Who knows what the fate of the CoP will be, but I feel it will be an extreme loss in the sense that this is the only attraction in all of Walt Disney World that had personal creation by Walt Disney let alone along with some of his original Imagineers at WED. It also, I believe if you were to exclude Cinderella's Golden Carousel....than the CoP is the oldest attraction at WDW, only because of the first three sets and clothing wormn by the AA's are still 1964 original.
We have to remember that the CoP sits off to the side of tomorrowland. Not in the center or near the middle like it did at Disneyland. Even the 1975 facade of the CoP here in florida is no where near is a nice or as appealing as the 1967 facade it had in california.
Also the CoP recieves no major advertising at all. Plus, the size of the theaters were really meant to hold the audiences at the world's fair. Now yes Disneyland had quite a crowd for the CoP as did florida's crowd in the 70s into the early 80s.
But any amount of people will get sucked right into the theater itself because a new one that can house over 200 people becomes available every 4 minutes!
Also there is nothing even over there besides Buzz that would even draw attention to the CoP including, the amazing guest capacity the theaters can hold, the meek facade, and no major advertising.
Plus with the galaxy palace theater mostly unused, no skyway, and a new ride or attraction that could easily occupy the land over the galaxy palace theater and old skyway station all the way to the CoP itself could easily offer a new and exciting whole other area to tomorrowland!
I have never liked the current 1994 version of the CoP. It is very dull, and is in nothing like the spirit and true positive nature of the original 1964 CoP.
What do I suggest be done? If the CoP can be allowed to stay at WDW, then I say rehab it into its original 1964 presentation. Now granted we might see the show in the wrong direction because the 1964 and 1967 presentations were in clockwise motion, but regaurdless....
Tomorrowland is no longer about the future....however the CoP and even space mtn in its own way, could very well be the only attractions that give us an uplifting if not retro approach.
The CoP could easily be the tomorrowland metro retro historical society theater and maybe can even have a real sponsor. But why not have the show end in the 1960s, why not have a new 4 minute pre show explaining all of this, and better showing the walt disney connection, etc, why not landmark this ride? This ride in my opinion is too precious, too historical to be demolished or forgotten, it has so much potential, especially if one can image it still existed, refurbished next to two new rides sitting next to it.
It would be a relief of the criticism of people saying why is the last seen so outdated, when you set the ending seen way abck to the 1960s and can explain why in the preshow. Also people here speak of updating the finale and adding in a new scene. If we did that we would be destorying one or all of the only three original scenes left! Either the CoP keeps updating its finale to the point where 1940s to God only know what looks really questionable, we keep the original ending and let it be, or we take a horrible chance and significantly alter the only 3 original pieces left of the ride.
The CoP could really pull it off, it certainly isn't now, and it deserves better because it used to be better. :wave: