Thoughts on Carousel of Progress

[ParksAndPixels]

I do like the idea tossed out about the final scene of everyone with a phone or tablet. The host can just be staring down at his phone, for 5 minutes and say, "I'll be right with you folks..." Lol

 

[Communicore]

Its the place i head to for a power nap - you can get some good sleep in there, all stretched out, air conditioned ... just get myself in there, lie down, and sleep for a good 20 minutes - really freshens me up.

Yea I've taken tons of naps there. It's the best!

 

[JordanNite]

Yea I've taken tons of naps there. It's the best!

Yeah what's really good about is the seats are usually empty - and some seats don't have hand rests, so you can really lie down to the max and get some good sleep. Put some noise cancelling earphones on, and it really freshens you up.

 

[Doodlyday]

I love it. Though underrated, it can be an advantage. (There's more room for me!)

 

[Victor Kelly]

I prefer Universe of Energy for naps, too much noise in CoP

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

They should play this in the last section as we exit

 

[Bugz]

Does anyone else feel like COP is a truly underrated attraction? Whenever I get there, there's never a line (or anything remotely close to even a group of people assembling) and inside, not everyone is always awake. Also, some of those quotes just make it such a fun ride to go through. Something about the way that his "lumbago isn't acting up" gets me every time.

I recommend it to first timers as a fun stop, and no one ever shares this same enthusiasm. I know its not what most people consider a must-do, but I think it's at least notable.

Seriously though, am I the only one who makes it a point to hit COP every time, if not multiple times, a trip?

Its a must do ! We love it and make it a point to go on it.

 

[Fordlover]

we hit it every time, thought typically only once per visit.

 

[Mizchief24]

I love COP I would hate it if they ever closed it. There are to many originals that have been "remade" or taken out

 

[BoarderPhreak]

CoP is one of my favorite attractions, and a must-see with every visit!

For better or for worse, you can count on Disney for not messing with it. :/

 

[Goofyernmost]

CoP is one of my favorite attractions, and a must-see with every visit!

For better or for worse, you can count on Disney for not messing with it. :/

How I wish that were true, but, it isn't. In my opinion they are just biding their time. The technology of CoP is 50 years old. Although built, primarily in the time when people did quality work, it will not last forever. I see Disney doing token maintenance for the rest of it's life, but, when it does die, the idea that the technology no longer exists to repair it without a complete rebuild will end its tenure. They tried to put it away in the late 90's, but, at that point didn't have the ability to convince a loyal following that it was anything but classic.

I'm sure if you have just read through this thread you will see many instances of people that think it is boring, think it is out of date and used only for naps and escape from the heat. As time goes by, the "loyal followings" will no longer be participating in the fan world and at that point it will be replaced. Remember, enough time has passed that a large portion of the current generation respond to the name Walt Disney as "Walt who?" or one that I even overheard from a child and parent at the statue in front of the castle, "Who is the guy holding Mickey's hand?" The reply was "Don't know". I hate to be negative about it, but, I really believe that it will not be around much longer.

 

[Gabe1]

How I wish that were true, but, it isn't. In my opinion they are just biding their time. The technology of CoP is 50 years old. Although built, primarily in the time when people did quality work, it will not last forever. I see Disney doing token maintenance for the rest of it's life, but, when it does die, the idea that the technology no longer exists to repair it without a complete rebuild will end its tenure. They tried to put it away in the late 90's, but, at that point didn't have the ability to convince a loyal following that it was anything but classic.

I'm sure if you have just read through this thread you will see many instances of people that think it is boring, think it is out of date and used only for naps and escape from the heat. As time goes by, the "loyal followings" will no longer be participating in the fan world and at that point it will be replaced. Remember, enough time has passed that a large portion of the current generation respond to the name Walt Disney as "Walt who?" or one that I even overheard from a child and parent at the statue in front of the castle, "Who is the guy holding Mickey's hand?" The reply was "Don't know". I hate to be negative about it, but, I really believe that it will not be around much longer.

