Saddened about possible closure of COP

[teedee]

I also love COP and go on it every trip to Disneyworld, but I'm not at all surprised it may be closing. Everytime I've gone on it in the past few years it's almost empty. We usually travel in the peak summer period too. You'd think people would go in there just to get out of the heat for a little while, but no. Hopefully something will happen to keep it open.

 

[3lilprincesses]

this makes me really sad. we have only been to disney world once, last year, and we loved it. it was a very special attraction. when we got home and told my mother about it, she said she had been on it at the worlds fair in NY as a young teen (on a date with my father).

we are going to disney world in january, with my parents. it will be their first trip to disney world. my grandmother is also coming. this is something that we were really looking forward to seeing together. i'm sure my whole travel party will be very disappointed to hear it will no longer be there.

 

[CLynnJones]

I just sent my e-mail. COP is my very favorite attraction at WDW. I hope they keep it open.

 

[cutienibbler]

I think I am confused. I thought I had experienced the COP attraction on one of my last trips to wdw, but I keep reading people refer to it as a ride? The COP I experienced was like a theater, there was a rotating stage that showed different scenes of progress in each different era. Is that COP? I thought it was. We never went on any sort of "ride" we didnt move at all, just the stage.

 

[rwodonnell]

I think I am confused. I thought I had experienced the COP attraction on one of my last trips to wdw, but I keep reading people refer to it as a ride? The COP I experienced was like a theater, there was a rotating stage that showed different scenes of progress in each different era. Is that COP? I thought it was. We never went on any sort of "ride" we didnt move at all, just the stage.

Actually, the stage doesn't move at all - the seating area moves!

 

[cheyita]

I, too, sent an e-mail. My family does ride COP whenever we are at MK and it is open. I have a question...is COP really less popular than the Hall of Presidents? (I'm not knocking HOP, I just am surprised if that's true)

 

[foxfire]

Monday of last week we went to COP and the theater was about 3/4 full. When the show was over, many people applauded, me included. It was great to be among others that like that show so much. I noticed people going in every time I passed by the theater that day, so I felt encouraged to see that.

We went again last Friday and there were very few people at that showing and not many going in at other times. I don't know what the difference was between Monday and Friday that could account for the crowd attendance at the shows. I really hope it doesn't go away but I am uneasy about it's future.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I, too, sent an e-mail. My family does ride COP whenever we are at MK and it is open. I have a question...is COP really less popular than the Hall of Presidents? (I'm not knocking HOP, I just am surprised if that's true)

I don't know if HOP is more popular but I would rather see COP 50 times before seeing HOP again. HOP is a good patriotic show but it's so boring. I love COP and because it's only open seasonally it's never open when we've gone the past couple of years But I guess I'd rather have low crowds If COP does close it'll be another great memory stored right along with the original Journey into the Imagination, World of Motion, and 20,000 leagues.

 

[LAS]

My 20 year old daughter will be devastated. We have only been 3 times and planning a trip in 06 but on ever trip COP is a must. I hope this is one that stays around forever. It is really neat to see the progress we have made over the years.

 

[Benjo]

COP is one my favorite all-time attractions, mostly because it's designed by Walt himself. I'll be sad to see it go. It seems like whoever I go to Disney with, I always have forced them to go on COP, and their usually reluctant to do so. However, without fail, at the end of the ride, they're always humming "It's a great big, beautiful tomorrow" for the rest of the day. I think it's a testament to how magical the ride is, and I'll be sad to see it go.

 

[lllovell]

While I enjoy the ride, it is truly frustrating to me that most times when we are there (we travel mostly off peak) it is closed.

Maybe they will change their minds, do away with the time keeper area (which has not been open at all in the last 2 years when I have been there - 8 or so trips) which only seems to be used for pictures during the Christmas and Halloween parties.

I think ultimately, I would prefer a bigger draw to balance out some of the crowds, but would be saddened by COP leaving as well.

 

[Benjo]

While I enjoy the ride, it is truly frustrating to me that most times when we are there (we travel mostly off peak) it is closed.

Maybe they will change their minds, do away with the time keeper area (which has not been open at all in the last 2 years when I have been there - 8 or so trips) which only seems to be used for pictures during the Christmas and Halloween parties.

