A Call To Arms!

[yensidtlaw1969]

Really....

The closing of Mr. Toad and Horizons have both been brutally fought and guess who won.....

THAT SHOULDN'T STOP US! Just because they have won before doesn't mean they'll win again. Now, I've never been on the Carousel of Progress, but I KNOW it's a classic. It NEEDS to survive. It was Walts own creation. I like Grizz's ideas in the first post. Once Eisner sees how much of a money maker this is, and how many people will come from wherever to see it, he might decide that this will keep them coming. I know! At the Official Meet this year we should all head over to the COP and have a sit in! We will not get up until they guarantee it's safety. Then we can wear tye dye shirts and chant Kumbaya! Joking about the hippie part. Anyway, SAVE THE CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS!!!

 

[General Grizz]

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[ClemsonTigger]

God bless ya Grizz

Grizz,
I applaud your passion and steadfastness. I will never discourage people defending what they believe as long as it doesn't degenerate to the personal level (as Grizz had unfortunately had to take), involve physical action (chaining yourself to Spaceship Earth, or getting in peoples faces). Whether the feeling is held by Grizz alone, a dozen or thousands, the Mouse house needs to hear.

If they never hear anything, they will feel all their decisions are right, and (like Michael) don't need to consider others in the decision process.

Passion and heart are just to rare, whatever the issue, Go Grizz! :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[ToTBellHop]

I had forgotten that we got their Carousel...my bad

 

[prberk]

Yeah, and we got their Carousel pretty much entirely because it helped make Disney World and the upcoming EPCOT make sense.

I realize that it is in a peculiar spot (that is, constantly needing to be updated and the last room jumping so many years), but the truth is that, without understanding COP, it is harder to see Walt's vision and what the heck made "Epcot" mean anything in the first place. The march of progress, as told in the show, makes things evolve and change, but also the understanding of where they came from gives you a solid footing for building the future. COP really belongs in Walt Disney World, as opposed to DL. It really goes to the core of why WDW even exists....

And, anyhow, I have gone to WDW and ridden COP with MANY different young (and older) people through the years... and I have never heard a young person say that they didn't find it cool, and especially unique.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Yeah, and we got their Carousel pretty much entirely because it helped make Disney World and the upcoming EPCOT make sense.

I realize that it is in a peculiar spot (that is, constantly needing to be updated and the last room jumping so many years), but the truth is that, without understanding COP, it is harder to see Walt's vision and what the heck made "Epcot" mean anything in the first place. The march of progress, as told in the show, makes things evolve and change, but also the understanding of where they came from gives you a solid footing for building the future. COP really belongs in Walt Disney World, as opposed to DL. It really goes to the core of why WDW even exists....

And, anyhow, I have gone to WDW and ridden COP with MANY different young (and older) people through the years... and I have never heard a young person say that they didn't find it cool, and especially unique.

I like it and I ride it every trip, but I wouldn't be exceedingly upset if they removed it to replace it with something better. I also wouldn't mind if they moved it to Epcot. It's a neat ride, but I wouldn't call it a favorite of mine...just something that is fun to see and sing along to right before riding the TTA

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Now I know I blahed about this before, but in my honest opinion, I think the best way to cure the CoP is to expand it. Yes the 20th century is over with,but...

In the 20th century: Walt Disney was born, and died, his creations were made, his thoughts were expressed, legacy remains, his first park, and then mega WDW was built, the world's fair in 1964 occured, and the CoP was born, and the 20th century was the 1st century in which so much rapid progress happened.

In my concept, regaurdless of where the CoP is, what the pavilion looks like, or if there are any other exhibits in the pavilion....

There will be of course two identical load and unload theaters.

Act 1: 1900

Act 2: 1920

Act 3: 1940

Act 4: 1960

The first four acts can be restored to pretty much exactly what they looked like in their original state in 1964, with the exception in the advances of AA's, sound, and lighting.

Act 5: 1980 [This would look like the version that lasted from 1985- early 1990s]. The original version from 1975-early 1980s is too 70s, and the current 1994 ending is too 90s. :lol:

Act 6: 2000 A completely brand new act. Maybe just the immediate family, mother, father, james, patrica, and rover in their den, lap top, cell phones, etc featured...the way 2000 really was.

Act 7: (bonus act) "Tomorrow". So the CoP will not fade into history, but continue to "pro-gress", "Tomorrow" will be the final act, and can always be updated. A year, holiday, or time of year should not be mentioned. I suggest it be remeniscent of how the CoP originally ended with both Mother and Father, and rover in their living room. Though they would have aged into grandparents, much like they were in Horizons. If they gave inspirational words toward the end, I think it would all help show that "there's a great big beautiful tomorrow".