I love CoP, a loyal fan and will hate to see her die. I agree on all points. Disney isn't going to be able to keep the 'ole gal held together much longer, the rehabs of the structure and sets are not lasting like they use to. I will be sad say good-bye someday. In reality it indeed should have happened years ago if the emotion was taken out of the decision. Disney is getting better at turning a deaf ear to fans at WDW for the outdated like, Toad, Snow White and slow loading, expensive attractions like 20K. Fans of age have emotional attachments to original attractions. Fans like my children or younger lack that emotional bond to antiquated attractions and are almost in awe of how stupid some of them are/were by current standards for awe. Universal puts up a wall overnight in many cases and antiquated buildings demolished. I believe Disney will in the future stop giving long range notice and just do what needs to be done too.

I understand people not bonding with Walt. I was a small kid when he passed. My folks on the other hand were there for the experience of Disneyland. I was there for the opening of WDW but so small unable to comprehend the fuss or even entertaining the thought of what it took to create WDW. Much like I learned about Pearl Harbor in School but didn't have that emotional connection to the horror like my folks did. I have that for 9/11. My son has that. My DD while she obviously knows and hates what happened does not have the emotion and memories of 9/11 that my son does. I believe that is the type of detached response many have to Walt. They can be in awe reading about Walt but do not have the emotional connection/attachment to a man that had passed before they were born. Walt's ground breaking accomplishments were no longer ground breaking but a standard others tried to achieve. I don't think you are being negative about CoP, I think you are being a realist. I ride it every time I go to the MK knowing in all likelihood it will be gone soon. I anticipate most of Tomorrowland being leveled much like a chunk of the studios is now, building around the most savable Space Mountain which can be re-themed as Test Track has been. There is so much land to be better utilized between the race cars, Buzz, Stitch, Laugh, CoP to bring that acreage into the 21st Century. When Disney decides to invest in that area I have no doubt they will turn their backs on the emotions of fans and re-imagineer the land.

 

[Maelstrom Troll]

Our family bought the Carousel of Progress shirts online and wore them on our MK day. The CoP staff really liked that my four year old was wearing it proudly and commented that no one her age even knows what the ride is. Quality wise, I can't add anything to the conversation except that it didn't smell super musty this trip like it did in the past. I also noticed that they moved the paper mâché Jackolantern to the top of the fridge when I swore it used to be near the kitchen table.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

My parents rode CoP while it was still at the World's Fair, long before there was a WDW - I didn't experience until shortly after the latter.

 

[ParksAndPixels]

I love CoP, a loyal fan and will hate to see her die. I agree on all points. Disney isn't going to be able to keep the 'ole gal held together much longer, the rehabs of the structure and sets are not lasting like they use to. I will be sad say good-bye someday. In reality it indeed should have happened years ago if the emotion was taken out of the decision. Disney is getting better at turning a deaf ear to fans at WDW for the outdated like, Toad, Snow White and slow loading, expensive attractions like 20K. Fans of age have emotional attachments to original attractions. Fans like my children or younger lack that emotional bond to antiquated attractions and are almost in awe of how stupid some of them are/were by current standards for awe. Universal puts up a wall overnight in many cases and antiquated buildings demolished. I believe Disney will in the future stop giving long range notice and just do what needs to be done too.

I understand people not bonding with Walt. I was a small kid when he passed. My folks on the other hand were there for the experience of Disneyland. I was there for the opening of WDW but so small unable to comprehend the fuss or even entertaining the thought of what it took to create WDW. Much like I learned about Pearl Harbor in School but didn't have that emotional connection to the horror like my folks did. I have that for 9/11. My son has that. My DD while she obviously knows and hates what happened does not have the emotion and memories of 9/11 that my son does. I believe that is the type of detached response many have to Walt. They can be in awe reading about Walt but do not have the emotional connection/attachment to a man that had passed before they were born. Walt's ground breaking accomplishments were no longer ground breaking but a standard others tried to achieve. I don't think you are being negative about CoP, I think you are being a realist. I ride it every time I go to the MK knowing in all likelihood it will be gone soon. I anticipate most of Tomorrowland being leveled much like a chunk of the studios is now, building around the most savable Space Mountain which can be re-themed as Test Track has been. There is so much land to be better utilized between the race cars, Buzz, Stitch, Laugh, CoP to bring that acreage into the 21st Century. When Disney decides to invest in that area I have no doubt they will turn their backs on the emotions of fans and re-imagineer the land.

