MK Walt Disney to Appear in Carousel of Progress with New Audio-Animatronic at Magic Kingdom

[Coaster Lover]

First Tron, then Buzz, now CoP... AstroOrbiter just got a complete refurb... rumors of SM getting a retrack and now talk of Stitch... People Mover is fine just the way it is... just got to get them to do something with Speedway and we'll have an all new Tomorrowland (more or less)

 

[Agent H]

First Tron, then Buzz, now CoP... AstroOrbiter just got a complete refurb... rumors of SM getting a retrack and now talk of Stitch... People Mover is fine just the way it is... just got to get them to do something with Speedway and we'll have an all new Tomorrowland (more or less)

Laugh floor should probably be replaced too.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

If they're leaning into the Walt Disney heritage and nostalgia, they should also convert the fourth scene back to a version of the original 1960s iteration while they're at it.

Ok, so if Jean Shepherd goes, who should replace him? Bryan Cranston has a good voice for it!

(I'd prefer Shepherd stays, but it's probably not possible with an entirely updated show...and yes, I know he's dead)

Tom Selleck IMO if you want someone who sounds almost exactly like Jean Shepherd. He provided the voice for a character in Meet the Robinsons who was based on Walt Disney, and he sounds almost exactly like COP's father.

 

[HMF]

It's pretty obvious that the Disney Family's wishes are not respected by Iger's Company.

 

[UNCgolf]

Carousel of Progress is one of my favorite attractions at WDW. While I don't really want to see major changes to the original three scenes, it'll probably be necessary if they're updating the last one, unless they're returning it to the original 1960s edition.

Regardless, I'm pretty happy about this news. I'm usually concerned when they touch the classic great attractions, but in this case, it's welcome because it means CoP isn't going anywhere for the near future.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Building robots of his likeness that give selectively edited speeches doesn't mean some in the company would rather move beyond his philosophies, image and don't have a great sense of attachment to him.

The spirit of Walt Disney as an american icon DOES, indeed, sell.

 

[HMF]

This has the potential to be great or absolutely disastrous.

Judging by WDI's recent track record,I am betting the latter.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Very encouraging...Monsters hopefully leaving MK with HS opening, Stitch is also prime real estate, and hopefully track replacement coming soon for Space Mountain! And CoP & (relatively recent) Buzz news tells me Peoplemover track is also safe for the foreseeable future!

Why would peoplemover shut down after recently getting an entire system overhaul?

 

[HMF]

Exactly. I feel they still over-rely on the festivals for attendance. Moana seems pleasant and I'm thrilled they got rid of the barges, but if they "cut their losses" & replace "Communicore Hall" with the Festival Center they originally planned, do something with the eyesore that the Wonders of Life Building has become, & bring Imagination (at least) to a pre-1999 glory...that'd be pretty nice!

The Festival Center will never happen. It was physically impossible to build the way it was designed.

 

[WondersOfLife]

I can't help but wonder if they'll use the original model for the CoP or make a duplicate to "play it safe."

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

It's not a terrible concept. It all depends on the execution.

 

[Timothy_Q]

Now can they please finish the aesthetic update of the land that was abandoned halfway through

 

[James Alucobond]

It's pretty obvious that the Disney Family's wishes are not respected by Iger's Company.

The family is pretty obviously not a monolith on this issue based on their statements about the attraction in California.

 

[OSUBMac555]

This is great. Very happy CoP is getting some love. It is good to see them investing in refreshing classics alongside the new experiences as well.

 

[EagleScout610]

I think Carousel has needed love and a good refurbishment for a while and Walt seems like a more natural fit here than DL's. It all comes down to execution.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

happy to see COP finally getting some TLC, but i didn’t expect this. when i told my wife about it, her 1st comment was “never thought i’d see the day i’ll need a lightning lane for COP.”

What are we thinking .... Multipass or single pass?

Eh, who am I kidding, they will have different names by the time this reopens

 

[MisterPenguin]

Wait. They're building a Walt robot to fix the unfixable turntable gear?!?!

 

[Smooth]

I'm thinking AA Walt is going to be pretty upset when he finds out about the ROA.

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

I read someone on Twitter saying that they had info that the final scene is indeed getting updated. If that's true then it's pretty remarkable to see something finally happening that has been rumored for decades. The CoP update is up there with Imagination 4.0 as one of those long rumored updates everyone always hopes for every year.

The Walt AA still feels weird to me and I don't see why it's necessary. But at least it fits here.

 

[EagleScout610]

I'm thinking AA Walt is going to be pretty upset when he finds out about the ROA.

Five Nights at Freddy style edition of the show for next Not so Scary where he hunts down Iger and Co in the dark and we watch?