Now the show will be long. If you figure each act is 4 or 5 minutes long, then it can be around 45 minutes. I somehow think if they make this a fun and entertaining show it will "go by", much quicker than Ellen's Energy Adventure, which is about the same time span.

 

[prberk]

Hey Expo Seeker,

Good ideas, except the carousel itself would need to be rebuilt. Too costly and unnecessary I think.

I think we could accomplish your acts 5 & 6 by either moving the whole thing it to EPCOT or using existing space outside of the carousel to put a new, exit space. First you could exit into a "pre-show" type of area (only it would be post show) that is a room or walk-through that has the family in either '80s or '90s era garb and technology talking about how much came true in the 20th century, the century where technology really blossomed, and wondering about the future.... then you move forward into another area altogether that leaves the future to some imagination.

Perhaps if if is moved to Epcot, the "great big beautiful tomorrow" or imaginative vision of the future could be represented by opening out into the Imagination or Innoventions pavilions, after a voice-over or audioanimatronic admonition to "keep building on the progress of the past, and marching toward that great big, beautiful tomorrow!"

That would make a lot of sense, and really give concrete meaning to the connection between the Carousel and Epcot, and ultimately the dream of WDW.

[If it is not moved, a similar "post show" could still be added that ends with the same admonition, and perhaps a subtle reference to the dreams and ideals of Epcot!]

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Good thinking prberk. See, I give the carousel two options to continue it's life. We can't/They can't allow the carousel to constantly update the last scene, it will be way to big of a gap between 1940, and...whatever year they place it in.

So many of us agree, the CoP should move to EPCOT, wether it be inside the old wonders of life pavilion, if it is gutted, or made in a new pavilion, only spot I can think of would be between FW and WS.

My ultimate pavilion: "World of Electricity" or a reuse of "Progressland" would have 3 levels. 1st level would have a certain capacity of guests see all the old concepts amnd skteches of the carousel, and it's history, and versions. EPCOT features would be there. The group then moves up to the second level. Sees the CoP show either in my 7 act/9 theater version, or a restored original 1964 4 act/6 theater version. Third level would be a complete model of Progress City/EPCOT, taking whats left from the TTA model, and adding on to it. Guests then look up into a dome and witness a whole no "skydome spectacular" about future uses of electricity, etc.

Guests go back down to a diff area of the first level and if only the first four original acts are restored, then they can maybe go on a carousel platform and see the 80s, and 2000, and beyond. The core of the circular post show would be stationary with either concepts of new interior homes and appliances or [I wish] a replica of the disneyland monsanto house of the future for some nostalgic kicks.

But either way LOL we mostly all agree that the CoP needs help, needs to stay...forever, do much better in some way/shape or form in EPCOT, and would benefit from a better pre or post show, than just the ride itself as it is today.

 

[prberk]

But either way LOL we mostly all agree that the CoP needs help, needs to stay...forever, do much better in some way/shape or form in EPCOT, and would benefit from a better pre or post show, than just the ride itself as it is today.

Yep. At Epcot or not, the Carousel is a great ideas still and needs to stay at WDW so that more people "get it" about WDW and Epcot overall. So, in this context, a new pre- and (especially) post-show could really do the trick... especially a post-show that encourages you to imagine a future built upon the progress of the past.

 

[yellowrocket]

I posted this a while back, and the source still claims up and down that its true (keep in mind the source is from the Smithsonian and not Disney).

See, she says that it's almost 100% true... that the Carousel of Progress is being donated to the Smithsonian? It's probably just a rumor, but on the other hand, its something that I haven't heard before.

The rumor goes like this... The Smithsonian is preparing a 40th anniversay exhibit on the 1964-1965 World's Fair. Said rumor states that Disney is either loaning them the Carousel of Progress show (the inner working, not the theatre) or donating it to the museum for the exhibit. The exhibit is supposed to open late next year sometime. Since the American History museum (where its scheduled to be installed) is low on space, the seats in the new theatre won't move, just the stage. The rumor also mentions that Mr. Lincoln may be on loan to the museum, as well, along with a program of his original show. It makes sense. The Main Street Opera House at Disneyland will be occupied for the 50th Exhibit. They are, afterall, 2 of the 4 attractions that are still in existance from the fair.

Any thoughts? Anyone heard this before?

 

[General Grizz]

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[Shaman]

Otherwise, it'd be all the better if they got the current one and WDI build a new version from scratch!

Or what if they loan CoP...then when they get it back, put it at Epcot (with new additions to the show), demolish the old CoP theater at MK, and build a new quality attraction (with no Disney characters) for Tomorrowland....

Wishful thinking? Perhaps. *sigh*

 

[General Grizz]

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[Shaman]

That could work, so far as we know Disney will only make it better. However, no room at EPCOT unless Disney wants to get rid of WOL or Innoventions Plaza.

The later of the two is fine by me....or hey maybe even where the Odyssey building now sits vacant....