Thoughts on Carousel of Progress

[Goofyernmost]

Exactly.
In it's current form, it's terribly dated and pretty much a poor excuse of an attraction, except for those fans clouded by nostalgia.
I'm all for keeping classics, but not when they're allowed to wither and become completely out of touch with today's world.

Once again, it isn't supposed to be in touch with today's world. It is a show that shows the progression from the past to just before now. It really is a simple concept to grasp. It's history, it can no longer be a predictor of the future, if it ever really was. It is a shining example of edutainment.

For example.. I'm 66 years old and the best I can remember or lived though was the 1950's. I had no idea what life was like before the 50's. I do now thanks to CoP. Frankly anything that has happened since 1948 I have lived through, I know what it was. Those that are much younger then I, cannot relate to anything in the show at all because they never lived it. That doesn't mean that it isn't worth knowing.

 

[Courtney6682]

we have always loved COP...my 14 r old was forced to sit thru it as a baby and toddler...so now she loves it...it's always a must do for us...sometimes more than once


altho I do think the last scene should be redone

 

[Chef Mickey]

Exactly.
In it's current form, it's terribly dated and pretty much a poor excuse of an attraction, except for those fans clouded by nostalgia.
I'm all for keeping classics, but not when they're allowed to wither and become completely out of touch with today's world.

Not sure what you mean by out of touch with today's world. That's kind of the concept. To call it a poor excuse of an attraction is just negative. If you said they've allowed it to wither from a maintenance perspective, I'd agree. If you said you had issues with a few of the show elements, I'd listen as well.

However, the entire purpose of the attraction is to show progress, so by definition, it's going to be somewhat dated. Despite the 1900s, 20s, and 40s being WAY in the past, those times are still extremely relevant to show how life used to be and how it is today. Again, the last scene is somewhat dated, but it still does a good job showing how different life is compared with the past. As I stated, even when the final scene was updated, ALL of that technology existed at the time. It isn't supposed to show how life is supposed to be in the future; rather, it shows how far they've come.

Even if we've advanced a little more now, how would you show that exactly? Have everyone buried in the phones tweeting and posting on Facebook? The speed of computers is better but it really can't be conveyed in a show setting much more effectively than what's there today. Grandpa talks about laser disc and Patricia says car phone, but those silly things can be edited away in the dialogue.

Not sure what else they could do with the final scene other than give everyone a cell phone? They're just sitting around talking about the influence computers have today and reminiscing about the old way and what the future might hold. Like I said before, update the wardrobe and a couple lines in the final scene, and it isn't bad at all.

The real issue isn't the content...that's solid. They just need to give the ride the TLC it deserves. New carpet, new seats, new curtains, and proper audio and much needed animatronic maintenance. With those things, it would be a great attraction. It is great even as it sits today.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I agree with just about everything that you said, with one exception. I don't think that they should touch the final scene. As you described the show correctly as a presentation of how things were and how far we have progress, the final scene is also indicative of where we were. It should stay that way.

Disney needs to do a better job and promoting and explaining the purpose of the attraction. So many people seem to completely miss the intent and put their own erroneous interpretation on it. The problem really is that today's Disney management would really like to see it gone. Maintaining a 50 year old attraction is very expensive and they would like it gone. Obviously many people feel that it should be gone anyway, but, for different reasons. It's to bad, because it is really a wonderful and inspiring show. I know it affected me on more than one occasion through the years.

Not sure what you mean by out of touch with today's world. That's kind of the concept. To call it a poor excuse of an attraction is just negative. If you said they've allowed it to wither from a maintenance perspective, I'd agree. If you said you had issues with a few of the show elements, I'd listen as well.

However, the entire purpose of the attraction is to show progress, so by definition, it's going to be somewhat dated. Despite the 1900s, 20s, and 40s being WAY in the past, those times are still extremely relevant to show how life used to be and how it is today. Again, the last scene is somewhat dated, but it still does a good job showing how different life is compared with the past. As I stated, even when the final scene was updated, ALL of that technology existed at the time. It isn't supposed to show how life is supposed to be in the future; rather, it shows how far they've come.

Even if we've advanced a little more now, how would you show that exactly? Have everyone buried in the phones tweeting and posting on Facebook? The speed of computers is better but it really can't be conveyed in a show setting much more effectively than what's there today. Grandpa talks about laser disc and Patricia says car phone, but those silly things can be edited away in the dialogue.

Not sure what else they could do with the final scene other than give everyone a cell phone? They're just sitting around talking about the influence computers have today and reminiscing about the old way and what the future might hold. Like I said before, update the wardrobe and a couple lines in the final scene, and it isn't bad at all.

The real issue isn't the content...that's solid. They just need to give the ride the TLC it deserves. New carpet, new seats, new curtains, and proper audio and much needed animatronic maintenance. With those things, it would be a great attraction. It is great even as it sits today.

 

[JIMINYCR]

WE still enjoy it enough to add it into our park plans. The evolving scenes and progression through the years flows well. A fine reminder of what life once was and how various changes made life easier and benefitted civilization. Maybe to the younger crowd thats looking for the loud noise and action based attraction it falls short but I can still appreciate the attraction for its place in the park and its not a bad thing to remind us all of what came before. Sadly too many focus only on the now and the future and dont reflect upon the past.

 

[prberk]

Everyone here might be interested, if you haven't seen it in the News and Rumors thread, that D23 is going to stream the discussion about CoP presented this Saturday at Destination D-Attraction Rewind event at the Contemporary. It is available to all members, including free members, of D23, but you have to give your sign-up about 24 hours to be activated. They are having several discussions about the making of classic rides, especially those from the 1964 NY World's Fair, but the CoP one is the only one being streamed. It will start in the 2 p.m. EST hour on Saturday, Nov. 22. I wish I could be there (as my parents went to that fair, and often used to talk about it, and as I love the CoP), but I can't. So the live stream is nice.

