Poor, lonely, forlorn Carousel of Progress

[Uncleromulus]

Closed yet again, I thought as we approached the area. Hasn't been open the last 7-8 trips we took and I was confident it would again be shut down. But wait--was that a CM at the podium?? No people tho--. We went over and it was open!! The CM seemed genuinely glad to see us and by the time we were able to get on, perhaps 10-15 others had joined us.
It's all pretty sad. That park was very crowded that day and yet only a handful of people bothered to see COP. A true legacy of Walt himself, and hardly a soul seemed interested.

Another sign of the times, I guess--.

 

[Leota]

It is sad, isn't it?

I was happy that on our last trip, there was a good crowd for CoP - I've only seen that a couple times. I sure hope it's open for this trip. It's one of my Favorites....

 

[fizz13]

What a shame. The DIS needs to spread the word, otherwise they really will close it permanantly....please, please NO!! Just a nice rehab and maybe a more up to date scene at the end. Give it a new launch and people will come running.
Glad you went to see it, just hope its not the last time.
Much pixie dust,
Claire

 

[Uncleromulus]

I can see them wanting to close it in the worst way--perhaps the "direct" connection to Walt prevents them from doing so. But they got rid of the Empress Lilly, and that was named for Walt's wife. So anything is possible---.

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by fizz13
Just a nice rehab and maybe a more up to date scene at the end. Give it a new launch and people will come running.

That would definately be ideal! I think that each time that we see it. But I am afraid that the last time that we saw it may BE the LAST time.

 

[skiwee1]

We love this attraction. It is one of my 5 y/o's favorites. We were there last week and she said, "Lets go see the great big beautiful tomorrow!"

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I will be sure to visit COP in December!! It is a huge childhood favorite memory of mine. I remember being so wow-ed by this attraction as a kid. I've just been hoping that it would be open in early December so I could see at least one more last time. :

 

[stemikger]

Closed yet again, I thought as we approached the area. Hasn't been open the last 7-8 trips we took and I was confident it would again be shut down. But wait--was that a CM at the podium?? No people tho--. We went over and it was open!! The CM seemed genuinely glad to see us and by the time we were able to get on, perhaps 10-15 others had joined us.

I had the same experience in August when the park was very crowded. There was a small amount of people probably about the same as you experienced. Also, while the show was in progress there was a couple of people sleeping in the chairs and the kids that were there seemed bored. I guess it's the sign of the times. If it's not a thrill ride the kids don't want to go near it. I personally hope it stays forever.

 

[720L]

This is one of our favorites also. Maybe new visitors don't know what it is so they don't even attempt to go on it??

 

[silvio]

I read somewhere that it was Walt Disney´s request that as long as the park remains open, COP must do too.

Personally I think it is a great atraction, relaxing, with great music and it doesn´t need any changes. I always leave the park with that song in my head.

 

[jonrex]

I can think of a half dozen or so other attractions that need closing before CoP (Indy Speedway, Snow White, Jungle Cruise, etc.) Why don't they just leave this Disney classic alone?

 

[NMAmy]

This is a favorite for both DD (13) and me. We try to do it several times each visit and we love to sing along! She also loves TTA--go figure.

I'd hate it if they closed it.

 

[BAST]

We were at MK in August and were thrilled that COP was open. It is in need of a significant refurbishment - alot of chairs were broken and the place looked shabby.

That said, I really enjoyed this classic. It had been a very long time since I had seen this attraction - in fact, they were still playing the old song "Now is best time" rather than the current song.

I must say that I did like the old version better. Nonetheless, I do hope that WDW refurbishes this attraction and ultimately decides to keep it open for a long time to come.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by BAST
That said, I really enjoyed this classic. It had been a very long time since I had seen this attraction - in fact, they were still playing the old song "Now is best time" rather than the current song.

Ummm...you do realize that Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow is the original song for CoP? It was the song that premiered with the attraction at the 1964 World's Fair, while Walt was living. And it was the song used in the show during its run at Disneyland prior to it being moved to WDW. Now is the Time was written as a supplemental song to re-introduce the show at WDW.

Also, while at Disneyland, the building was a two story show. The first scene (now curtains and a logo) was a huge color organ light show. The final scene (also now curtains and a logo) was a speedramp, guests would walk onto the stage area and go up the ramo to the second floor where a finale tableau was built around the miniature "city of the future" that is now viewed from the TTA. Of course, at that time, all the little trains were running and the lighting changed to a narative using the voices of the CoP "famly".

 

[Kaycee]

We finally got to see COP in June - it was closed on our previous visits. We loved it - you could really tell Walt's influence on this attaction.

I hope it's still open when we're there in December. I hate to think they'll close it for good, but it sure seems likely. I agree with others that the best possible scenario is that they'll give it a nice rehab, make a big deal out of it's reopening to draw crowds, then keep it around for a long, long time!

 

[Sinclare]

We always catch COP. Last week (man was it just last week I was on vacation? ) there was a decent crowd with us (well at least 20 people) so I was quite happy. My son loves the video game in the last scene and wants it LOL.

Anyway, I think the main problem is that people just don't even realize it's there or what it is. Most of the "new" people to WDW walk right by and never even notice it. What COP really needs is a little PR advertising. Granted it could use a little refurb but I think all the scenes are still great.

If they would just put that cute little blonde from Disney TV's continous loop in COP and tell people a little about it, many many more people would pour into it.

Speaking of the continous loop, it's way way too short and this makes it annoying after a while. I kept wanting to change the channel and watch it but my son kept saying "dad we've already seen that". Would it be too much to ask the PR prowess of Disney to have the little blonde visit each and every ride in every park and give a little speil on it? Something more than just the top 7 rides....

 

[vasoccermom]

I saw COP as a teenager but my DH has never seen it, nor have my kids...it seems to be closed during the times we are at WDW...I"m counting on it being open next month so we can see it together!

Karen

 

[ILUVDXL]

Please, please, let it be open a week from now. We love this ride, but it's never open when we're there.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

we used to think COP was kinda cool and interesting so we always went to see it, until the last time we visited. there was an unfortunate malfunction and we saw the same scene about five times in a row with the music playing over and over again. the audience could recite all the lines when we finally got out. that was a rough one and we all felt trapped. just thought i'd share.

 

[dpic]

From what I've read, it will be open as long as the Stitch ride is being completed. We have never ridden it, but this trip we will. We just didn't know it was there--it's really out of the way.