clock on arrival day. We've been up since 3:30 a.m. We decided we'd give COP a chance. We figured it would be something to relax the girls and we could go back to the resort and go to bed. WRONG! They came out of there skipping and dancing and they LOVED it! We ended up not going back to the room until about midnight that night.

I think that what some people think is that we need to wowed and amazed at every turn. When sometimes tradition is just as important. It would be nice to see them keep the attraction and give it some TLC.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

On our very first trip in 1999 we were going to go on the attraction and when we asked the CM working it what it was he said it wasn't worth the time.

A CM should never be saying that no matter what attraction they're working on!

 

[njchris]

That's one of my favorite attractions. It can use some fixing up, but I love seeing the different time periods. They should fix the "screens" on the sides where they rotate the scenes with the family members in them.

The ending can probably use a futuristic update too.

 

[ChrisFL]

A CM should never be saying that no matter what attraction they're working on!

Agreed!

 

[amyhughes]

Agreed!

Couldn't agree more!

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

I really agree, that makes me angrythat the CM would say that

 

[seashoreCM]

There is a solution to the time gap between the third and fourth scenes.

Add a fifth scene.

The theater has six stages (mentioned in the pre-show video as well as obvious once you are inside), four were used originally and two more were provided for future expansion.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

The show only needs updating, its a favorite of many, and an instant history lesson of our years past and as the title says, our progress. Updating the attraction is the best solution.

 

[Mouse511]

Its not our favorite ride but its not the worst either. It does need some serious updating though if they want to attract new riders.

For the old school disney fanatics - the animatronics is the key to the kingdom so they should not take it away, if they have the room, they should just add a '5th' sceen so there is not such a large gap between the last two sceens.

my .02

 

[ransom]

There is a solution to the time gap between the third and fourth scenes.

Add a fifth scene.

The theater has six stages (mentioned in the pre-show video as well as obvious once you are inside), four were used originally and two more were provided for future expansion.

I'd certainly like to see a good 60s scene. That was a time of very distinctive styles, so the staging would be visually interesting, too.

1900s, 1920s, 1940s, and 1960s, followed by today would be fine with me...especially if they replaced all the animatronics so that they have current generation stuff in there.

 

[Spine_DR]

Lou Mongello said that sources are telling him the starlight theater would be replaced by an E ticket, prob wouldn't see anything until after 2010, I have a feeling the CoP is safe.