Can I just say this made me wanna cry and go pull out old footage and pics of Walt walking around DL and the WDW site? I wish there was a really great movie about Walt that would help capture younger audiences imagination & respect for what was done.

Sure the technology was very limited but man for what they had to work with, Walt, Roy and the original WED team did some amazing work! I fear in some ways Disney will loose a little bit of its magic as time passes. Not because they don't do a great job today, but because without knowing the back stories to some of this stuff it just isn't quite the same. Sure the parks are great (all our desires for more and better aside), but remembering the Walt in Walt Disney has always put it over the top. It is because of him that in my mind Disney stands well above any competitor no matter what may come in the future.

 

[Gabe1]

Can I just say this made me wanna cry and go pull out old footage and pics of Walt walking around DL and the WDW site? I wish there was a really great movie about Walt that would help capture younger audiences imagination & respect for what was done.

Sure the technology was very limited but man for what they had to work with, Walt, Roy and the original WED team did some amazing work! I fear in some ways Disney will loose a little bit of its magic as time passes. Not because they don't do a great job today, but because without knowing the back stories to some of this stuff it just isn't quite the same. Sure the parks are great (all our desires for more and better aside), but remembering the Walt in Walt Disney has always put it over the top. It is because of him that in my mind Disney stands well above any competitor no matter what may come in the future.

It isn't just the younger than I peeps it is the mindset of the board and Iger. He said something loosely like a few years back that they are not looking back at history but moving forward. It in their minds Disney Parks, nothing more. The board and Iger are detached from history and emotion and it about money and stock, now also stock buy backs. I can see the writing on the wall. I'm braced. I think.

 

[Matt_Black]

It isn't just the younger than I peeps it is the mindset of the board and Iger. He said something loosely like a few years back that they are not looking back at history but moving forward. It in their minds Disney Parks, nothing more. The board and Iger are detached from history and emotion and it about money and stock, now also stock buy backs. I can see the writing on the wall. I'm braced. I think.

At least part of that sentiment comes directly from Walt. "Keep moving forward", as it were.

 

[Gabe1]

At least part of that sentiment comes directly from Walt. "Keep moving forward", as it were.

Yes indeed. So out of context but yeah Walt's words. There are no boundaries with this dude.

 

[TeamRodriguez]

Whenever me & my DH get WDW 'home-sick'. One of us starts singing "there's a great big beautiful tomorrow...". We love CoP and can't imagine a trip without riding it. We know the day may be coming for the ol girl so that makes us love the ride even more. Our motto for CoP...sing it loud and proud!

 

[Goofyernmost]

At least part of that sentiment comes directly from Walt. "Keep moving forward", as it were.

While that is true and it seems to me that if Walt were still alive, other then being very old, he would have taken out CoP a long time ago. That, however, was how everything worked while he was alive. His death naturally changed some of that. Those of us that admire the man and his imagination and courage to see it through to reality, want to have something to directly connect our current time with what once was. A monument of sorts.

Walt would come back and haunt if for some reason we had never changed anything and only kept it as a memory, but, that isn't what happened. Much has advanced, some of it good, some of it stank. Walt had his share of the stinkers as well. However, to maintain the history and the reason for being in existence a few selective attractions that Walt was responsible for or at least had his fingers deep in their conception and design should be preserved at all costs. That doesn't mean that they cannot upgrade things like current generation AA's, but the idea should never be allowed to die at whatever the cost. It's not like they cannot afford it.

A lot of these executives that today spend there days trying to find a way to cut costs, will retire very wealthy, but will have absolutely no legacy that they would want anyone to know about. I hope they are miserable as they count their money and they should be, because they have nothing else and will soon be forgotten.

On the other hand Walt has been gone almost 50 years now and his legacy is there for everyone to see.