Poor, lonely, forlorn Carousel of Progress

[bamagirl@hrt]

I only got to go to WDW once as a child. My dad hated theme parks (still does!), but my grandparents talked my parents into going once when I was 10. I remember CoP vividly; I loved it!!

Fast forward to 1995, when DH & I went to WDW. We got to see it then & I still loved it.

It was closed on our first trip with our children in 2002. But we finally got to see it again last week! I was surprised and delighted that it was a favorite for both my DD6 & DS3. DD sang "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow..." all the way home. DS would wave goodbye to the family (& dog!) as we left each scene. It was wonderful!

While I was hoping to catch the new Stitch attraction, I would rather miss it & see this priceless classic.

Christy

 

[suzimar57]

i saw COP as a child during the 1964-65 new york world's fair - loved it then, still love it now - sure hope it is never closed - does need a little "upgrade" inside - last august, water was actually dripping on my head in the back row one rainy night, as well as the broken seat arms - also saw IASW, "talking" President Lincoln (in the Illinois pavilion) and the Ford "magic skyway" (audio animatronic dinosaurs!!) during the 1964 fair

 

[myboysmom]

My oldest son got to see it with his grandpa (my dad) while we were there at Christmas time in 2002. I know that I saw it with my dad as a kid. We missed it in 2002 (something about my mom and I needing retail therapy). He and grandpa told us all about it. This past spring we all got to see it. It was great!

I agree it needs some advertising. I didn't even notice it in 2002 and had to look for it this past spring.

By the way TTC is a favorite of my kids. I learned that the cars aren't always connected this spring! We loaded all the kids (4 of them) into a car next to the car the 4 adults got into. Next thing we knew the kids car was flying away from us! With all the kids (10, 9, 8, 4) laughing all the way at the astonished look on the parents faces

 

[disneywithdrawal]

Originally posted by zalansky
As for COP, I liked the "now is the time" song so much better than great big beautiful tomorrow.
Guess that's because now is the time was what I saw my very first time and loved it.

I have mixed feelings about the song. The first time I heard "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" I was devastated! I felt a lot better about it when I found out it was the original song - I'm always all for the original. It's not the one I grew up hearing though. I think I even still know all the words to "Now is the Time." lol

 

[Princess Michelle]

.

 

[Cindy'sCastle]

I really love CoP and I hope it's opened when we go. I want my DS and DD to be able to experience it.

Cindy

 

[kerry34]

I took my kids on CoP on our last trip. This was their first time on as it and they thought it was great. It would be sad to see this classic disney experience lost.

 

[Tony-NJ]

I really hope it's still open next week!!!! It's sad that there isn't a crowd there. Maybe because everyone just thinks it's closed? Perhaps they should announce that it's open..?

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We just love CoP. Since we have been coming to WDW , we always see CoP lots of times on each trip. We were able to see it last Dec. for the first time in several years. When our kids were young they just loved CoP. I think it would be such a shame to replace this truly Walt Disney attraction. How about moving it to EPCOT and putting some money into it and relaunching it.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I saw COP on my last trip for the first time. After all those trips to WDW, it was my first time seeing it because it is off the beaten path. But I loved it - my DH said he saw it when he was a kid and it reminds him of that. I love the song and all the scenes.

The future scene could be a little updates, even if it was just the clothes. The chairs and such could also use a little updating, new fabric, new paint on the walls.

HEY! COP is the perfect attraction to visit while waiting for a Buzz FP time! They should put that on the FP! Suggestions for nearby rides that you can visit while waiting.

D4D

 

[TIGGER'SFRIEND]

Truely a classic, one of my favorites. Took my dear dear MIL to WDW before she passed and it was her favorite too. I think of her and the smile she had on her face during that ride whenever I am on it. It must never close.

 

[abitjaded]

I am hoping to see Stitch when we visit on October 31st. But if it means COP is closed, it would not be worth the trade. My whole family knows every word to the song and we never miss riding.

Carla

 

[dismikki]

No flames please! I went on this for the first time on 10/12 (yes it was open at least at at 6:45. This was the longest 20 minutes of my life. This is a classic example of people liking rides mostly because they went on them as kids. I understand the the concept of classics but man, some of the rides could use a little modernization. Just my 2 cents!
Mikki

 

[missminniemouse]

My DS, who was 4 at the time, wanted to leave Toontown to go over to CoP on our last trip. DD(9) and DS both also love the TTA. We never miss either of these attractions on our trips. They are both perfect for getting off your feet without any wait time.

 

[24KK9]

Luigi's Girl and I must have been on it at the same time. I was in the part where the daughter is in the Statue of Liberty costume. Anyway, I remember people swearing and opening the door and walking out. There was an announcement for everyone to stay put because the door openings was contributing to the technical delay (or something like that). Anyway, one family in the front row next to the stage had a small daughter (around four years old, if I had to guess) who started singing and dancing. She put on a show of her own. It was really cute. There were maybe ten people, total, in the same area I was in. Finally, after the fifth(?) time of the same sequence a CM opened the exit door and said they were closing the ride for the night.

 

[gina2000]

In my 7 or 8 trips to WDW (all as an adult, btw), I never, ever looked for COP. Last year, I saw it and we decided to ride it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Rode it a second time. Loved it even more the second time around.

COP is one of those rides that has such historic flavor. It will be a shame if it's closed and replaced.

We'll be back in December and I look forward to riding it again. Over and over especially knowing that it may be the last time I do it.

 

[Laurabearz]

I am really looking forward to riding COP in just a couple of days. I really hope it is open!

 

[snowwhitemom]

wow...you guys really have given me another perspective of this attraction......I must say that I am one of the those people who have wondered why don't they close that ride down and make it into sometime more modern to change with times........so thanks for the other veiw......I am going to try to be more openminded when I think that certain things should be closed......another poster ad said to close snowwhite and i gasped with ..oh no...its an orginal...it is where it all started....so I guess we all have our differ......I may give it a try next week.........

 

[Cinderella89]

I was there in August, luckily the week before huricaine charley came around, A LOT of people were at COP(probabaly because of the use of 20 minutes of nappng and AC) But it's a favorite. I always seperate from the fam just so i can ride it more than once per trip. If they close it down my heart will be broken. "It's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of everyday! It's a great big beautiful tomorrow, and tomorrow is just a dream away! Man has a dream and thats the start, he fallows his dream with mind and heart. And when it becomes a reality, it's a dream come true, for you and me. So it's a great big beautiful tomorrow, and it's just a dream away!" If they close it down, i will cry....

 

[Nadine and Fred]

My DH and I make sure that we see CoP on every one of our World trips. That it has NOT been modernized and is not a thrill ride is PRECISELY why it retains its charm for all generations. As a 11 year old at the '64-65 NY Worlds Fair, it was a favorite then and remains so. (OK..I have disclosed my age...) All this being said, the day that CoP is closed permanently by WDW is the day that my DH and I stop going. CoP defines the charm of WDW , absent from other thrill ride venues.