Info is here, along with some awesome pics from the original and from the fair itself: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...ion-d-attraction-rewind-this-saturday.893226/

 

[The4mousekeeters]

Just got back today and this was one of our kiddos' (9 & 4 yrs old) favorite rides. They keep singing "It's a great big beautiful tomorrow..." This is a must do each time for our family, or our oldest might revolt.

 

[CheshireCat12]

Those that are much younger then I, cannot relate to anything in the show at all because they never lived it. That doesn't mean that it isn't worth knowing.

I think we can all relate, no matter our age. But I don't care for the end scene either because they do make it seem like this is how the present day looks and it is 20 years out of date. They really need to update that scene. Also, confession time- I don't like the song!!!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I think we can all relate, no matter our age. But I don't care for the end scene either because they do make it seem like this is how the present day looks and it is 20 years out of date. They really need to update that scene. Also, confession time- I don't like the song!!!

It's not my favorite either. My first exposure to CoP was when the song was "Now is the Best Time of your Life" which is my favorite. But, I can tolerate and don't hate "GBBT".

Again I have to ask, why must it reflect today's world. We live in today's world. We already know what is going on now. It would be better left as a frozen spot in history (the end of the 20th Century). That way it is strictly a historical exhibit that doesn't need updating at all. It would also be a perfect ending place to show the degree of progress in just 100 years since the first scene is "around the turn of the century".

 

[pumpkin7]

But, wouldn't they have to remove the word GE out of it as it was the original sponser?

And some of it would be frowned upon as being sexist... such as when Father talks to Mother about getting back to ironing his shirt collars! I know that wouldn't bother many people but it would probably bother enough.

I also would like to express my love for CoP! There's a great big beautiful tomorrow.....

 

[Little Green Men]

And some of it would be frowned upon as being sexist... such as when Father talks to Mother about getting back to ironing his shirt collars! I know that wouldn't bother many people but it would probably bother enough.

My mother already thinks the current ride is sexist, I can't imagine how she'd react to hearing that line.

 

[rsoxguy]

I think that this talk of sexism misses a point made within CoP. The first scenes have the woman subservient to the man. the subsequent scenes, however, progress the woman's role within the household slowly. By the last scene she is the one working at the computer while the doltish husband is the one cooking.

 

[Nemo14]

I think that this talk of sexism misses a point made within CoP. The first scenes have the woman subservient to the man. the subsequent scenes, however, progress the woman's role within the household slowly. By the last scene she is the one working at the computer while the doltish husband is the one cooking.

exactly!

 

[ULPO46]

" Now is the Time, Now is the Best Time, Now is the best time of Your life" "
Honestly this is one of the greatest original attractions at the Magic Kingdom. So it may be outdated, who cares. It's always a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow. It's nostalgic its grand and honestly even though it's not a ride. It's my favorite attraction in the WDWR.

 

[LaughingGravy]

This is by far one of my very favorite attractions. The first time I rode it included the "Now is the Best Time" song, which I do like better than the GBBT. Both songs are equally good, though. The Best Time is just a little more uplifting.
A cleaning up/refurbishment would be nice, though. I am a huge Jean Shepherd fan, but his performance is just a little too rushed in its execution and his voice has a muffled quality, and the attraction deserves better.
The movements of the AAs don't sync up as they should, and that's just a shame in addition to the sound quality not being what it probably easily could be.

The choice of Jean Shepherd was an interesting one, and I do appreciate it. Every time I ride it, I wonder how many others in the audience have any idea who he was.

With all of that, I will still happily ride it at least three times in a trip, each time running in for that first row center seat with no others to obstruct the view, even if I have to wait until the next entrance to get to the front.

The Rex Allen voice was best, and I would be beyond thrilled if they brought it back as a restored version of the Carousel, but I am of course not holding my breath. It was very nice that they have him as Grandpa, though. That's pretty cool.
The ironing my shirts/yes dear line was a true classic and yes the progression (see what I did there?) of how mother advances through the decades as the leader at the computer and the badly cooking father messing up dinner at the end was further accentuated by having the ironing shirts/ yes dear line in there. It created a discussion point, which is now lost due to PC, similar to PotC's women now chasing the pirates.

I know they will not bring those things back, but that's (ahem) progress, for you. (yuk, yuk)

Does Grandma blink her eyes in that last scene, yet? Creeps me out when she doesn't, LOL.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The choice of Jean Shepherd was an interesting one, and I do appreciate it. Every time I ride it, I wonder how many others in the audience have any idea who he was.

I'm guessing some recognize the voice at least as the narrator of A Christmas Story.

 

[scoobygirl39541]

The COP is where I feel the closest to Walt and his aspirations. I ride it to pay homage to his memory.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

You're gonna have to spell it out much slower for this to make any sense.

It's about thinking "Disney" attractions are defined by movie and cartoon charater tie-ins (like most Disney rides built over the last 20 years), rather than quality themed experiences (what CoP is).

 

[englanddg]

I wish they'd stop updating it with "new technology"...I find the whole thing a fascinating snapshot. All you have to do is build an exit pavilion (since it's no longer sponsored) that has "high tech" stuff...

 

[lazyboy97o]

I wish they'd stop updating it with "new technology"...I find the whole thing a fascinating snapshot. All you have to do is build an exit pavilion (since it's no longer sponsored) that has "high tech" stuff...

It is a shame the second floor was lost in Florida.