COP Changed

[sherry8253]

We just returned from Disney this month and I saw COP for the first time in several years because we always go during the slow season when it is closed. They changed the end scene. I miss the old ending - The CM at the door on the way out said that the old ending was too outdated and they thought they needed to bring it up to date. Heck nostalgia is the best part of COP - IMHO COP should have remained the same as it was when it was created.

 

[ChairborneRangr]

OK, I have a brain freeze... what is COP?

 

[safetymom]

Carousel of Progress

 

[ChairborneRangr]

Ah...

How is it? I have never seen it.

 

[betterlatethannever]

The end scene has changed at least twice since it was at the NY World's Fair in 1964. We saw it last month. I believe this scene has been there since at least 1995.

It was about that time the original song was brought back. I did not like the new song.

Ed

 

[DebbieB]

We saw it at MNSSHP at the beginning of October, the end seemed the same to me.

 

[sherry8253]

I can't remember the last time I saw it before this trip - was several years. The daughter used to have a guitar. Now she is holding some high tech toy and grandma is playing some video game. Ed do you know what the end was when it was at the World Fair. I was 11 when I saw it then. I thought the end was always the same until this trip but I haven't seen it since it turned into a seasonal thing.

 

[KSgirl]

I saw it for the first time last week, so I don't have anything to compare it to. Both my 7 year old daughter and I loved it! I was so glad it was opened while we were there. I could see where the ending scene would have been changed to "keep up with the progress" (all the modern "gadgets"), but we thought it was awesome still! To me, this is pure Disney

 

[ekmdisney]

Here are few sites that I found that talk about the history of the COP (going all the way back to it world fair days). I love this ride. I have been lucky in the fact that every time we go to the park, its open (sometimes on a limited time frame). I remember back when the show didn't have the seasons in it. But yes, I think the last seen that evey one is talking about has been there since "95 or "96.

http://www.yesterland.com/progress.html

http://carouselofprogress.tripod.com/home.html (lots of info)

http://allearsnet.com/tp/mk/mk_cop.htm

http://www.disneylandsource.com/tom/carousel.html (They also have a video of the ride, from DL, I think)

 

[slp87]

While I enjoy "There's a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow", from the time I was young, I remember the theme song as "Now Is the Time" and that's what I associate with the attraction. Was it the song that was used when it first opened at WDW??
I love the message in it...

 

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by slp87
While I enjoy "There's a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow", from the time I was young, I remember the theme song as "Now Is the Time" and that's what I associate with the attraction. Was it the song that was used when it first opened at WDW??
I love the message in it...

TAGBBT was the original song from the World's Fair. I am not sure when NITT was introduced. It was changed back in 1993.

Sherry8253
Here is the description from the World's Fair Program for the last scene

"The glories of today glitter in a living room at Christmastime, a glass- enclosed, electrically heated patio, a kitchen that all but runs itself. "

When we went in 1995, the last scene had all kinds of electronic devices on the various tables (computers, video games etc) as if they were on display in a store.

After reading the Allears.net link, there were many more changes than I was aware of.

Ed

 

[pampam]

They have to keep changing it because the "now" keeps catching up with the future. I suppose that's why it's called 'TCO Progress' The same thing happened in Tomorrowland, and they had to upgrade. What was visualized as the future soon became the present.

 

[goofyernmost]

Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow was indeed the one used for the NY Worlds Fair. After the fair, it was moved to Disneyland, if memory serves me correctly, and then to WDW when it opened in 1972. At that time the song was changed to Now is the Time and was used until the redo in the late 90's, I think. Then Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow was put back.

I like both but my first memory is of the Now is the Time theme. With GBBT the preshow has film of Walt himself singing along with the theme song so that's kind of good for traditionalists.

Personally, I don't care which one they use as long as CoP remains but after Alien opens again I think it's future is dubious at best.

 

[mrsltg]

Wow! I'm surprised to see that so many enjoy this attraction. DH, DD and I saw it while at WDW last week. My feeling is that they need to either scrap it, or change it significantly. The fact that it jumps from the 40's to the present is awful. I enjoyed each of the previous segments, but we're talking 60 years of time completely left out. I'd like to see them maybe do the early 1900's, 1940's, 1960-1970, 2000. At least the story would flow a little better.

Erin

 

[goofyernmost]

Why does the story have to flow? It is just damn good entertainment. If you allow yourself to be back in the early sixties it is an incredible example of American or in this case Disney creativity and will to do something completely different.

Common place computer usage was not really in place at the time. The entire thing had to be pretty much mechanical. What a marvel for it's time. Mr. Disney was an exceptional story teller and he surrounded himself with the BEST creative people available. This was the beginning. Without this start WDW would not exist nor many other things we take for granted today.

CoP, though only an attraction, deserves a better fate then is presently in store for it. We as a people are always ready to throw away the past for a few cheap thrills in the present. Once gone the treasures of the past never return. When you think about it they never should have change the original show ending because today it could be billed as historical entertainment and not need to be constantly updated. We know what the present is, we live in it and no one, really can anticipate what the future will have in store.

 

[MrShiny]

I've always loved CoP. Saw it as a kid in Disneyland (last year or two before it was replaced with "America Sings"), and then in WDW. I've always loved it. Sure there is a jump to that last scene (which is out of date anyway - "laser discs?"). As presented at the World's Fair it made perfect sense - 1900's, 1920's, 1940's, 1960's). Without redoing everything, it would be very difficult. The theme song was actually changed because of a shift in GE's marketing - from forward looking to stressing what's currently available.

It is a good show - an innovative presentation and a nice collection of AA's. It would be great to see it redone - but without sponsorship, I doubt that will happen. And of course it is rumored to be the spot from the return of the flying saucers (if that ever comes true).

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I think all of the old endings could probably make a whole new COP. I'd love to see a preshow with all of the old endings. Like a little documentary.