Carousel of Progress Building Confusion

[MouseRight]

I am confused about the WDW Carousel of Progress building and ride machinery. I had always heard that the WDW COP building was the original COP building/machinery from the 1964-1965 New York's World Fair. Story I heard was that COP went from the World's Fair to Disneyland in CA in teh 60's and then to WDW in the 70's. Yet in MousePlanet yesterday there was an article about America Sings which replaced COP in Disneyland and appears to have used the same building/machinery? I have never been to DisneyLand (Hope to go for the 50th Celbration next year) so I don't know much about America Sings other than what I read yesterday.

All I have ever heard about WDW's COP is that WDW is afraid of it permanently breaking since it is the original (40 years old) machinery and it is under the building and can't be replaced without taking out the buidling.

What's the Real Story??

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Hi "Mouseright"!

The carousel of progress was originally part of the general electric pavilion at the 1964-1965 new york world's fair. It's original theater, mechanisims, and pavilion were not part of the move to disneyland.

From 1967-1973 the carousel of progress had a brand new pavilion, theater, and mechanisims. When america sings was placed inside the former disneyland carousel pavilion, they used the same theater and mechanisms.

When the carousel of progress went to WDW in 1975, it had a brand new theater, new mechanisms, and new pavilion, this has still remained to this day, with the exception of some cosmetic changes the pavilions exterior. The carousel theater in WDW is different than the two by a few things, one being very different. The WDW theater rotates counter clockwise aka to the right, the carousel at the fair and disneyland both rotatated clockwise aka to the left, thus all the acts were in a different order.

I don't even think the carousel core of the pavilion is the 1964 original, only the sets are the same, and Acts 1,2,3, and 4 have all had changes to their sets and Audio Animatronics, the most significant in Act 4 which went from christmas 1960 to christmas of the future to new years eve 1970 to new years eve 1980 to the 1994 version of what the holiday season of 2000 was going to look like, which is the present finale of the show.

Even the load and unload theater sets are differnet. Both during the 1964 and 1967 version they were the same sets. Giant electric screens called "kaledophonics" lit up to the rythm of the song "beautiful tomorrow", also the GE logo was embossed in the center. When the carousel moved to WDW in 1975 one theory I heard was that the "kaledophonics" shattered during the move, and because the cost was alot, they simply added a shimmering silver screen to the load and unload theater witht he GE logo still emobossed in the center, when GE dropped sponcorship in 1985 a new logo was added to the theater, and in 1994 the current logo was added resembling gears to a mechanism.

It's not so much due to the present theaters age thats the problem, it's due to the lack of maintence and respect this ride, "Walt's Favorite" deserves.

 

[Sloan]

great answer!

I'm not even going to ask Expo_Seeker40 how you know all this, but what a great response! Thanks for sharing. :sohappy:

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Thank you Sloan! I have done alot of research on this great attraction. It is really shocking to read about all the changes it has gone through, both cosmetically, and mechanically. It is technically one of the oldest attractions on WDW property, but when you think about it, with respect to the sets of Acts 1,2,and 3, that pretty much is overall, the only remains from 1964. Everything else has either been updated or upgraded.

It gets me every time, seeing, or being in the 3rd theater version, as it rotates counter clockwise, knowing that the first two theaters went in the opposite. I don't know, maybe some guys got drunk and installed it backwards, or maybe because most people are right handed, it feels "correct" to move to the right. :lookaroun

Most people don't realize how many changes this attraction has gone through. I'm glad I am of help for this. LOL I guess I gave General Grizz a vacation! I think what people find most shocking, is that they aren't in the original theater, aren't going in the original direction [clockwise], and not even the load and unload theater settings are original, most of it is either 1975 or 1994 fixes.

 

[FatBoy976]

Hi "Mouseright"!

The carousel theater in WDW is different than the two by a few things, one being very different. The WDW theater rotates counter clockwise aka to the right, the carousel at the fair and disneyland both rotatated clockwise aka to the left, thus all the acts were in a different order.

Actually, the fact that one theater rotates clockwise and the other counter clockwise is not really that big a difference. Both the theater in DL and the one in WDW should be able to rotate in either direction. I'm talking purely from a mechanical standpoint. The show would obviously make no sense if rotated backwards.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

I agree with you on that. Obviosuly it would make no sense for us to start out in 2000 and work our way to the dawn of the 20th century.

I'm just saying that originally the show was presented with the carousel theater moving to the left, and of course that ment the first act was to the left, but for whatever reason the 3rd incarnation of the carousel theater was designed and built, and rotates to the right, thus act one and all the other acts are on our right.

I just don't understand why this was done. It doesn't effect the show, but on a historical note, it's just "different". The first two versions had the theater rotating to the left, and the WDW version has it rotating to the right. Maybe they wanted that way, and to be "different", but like you have said they can most likely make the theater rotate any way they want, but of course unless they had the acts designed to the left of us theater sitters, it would make no sense for the ride to degress if the carousel immediatly started turning to the left.

 

[Pixie Duster]

I really, really, really hope it does not close forever like it seems it's going to one Stitch's Great Escape opens.

 

[jcraycraft]

Here is link with some great vintage video and history.


http://www.carouselofprogress.com/main.htm

 

[General Grizz]

I really, really, really hope it does not close forever like it seems it's going to one Stitch's Great Escape opens.

