Carousel of Progress - NEW Rumor...

[Gepettotrevor]

I think Carousel of Progress, along with a great new post show, would fit quite well for families who can't experience Mission Space and Test Track.

That is a great idea!

 

[Gepettotrevor]

Do not cry!

Fight the good fight.

"Discontent is the first necessity of progress!" - Susan B. Anthony, The American Adventure

"Somehow I can't believe there are many heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true." -- Walt Disney

"A single grain of rice can tip the scale." -- The Emperor, from "Mulan"

"You don't have time to be timid - you must be bold, daring!" -- Lumiere, from "Beauty and the Beast"

"Whatever we accomplish is due to the combined effort." -- Walt Disney

"Get a good idea, and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done, and done right." -- Walt Disney

"Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling thru." -- Cinderella, "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes"

Let's Keep On Fighting This Thing and Hopefully Disney Will Come Through And Keep It Open!

 

[CaptainMichael]

Ok, here is the email that I promissed:

For what it is worth, I would like to take this time to talk about the past, present, and future of Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.

First of all, the name of the attraction says it all. This is Walt Disney's attraction. When he was alive, Walt once told his imagineers that Carousel of Progress is to always remain in his parks.

Today, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is in terrible condition, classified as "seasonal," receives little advertisement around the resort, and seems to be an endangered attraction. This is quite unfortunate and a travesty.

In my opinion, a trip to the Magic Kingdom is not complete without a visit to Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. Luckily, I have been fortunate enough to experience the attraction on every visit to the Walt Disney World Resort.

The day that this attraction ceases to exist will be a sad day indeed. I cannot imagine visiting Tomorrowland or Walt Disney World without the assurance that "there's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day."

I propose that Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress receive a rehab similar to that of the recent "It's a Small World" rehab for the enjoyment of current guests and future generations.

I ask you to please take my email into consideration as Walt Disney World decides what to do with this attraction. I believe that we should respect Mr. Disney's wish to keep HIS attraction open. I hope that one day I'll have the opportunity to share Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress with my children.

Thank you and have a magical day!

Michael Anthony Tassin, Jr.
Slidell, LA, Age 17

 

[IDreamOfDisney]

How many have or remember?

Let me start by asking a silent survey. Lets see how you do:

1. How many of you rode COP in WDW?
2. How many of you rode COP in DL?
and the last one...
3. How many of you rode COP at the 1964-65 Worlds Fair?

I can tell you that I rode COP about 25 times during the Worlds Fair? Does anybody else remember it?

COP is about 41 years old. It has been moved across the country and back. Of course it is in dire need of a rehab. Most of us who remeber the Wrolds Fair probably need a rehab.

Walt Disney had ask one thing before he died and that was (I think I got this right) "... of all the rides ... COP should remain untouched" I believe that his wished should be respected.

I have four generations of my family that have ridden COP and we all love it. Can any other attraction boast that? Unfortunatly going to WDW to ride it now is like a crap shoot. It has been closed the past 4 times we have been there.

COP should be kept intact. They should even restore the post show about progress city. Please remember that there is only one COP and has never been copied or cloned.

Well I may have ranted and raved a bit but I would like to see my grand-kids on COP making it 5 generations.

Save COP after all it is a Disney original.

Jay

 

[Lee]

Walt Disney had ask one thing before he died and that was (I think I got this right) "... of all the rides ... COP should remain untouched" I believe that his wished should be respected.

Where exactly did this quote come from? I have heard it passed around for years but I've never found any documentation for it.

Anyway, I voted for moving it to Epcot. The progress message is far more suited to Future World than to the whimsical, fantastical New Tomorrowland.

 

[Laura]

You know, I've been thinking about this problem of Disney replacing all the unique/educational attractions with thrill rides. And I could be wrong, but I think it's Universal's fault.

