Carousel of Progress COP

[copcarguyp71]

That's easy....it's the list my wife puts on the refrigerator for me to cross off one at a time on the weekends!

 

[Camp]

The Carousel's final scene has not been updated since 1993. I believe that one of two things need to be done with it:

A. Since the original show showed the progression of technology over a period of 6 decades in 20-year intervals, it should be rehabbed so that the opening scene takes place in the 1950s and the final scene takes place in the 2010s, with the middle two scenes taking place in the '70s and the '90s. Once every decade, the show would need to be rehabbed, discarding the "oldest" scene and creating a new final scene set in the near future. It is safe to say that this will never happen.

B. Since the show is already called "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress", and the first 3 scenes are pretty much identical to the 1964 show (minus the plugs for GE, of course) why not just rehab the final scene back to the 1964 version as well and turn the whole thing into a museum piece? That's pretty much all it is anyway. This would also turn CoP into the kind of attraction TDO likes best (next to a closed one): the "timeless" kind that only ever needs basic maintenance.

The show as presently constituted really bugs me because you start out taking 20-year jumps through time, from the 1900s to the '20s to the '40s, then you take a huge 50-year jump to a sort of "late-90s-that-never-were".

That was the exact conversation I had with my wife after viewing the show.

The song had more stayng power with the kids than "Small World" did thank goodness.

Also the suggestion to put this in Epcot as a classic is a very good one IMO.

 

[JWG]

What is "TDO"?

Team Disney Orlando

 

[mp2bill]

Yeah, the look of everything is quite dated. The technological ideas/theories are still future-ish (voice command of the oven), but they could update the appliances and architecture with some prototypical ideas.

 

[parkgoer]

To refresh your memory..


found this picture on google. You can't see the appliances very well, but you can get an idea. Notice that computer she is on, ancient!!

This is what I'm talking about. At the very least, couldn't they replace that laptop with a prop? it's not even on even tho it looks like she's using it. come on...

 

[Innoventions]

I say move it to EC for a progress themed pavilion!

You mean like horizons :brick:

As much as i want it, wont happen, over done with, moved on

Leave COP the way it is, even backtrack to its Worlds Fair glory, but then again it would lose it place in tomorrowland if that is done, IMO.

O and by the way as a fan of cohesion in lands, doesn't it make sense to have Captain EO in tomorrowland not "Imagination", i know it was originally there but it kills cohesion of the Imagination Institute :shrug: (rant over)

 

[musketeer]

I say move it to EC for a progress themed pavilion!

Oh yeah, just move it. That's free to do I guess. So putting this attraction in a more (arguably) suitable themed setting is more important than using that money to make something new.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I love the CoP. Always have. That said, when I watch the show I get the overall feeling that the attraction is tired. It definitely needs love. There's so much potential for greatness in this often overlooked show. I think it would be amazing if the AA's throughout the entire show, every vignette, were updated to the more advanced ones. Maybe we could see more movement of the characters. They could do a lot without ever altering the script or voices, just make the figures more animated and less robotic or plastic. As for the final scene in the "future", it would be tedious requiring frequent refurbs and constant cash flow to stay on top of keeping it truly futuristic. Maybe a good alternative would be to recreate this scene into a timeless retro-future scene sort of like the styling throughout Tomorrowland. They could base the retro-future as a look forward from the era that would retain the timeline's continuity from scene to scene. It could be almost Jetson-esque. Again, you wouldn't need to change the script or voices. The entire theater needs updating and love. Seats, carpet, queue, overhaul the whole thing so it feels brand new. If they can make the exterior exciting & inviting to the younger set I feel like it would bring more interest & increase it's number of guests.

Now, the likelihood of TDO being willing to spend what it would take to completely overhaul the CoP right without cutting corners so that the result isn't watered down is pretty slim. Other far more popular attractions have needs so I don't feel like CoP will be high on the priority list anytime soon. But one can always dream.....

 

[Mr. Morrow]

Oh yeah, just move it. That's free to do I guess. So putting this attraction in a more (arguably) suitable themed setting is more important than using that money to make something new.

Guess you have no clue what you are talking about. It was moved from DL to WDW back in the 70's.

 

[rodserling27]

Just a few prop and costume changes for the final scene along with removing the "Car phone" line would make the final scene perfect. No need for anything more than that.

 

[musketeer]

Guess you have no clue what you are talking about. It was moved from DL to WDW back in the 70's.

Why do I have no clue what I'm talking about. I'm fully aware of the move in the '70s. Was it free to do that?

My point was, why spend the money and resources to do that when they could be used for something else, something new, something more productive.

I don't really see your point. What does the move from Califonia to Florida have to do with what my post said?

 

[Yankee Mouse]

Notice that computer she is on, ancient!!

This is what I'm talking about. At the very least, couldn't they replace that laptop with a prop? it's not even on even tho it looks like she's using it. come on...

I am not really big on changing much in CoP but this is a really good point. You could make some minor changes to the final scene and it wouldn't affect the way the script is at all. Maybe change the video game and the laptop, make it like a holographic type laptop.

I guess the big question that it comes down to is: Does this scene represent the future or does it represent technology in the 90's? I did read somewhere the ride represents progress in the 20th century and if that is the case, it should be left the way it is.

 

[wolf359]

I would like to see a return to the original 1964 World's Fair version, with the original audio, original father, and return the final scene to it's original "60s future" appearance.

It is an original, it is a classic, and I would rather see a completely retro show, one that hasn't been seen before at either Disneyland OR Walt Disney World instead of feeble attempts to alter the final scene further and further from the original version.

As it stands now, I think the final scene works as a "look ahead to the 21st century" in the context of 20th century thinking, but that isn't particularly clear to many people right now.

I would also love to see superior Audio Animatronics, especially for the four fathers...in their current state they do not stand up to close scrutiny at all, which is sad as they are the focus of each scene.

 

[wizards8507]

I would like to see a return to the original 1964 World's Fair version, with the original audio, original father, and return the final scene to it's original "60s future" appearance.

I think this would be wonderful. Unfortunately, I think it's about as likely as Jack Sparrow being removed from PotC or, for that matter, Beastly Kingdom opening a week from next Tuesday. I don't think a ton of people have much appreciation for Walt's originals any more. Then again, maybe Walt himself would push for progress over nostalgia...

 

[mp2bill]

To refresh your memory..


found this picture on google. You can't see the appliances very well, but you can get an idea. Notice that computer she is on, ancient!!

This is what I'm talking about. At the very least, couldn't they replace that laptop with a prop? it's not even on even tho it looks like she's using it. come on...

Too true!

 

[Mr. Morrow]

Why do I have no clue what I'm talking about. I'm fully aware of the move in the '70s. Was it free to do that?

My point was, why spend the money and resources to do that when they could be used for something else, something new, something more productive.

I don't really see your point. What does the move from Califonia to Florida have to do with what my post said?

I know because moving it down the street is beyond the scope of what Disney is capable of