I think ultimately, I would prefer a bigger draw to balance out some of the crowds, but would be saddened by COP leaving as well.

I agree with you about getting rid of the Time Keeper. It was open last summer (July 04) on a day where it was pouring and I think they just wanted to keep people out of the rain. Gutting the Time Keeper for a new attraction, and keeping COP open would be a good choice. While Robin Williams is mildly amusing on TK, the attraction just feels tired, and pretty boring. Also, having to stand up the entire show is a real drag when you've been out in the rain or humidity all day.

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

Not to change the focus, but I would much rather see the Speedway taken out and replaced with something than CoP. Even though CoP is not real popular, it is one of the few attractions remaining at WDW that is a Walt original.

 

[MrShiny]

This rumor crops every once in a while - mainly because there have been plans awaiting a budget to rip out COP and replace it with an indoor version of Flying Saucers (bumper car like hover craft that were at Disneyland for a short time around 1966 - popular, but prove to breakdowns back then).

I love COP and hope it stays, if only seasonally. I'd love to see them do something with Timekeeper (I like Circlerama, but this one really didn't bear second viewings), and maybe remake the speedway like they dd Autopia at Disneyland.

The best advice is to go to the show if you like it! Hopefully, it won't suffer the fate of the one at Disneyland - it wasreplaced by America Sings (which wasn't bad - most of the animatronics now live in Splash Mountain and Star Tours) and then sat empty for years until the pale imitation of Innoventions (itself a pale imitation of a trade show) emerged in 1998.

 

[Benjo]

The Speedway may have changed since it was first created, but the initial idea for it was all Walt. He loved cars, and it was his idea to include and attraction where children could drive them. I'm pretty sure that they planned to have 2 Speedways (or Autopia as it's call in CA) at Disneyland, one on either end of the park.

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

There may be hope for CoP yet. Just found this over on Screamscape. Looks like Timekeeper is a possible alternative location for the buzz ride... Lets keep our fingers crossed that they pick TK instead of CoP.

2007/2008 - Little Green Men - Rumor - (1/21/05) With Stitch now open, the rumor mill has started on the proposed Little Green Men indoor UFO bumper car themed attraction once again. This week it came up at the end of Jim Hill Media article on Pixar themed attractions in development, but they indicate it may now be located in the Carousel of Progress instead of Timekeeper.
(11/26/03) This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this rumor, but it seems that the project to eventually transform Timekeeper into an indoor a Bumper Car style ride is still active. The new ride would be themed to the Little Green Men from Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear, complete with “The Claw” hanging from the roof of the building. If approved, it will have to wait until Stitch is open, but it could happen before the 20K Lagoon project.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I enjoy Carousel of Progress. BUT, it's a nostalgia thing. I remember seeing it with my parents and grandparents and being absolutely fascinated!

I saw it once on my honeymoon in 2004. (that's the first time it had been open while I was there since my first visit in 1986) I can see why it doesn't pull huge crowds.

It really can be boring.

Having said that, I'd rather have a Walt classic, albeit somewhat boring, than BUMPER CARS. Bumper cars are a carny ride and I don't feel they belong in the Magic Kingdom.

BUT, if it was something truly amazing, then I'm all for change!

 

[Autumngirl]

When I was there in OCT, I talked to the CM about the rumor. He told me that CoP would never close permanently as long at the MK opens it gates. It was personally designed by Walt,(yes, before he died and before the technology existed) but the concept was his and it will stay. He said that there were no plans to remove Timekeeper either, but that would be the one to go first if it came down to it.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Have you been on COP lately? If you have, how full was it?

We went in November, the week of Thanksgiving. The parks were very crowded. We went on COP, and sadly, there were only about 10 families in our section.

Disney has to look at the numbers. Obviously, COP has been declining for a few years now. They partially closed it, only opening it during busy times, and even the busy times are not filling the ride. I think Disney may be losing money by keeping it running.

 

[DVCconvert]

Have you been on COP lately? If you have, how full was it?

I have, and it has varied. One important thing to think about thou, is how as WDW treated this attraction? There's been no hype about it being open, the single sandwich board I've seen is small and not too exciting set out in front on the attraction enterence. If WDW management wanted to try to make people aware of the attraction is there not more promotion of it they could do for park guests !???