Before Universal Studios, Disney World was THE place to visit in Florida. People were willing to give educational attractions a shot because, well, there weren't any other choices! If you went to Epcot especially, you were going to have a learning experience, NOT a thrilling experience. And people were fine with that because Disney was such an incredible place it just didn't matter.

But then, bam, here comes Universal Studios, and then Islands of Adventure, and suddenly there is ANOTHER "incredible place" to visit in central Florida. Except Islands of Adventure is all about thrills. Suddenly people were able to have that incredible theming experience AND thrills together in one place. So now there's a choice - you can either go to Disney (which people will judge as tame, educational, for old people, for babies, etc.) or you can go to Islands of Adventure (wild and thrilling!). IOA just sounds like the better option for a young adventurous family.

So then Disney has to make a choice - keep the educational, tame rides and lose customers to IOA, or replace the educational attractions with thrill rides and stay on top of the competition by doing so.

To me, it just seems like Islands of Adventure is putting the pressure on Disney to keep bringing in thrill rides. I bet if it wasn't for IOA Disney wouldn't be making the decisions its making.

 

[IMAGIN'Rwannabe]

Keep the ride!!

So Disney would really be plunking down some serious $$$ to appease of fanatics.

I think that is the MAIN point. Unfortunately, to keep the AA's running and moving that whole theater around, it takes mega electricity! They have been running it seasonly hoping that people will forget about it and allow them to put in a less expensive attraction. I think it is too bad since it is one of the attractions the whole family can enjoy. It does need to be updated and have some TLC. I think they are still using the same AA's from 1964!! :hammer:

 

[DisneyFreak529]

This topic comes up and up. I think this is only a rumor. Yet again lets remember that Walt Disney wants this ride open. Even if it is just a GE commerical it is a classic! Come on the song the script. All it needs is some TLC, if we get ride of all the classics then what do we have????

 

[Pongo]

I just got a report in yesterday, stating that after crowds die down at the parks after Labor Day, the Carousel of Progress may have its last spin in October (2005). The building would remain closed for a period of time as sets slowly begin to get moved out.

But would the sets STAY out?

I mean, call me crazy, but perhaps Disney is getting the upper hand on us and is planning some RADICAL rehab that will bring back the original CoP in a new light. It's impossible for us to always know which rehab is going to go where, and maybe they are giving the Carousel what it finally needs.

I don't see Disney as taking it out during the HCoE, but rather making it better for the HCoE.

Again, call me crazy.

 

[Woody13]

This topic comes up and up. I think this is only a rumor. Yet again lets remember that Walt Disney wants this ride open.

There is no evidence to support your wild speculation. Walt was not so narrow minded as to demand or desire any attraction be kept in perpetuity. If an attraction doesn't make money, it is history. CoP is now history so see it while you can.

 

[Coastieboy00]

Certain people I know that are veryc lose to this have told me it is going to go down for a year or so to do exactly what was done to IASW. It isn't going away.

As for Walt, he wanted change and progress. He beleived in presenting fresh ideas and new attractions to replace worn out old ones.

 

[daveemtdave]

I saw CoP at the World's Fair and to be perfectly honest - I did not like it. When we were down this past December, I rode it again - first time since the World's Fair and again, I did not like it. However, my kids thought it was great seeing the changes -- as they told me, you lived it, now we see it.......I really am not THAT old. Not everyone enjoys this type of attraction, but it does need to be there for those who like it. I can not understand seasonally also - why is that one attraction so expensive to operate compared to a live show. I feel if it is operational, it should be open year round unless it would bring a major snow storm to Florida during the winter.

 

[marlaymike]

I hope this is just a RUMOR. . .

I LOVE CoP!!!

 

[tazhughes]

Hmm, that sounds familiar....Wait, I know, it was called Horizons! but the cars are also familiar, hmm....World of Motion! That was it!

That was the point. The post I was quoting and expounding on discussed trying to combine COP, Horizons and WOM into one coherent story of progress. So I was merely discussing the possibility of incorporating that into Innoventions as the post show. So what exactly was your point?