Don't worry. If this happens, Disney and its management are going to get it.

. . .

GOOD.

 

[OliveMcFly]

I have read that a CM was killed in AS. She was crushed by the moving walls. After that, AS went through rehab complete with break away walls.Read About It Here

 

[scottnj1966]

pictures or video

I don't even think the carousel core of the pavilion is the 1964 original, only the sets are the same, and Acts 1,2,3, and 4 have all had changes to their sets and Audio Animatronics, the most significant in Act 4 which went from christmas 1960 to christmas of the future to new years eve 1970 to new years eve 1980 to the 1994 version of what the holiday season of 2000 was going to look like, which is the present finale of the show.


You seem to know alot about the show. The first time I saw it was 1977 I think. I remember sometime after they changed the last scene to a new modern look. what I cannot remember was the original last scene.
I have video of the second versionbut after GE left there sponsership. It was the same secodn show except GE was not mentioned and the round GE sign was now replaced.

I took my own video of the show last year. It sure made a big change in the script and song. I know it is the original song fromt he 60's but Now is time will always be in my mind for the song that belongs to it.

Do you happen to know where I Could get soem pictures of that last scene of the first version at WDW? or maybe even a video (i know it would have come from 8mm).

Thanks

Scott

bigfloridacountry@cfl.rr.com
www.bigfloridacountry.com

 

[marni1971]

Hey Expo! Het Scott!

Great discussion - very interesting! Last night Steve (WDWAdmin) got my Carousel of Progress Now is the Time Tribute video, hopefully it will be available on WDWMagic soon. The full show shot on SVHS, with full source audio.

Scott - I don`t think there was an earlier version of act 4 at WDW from the one in my video - I may be wrong and please correct me if I am (or if you find out). The setting does look `1980` in design, and the rear screen TV footage is definatley vintage 70`s!

 

[General Grizz]

I have read that a CM was killed in AS. She was crushed by the moving walls. After that, AS went through rehab complete with break away walls.Read About It Here

Very tragic.

This week was the anniversary; read a lot more about it here: http://www.mouseplanet.com/david/dk040708.htm

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Hey scott, yes you're in luck! There is both a color and black and white photo of New Years Eve 1970. This set, included its two succesors are overall the same since 1975, of course the intricate decor and clothing/hairstyles is different.

The "unofficial" world's fair website of 1964 has a picture of it in color. I'll send you the link. Also the carousel of progress website has a black and white picture of New Years Eve 1970. This act was best remembered I supposed because the family actually did the 10,9,8,7... count down to new years. This was not the case with the New Years Eve 1980, where only the tv described events around the world and a fire works display at the magic kingdom.

The carousel of progress website, through their tribute video either real player or windows media, shows vintage sound color film of Christmas 1960 at the worlds fair and Christmas of the future at disneyland. The disneyland version was a simple cosmetic upgrade from the original 1964 act IV ending. It featured Mother and Father in their EPCOT home.


http://nywf64.com/genele10.shtml

http://www.carouselofprogress.com

 

[aimster]

The carousel theater in WDW is different than the two by a few things, one being very different. The WDW theater rotates counter clockwise aka to the right, the carousel at the fair and disneyland both rotatated clockwise aka to the left

At Disneyland, the theatre rotated clockwise for Carousel of Progress and counter-clockwise for America Sings. That's how the cast member got crushed between the walls 30 years ago. You can read possible how/why it happened in the link to the article on Mouse Planet that someone else already posted here.

And... I loved America Sings. I remember seeing it when I visited Disneyland in 1986 and I think again in 1989 before it closed. Was a really fun show. I even had a plush Sam the Eagle, who was the host of the show. I'd love to see some kind of redux of that show.

 

[Testtrack321]

You forgot to mention the fact that the Disneyland version of the ride is the only one that's two stories tall.

 

[mickhyperion]

Sorry folks, I hate to disagree but the America Sings carousel and the current Carousel of Progress at WDW move(d) in the same direction - counterclockwise. It has only been since America Sings was removed that they switched the direction to clockwise for Innoventions. I went on AS more times than I can count, and CoP likewise, and they both turn(ed) to the right.

 

[General Grizz]

Confirmed: WDW's CoP and DL's America Sings turned right/counterclockwise.

Disneyland's CoP turned left/clockwise.

America Sings - - IMPRESSIVE show! I wish Disney would give WDI enough budget to do something to this degree again.

 

[mickhyperion]

Thanks for the confirmation, Grizz. And YES, America Sings was my favorite attraction at Disneyland of all time!! It was a masterpiece that they should be shot for removing/eradicating completely. The only consolation is seeing most of the characters in Splash Mountain. But it was the ***MUSIC*** that made it a great show, on the scale of the Country Bears (also eliminated for Disneyland). I don't think they like quality entertainment in LA.

 

[FatBoy976]

You forgot to mention the fact that the Disneyland version of the ride is the only one that's two stories tall.

That is correct! Here's some more cool info. There used to be a model city on that second floor, Walt's vision of the future city. That cool model city now resides along the Tommorrowland Transit Authority's track in WDW. Of course TTA will always be WEDway to me