Carousel Of Progress?

[Joe Bellitti]

Hi,

Is the Carousel of Progress gone?? It isn't listed in the latest Birnbaum Guide.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[All Aboard]

It's there. It's operating most days now that Timekeeper is gone.

 

[DVCconvert]

Go! Ride it repeatedly! -- stop by Guest relations in CIty Hall and tell them home much you like it!! -- Send email to Guest communications to say the same! -- those are THE best ways to assure it's future!

 

[Keyser]

After hearing about this ride (especially on these boards) for a while, and finding it was open this past January, I was excited to finally get a chance to ride it. I must be missing something that everyone else likes about it, but I'd probably rate it as the worst attraction (seriously) of everything we saw.

Ignoring the maintenance issues (the seats were in the worst shape I've seen in any public theater/auditorium), I found it quite boring. The audio-animatronics seemed clunky and outdated. The show moved slowly. The "message" was OK, but I get more interesting (and similar-themed, though more specific) presentations from things like History Channel shows. It's true that this is a ride the whole family can do together, but my 4 year old was no more interested in it than my wife and I...

I know a lot of people really love this ride, and I know that different people have different preferences, but I really don't get why people find this particular attraction so great. Usually, I can at least see why people like a particular attraction, even if I don't, but I'm really missing something here.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

I know a lot of people really love this ride, and I know that different people have different preferences, but I really don't get why people find this particular attraction so great. Usually, I can at least see why people like a particular attraction, even if I don't, but I'm really missing something here.

I can't give you an exact reason that I like it, except to say that I always envision that Walt is the dad that is telling the story...

 

[jennifer293]

I like it because on a steaming hot day it is nice to go and sit down in a dark air conditioned room. There are several rides like this that we go on when DD was ready for a nap, and she fell asleep every single time.

 

[Cricket2]

It not just telling a part of history, it is history.

 

[Chuck S]

It not just telling a part of history, it is history.

True, it is one of the 4 attractions Disney created for various sponsors at the 1964 World's Fair.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (currently on hiatus, but I think it will return to Disneyland) Sponsor -State of Illinois)

It's a Small World. (Pepsi in salute to UNICEF)

Carousel of Progress (General Elecric)

and

The Magic Skyway (Ford Motor Company)

They all, in some fashion, made their way into Disneyland. Carousel of Progress was moved to WDW. The remants of Magic Skyway are the Dinosaurs in "Primevil World" on the Disneyland Train. And of course Small World has a version at Disneyland and WDW.

 

[Drummer71]

I love the Carousel of Progress. I can never get tired of it.

 

[Drummer71]

After hearing about this ride (especially on these boards) for a while, and finding it was open this past January, I was excited to finally get a chance to ride it. I must be missing something that everyone else likes about it, but I'd probably rate it as the worst attraction (seriously) of everything we saw.

Ignoring the maintenance issues (the seats were in the worst shape I've seen in any public theater/auditorium), I found it quite boring. The audio-animatronics seemed clunky and outdated. The show moved slowly. The "message" was OK, but I get more interesting (and similar-themed, though more specific) presentations from things like History Channel shows. It's true that this is a ride the whole family can do together, but my 4 year old was no more interested in it than my wife and I...

I know a lot of people really love this ride, and I know that different people have different preferences, but I really don't get why people find this particular attraction so great. Usually, I can at least see why people like a particular attraction, even if I don't, but I'm really missing something here.

Although some of the stuff in the COP is outdated, you have to appriciate it for what it is. It was one of Walt's original attractions. It's been through alot after all, the World Fair in New York, then out to Disneyland, then to WDW. I mean after all, its from the 60's. Walt put alot of work into it, and it's very unique. I think that's why it's such a favorite to alot of people on the DIS.


I do agree with you on one thing though, it does need refurbishing. The last scene is waaaay outdated. It's supposed to look like the future to us, but it looks like the 80's. They used to keep updating the last scene, but they just forgot about it now I guess.


I can't miss it when I go to WDW though. I think it's one of the best attractions. I love it and could never get tired of it.

 

[sietzsounds]

Go! Ride it repeatedly! -- stop by Guest relations in CIty Hall and tell them home much you like it!! -- Send email to Guest communications to say the same! -- those are THE best ways to assure it's future!

we did exactly that!!! back in 1994 when they made the new tomorrowland they had maps showing a flying saucer type ride in place of the carousel of progress.... we went to city hall & voiced our opinions.... we feel partly responsible for carousel to still be operating!!!!!!!

 

[mickeymedic]

COP is one of my husband's favorite rides. We always go off-season, so the first two times he and I went together, it was closed. He was thrilled that it was open this year when we went.
I love this ride because it is one of Walt's original ideas. Walt is alive and well inside the Carusel of Progress! I hope they never get rid of it. Future generations need to know where the magic started.

 

[exDS vet]

When Carousel of Progress was moved to WDW it became one of the only Walt Disney creations at the park. Although the theme song was changed, the show remained the same. When G.E. ended it's sponsorship of the attraction, it was re-themed and named "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress." The original theme song was also added back to the show as well. Despite the enhancements and updates, the CoP is the only Walt Disney creation in all of WDW. The only other attraction that came close was The Enchanted Tiki Room, until it was changed and the "Under New Management" theme was added.

Since the CoP was only at Disneyland for 6 years and it's been at WDW for 30, I'd like to see them move it back to Disneyland and do something completely different with the theater building at the MK. We don't need innoventions in California. I think Walt's original attraction belongs in Walt's park.

 

[disney junky]

Yep. I saw it at the 64 World's Fair and also at WDW in 1971. Hate to see it go. SAVE COP.

 

[dbm20th]

Since the CoP was only at Disneyland for 6 years and it's been at WDW for 30, I'd like to see them move it back to Disneyland and do something completely different with the theater building at the MK. We don't need innoventions in California. I think Walt's original attraction belongs in Walt's park.

I agree with this idea. CoP has little appeal for me, so putting it in DL will not bother me in the least, and will serve to create a buzz among the DL purists. It belongs along side the other Walt creations, if it isn't worth keeping in MK.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I like it for the same reason I like driving around in my 64 Chevy station wagon. The seats are lumpy, its not the shiniest thing around and it has seen better days.
It does however have a certain "character" that new things lack. At the time it was new it smelled nice and people thought that it was the neatest thing they had ever seen.

Scott

 

[starwishing]

KEEP CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS AT DISNEYWORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO MOVING IT!!!!

thankyou

 

[DancingBear]

I like it for the same reason I like driving around in my 64 Chevy station wagon. The seats are lumpy, its not the shiniest thing around and it has seen better days.
It does however have a certain "character" that new things lack. At the time it was new it smelled nice and people thought that it was the neatest thing they had ever seen.

Other than the folks that in 1964 were still driving around their 1929 Model As and saying those '64 Chevy wagons lacked character.

 

[dbm20th]

I like it for the same reason I like driving around in my 64 Chevy station wagon. The seats are lumpy, its not the shiniest thing around and it has seen better days.
It does however have a certain "character" that new things lack. At the time it was new it smelled nice and people thought that it was the neatest thing they had ever seen.

CoP certainly is a museum piece.

 

[Sarangel]

I've always thought that the CoP needed updating so that instead of going from the 1920s to the 40s to the 60s to 'now' (or 'the future'?) it went from the 20s to the 40s to the 80s to 'now' or the 'future'. I find the jump from the 60's to 'now' to be pretty jarring since so much happened between then & now.