 

[tazhughes]

Count me in as one who would be outraged at its closing. I think the only thing worse is letting it run with all the problems it is having. It is just bad show, pure and simple.

I personally would love to see this move to Epcot and have it turn into the original concept of show and then showcase of future technology. Innov. West has never had high attendance, and the best showcases there could be moved into Innov East. I think a prominent position in Epcot, a well defined show of "Progress in the 20th century" and a hands-on post show about progress.

I actually like the idea of turning this into more of a ride than show. Use a horizon's like facing-out omnimover to showcase the scenes of the show and do it in a whimsical way like WoM had. Unfortunately, this would have the same maintenance problems all the other Epcot attractions fell victim to.

Yeah I thought about that too. It also may have a problem if it's an omnimover in showing the different side parts of the scenes because you would be moving, so what if they used something more along the lines of the ride in the great movie ride so it could stop and go as needed, while still trnasporting large amounts of people? Just thinking out loud here.

 

[HauntedPirate]

As for Walt, he wanted change and progress. He beleived in presenting fresh ideas and new attractions to replace worn out old ones.

Good point. I don't think CoP is worn out, though. It definitely still sends a message (from my viewpoint, at least), and can still do so.

 

[pat in the hat]

Just my opinion on the CoP and similar rumors . . .

Disney needs to keep in mind that it is important to also cater to the "die hard" fans, and not just the masses. Afterall, we are the ones coming back year after year, and we're the ones raising the next generation of Disney fans (fanatics, addicts, *pick an adjective here*). We're forgiving of 45 minute waits for the buses and increasing room and ticket prices . . . because we "get it." We understand the magic, and can still feel it even in the face of disappointing "shows." We are less likely to trade in our vacation to Disney for Universal, Cedar Point, or any where else for that matter at the first sign of long lines, or attraction glitches.

So while it's important to appease the masses for the numbers game, it's the true fans (like us) who keep them in business! Every business has its "loss leaders" (products/services that may not make cost sense, but do make sense in terms of service to its audience/market) and Disney too needs to be smart about which of the Disney fan favorites (CoP, etc.) that it can no longer (or no longer wants to) afford!

Again, just my opinion-

*steps off of soap box* :lookaroun

 

[thedisneyfan]

This attraction is definitely worth preserving as is except for the last scene which could be given "tomorrows" technology and updates. This was one of Walt's babies and should be preserved for its historic value. America doesn't share enough of Europe's sense of preservation and later we look back and wish that we wouldn't have destroyed that. Hopefully, this is just a rumor! :lookaroun

 

[prberk]

Certain people I know that are veryc lose to this have told me it is going to go down for a year or so to do exactly what was done to IASW. It isn't going away.

As for Walt, he wanted change and progress. He beleived in presenting fresh ideas and new attractions to replace worn out old ones.

He loved progress and positive change, BUT he also loved the preservation of the past. He was balanced in that way, and his Disneyland and Magic Kingdom designs showed it: Tomorrowland balanced by Frontierland; and Fantasyland balanced by Main Street, USA -- through which you had to pass to get to it all...

He was all about balancing a love for (and understanding of) the past with a perseverance into the future with optimism.

I would love to see COP renovated, with a restored post-show walk-through idea. If it is ever moved to EPCOT, it would help put that park into perspective. And it would be great to have its post-show lead into a renovated Innoventions that goes back to being a showcase for new technologies (as opposed to the game area that it is slowing becoming).

Paul

P.S.: If you really want put Walt's futurism into perspective, buy the Walt Disney Treasures "Tomorrowland" box DVD. Great stuff... and narration (from the '50s and '60s) by the voice of the Lost In Space "Robot"!

 

[prberk]

To "Pat in the Hat": I agree with paying attention to your best customers. Taking them for granted doesn't do much to cultivate new "diehards" to take their place, either.