Originally Posted By oc_dean Couldn't believe I'm bringing up America Sings in another topic ... and I realize the date .... And it was yesterday ... exactly 20 years ago ... America Sings closed it's doors for good. I thought I'd create this topic to ask .... Was there anyone here on LP who was at the show ... that Sunday night ... 11:59pm .. on April 10,1988? Great memories .... we did some corny stuff .. depending on the song ... I sat front row .. as we threw our legs up in Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay. It was funny watching those nervous Disney Suits .. as if any of us were going to do something to get ourselves thrown out. But it was a great Disneyland moment! Any other of the 239 people there .. from here at LP?
Originally Posted By oc_dean I just made my first ever contribution to wikipedia to the song: Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay. Hope you all like it.
Originally Posted By SBSBelle22 Sadly no. I was merely seven at the time. And didn't know about such things, a ride/attraction closing for good? So what take me on Pirates... said my seven year old mind. I don't think we even went that year, that may have been a year we actually went to WDW Anyway, but they live on, yes? *sings* Zip-a-dee doo-dah zip-a-dee ay. My oh my what a wonderful day
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Yeah I remember being 11 or 12 and riding it one day then about 6 months later I went to ride it and it was closed. Figuring it was broken or something, I never gave it much thought until about 2 years later or so and I rode Splash Mountain for the first time. It was my favorite attraction growing up as a kid, but unfortunately Disneyland is not a museum and things evolve. It was great while it lasted though, still have great memories of the show...
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I do miss America Sings, sadly I missed the last whirl as I was living in the UK, but I did see it on it's opening day. And while I have fond memories of it, I do really love Splash too. But one regret though, my family could have all seen AS together, whereas my wife and I have to use baby switch for Splash.
Originally Posted By Mr X Why was this so many peoples' favorite attraction? ***whereas my wife and I have to use baby switch for Splash*** Okay, either your kids are quite short or else the height rules are different in America. My daughter rode splash when she'd just turned three (thunder and space were no good though).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo My kids are tall, but Jessis still too short, and Mikey is too scared. Remember though, Jess is 2
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Why was this so many peoples' favorite attraction?<< Because there was never anything quite like it. A musical tribute to America. It's just a shame Plectu's Galactic Showcase never became a reality.
Originally Posted By Mr X **Remember though, Jess is 2** I see. I thought she was older. Too bad about Mikey, I think that's a great ride for kids. It is unfortunate that it is SUCH a high drop, it'd be better if it were a little less scary I think.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I recently watched the entire show on youtube. It brought back great memories of my grandmother taking naps.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd Here's the youtube links... Part 1... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1GuVelpDQs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...uVelpDQs</a> Part 2... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lssN5C0fOo&NR=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...fOo&NR=1</a>
Originally Posted By danyoung I have to say at the risk of offending the original poster that I never warmed up to this ride. I'd still see it on almost every trip, like I'd try to see almost every ride in DL. But it was never more than the cheap replacement for the incredible Carousel of Progress for me. I didn't much like their choice of songs, and the silly use of Pop Goes the Weasel never once worked with any crowd I attended with. Sorry, but a big ol' MEH from me.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd I have fond memories of this ride. I was a junior in high school when it closed. I loved this ride, but have never really seen the appeal of the CoP. I don't think that a personal like or dislike should be offensive to anyone.
Originally Posted By danyoung Well, I know the purpose of this thread was to show appreciation for a long lost attraction, and I don't really want to disturb that. I just wanted to throw in my two cents and move on.
Originally Posted By BoyStory Re: #10, sherrytodd, that was my exact thought when I read this thread- I CAN'T be that old, LOL! I was also a sophmore or Junior when the ride closed. I was actually a BIG fan of the ride. I don't remember "COP" so I didn't have that to compare it to. One of my favorite aspects of the show as a kid/teen was the suprisingly high audience participation with the ultra-corny "clapping in unison"- : very "Disneyesque" IMO. Thanks for Youtube links!
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt It was a good show. It was specifically brought in for the Bicentennial, so the subject matter made sense at the time. My issue with it, and so many theater shows at DL, is that it stayed much longer than it should have.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL I loved this ride and for some silly reason my favorite part was the turning of the theatre. No matter how good the video quality, you can't see the disco ball 'sparkles' all over the stage. Just something about all those little blips of light made me happy to be there. That, and Sam the Eagle was totally cool.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo oh ya TMICHAEL - loved clapping along with Yankee Doodle as we spun! Pure Disney joy. An experience you could only get if you went on CoP at WDW or AS in DL. I miss the age where Disney would try to do stuff no one else was doing rather than playing catch up.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Sometimes I think danyoung and I are separated twins... *L* It's probably a generational thing... Those (some?) of us who loved Carousel of Progress from it's very beginning weren't as thrilled about America Sings as those of you who grew up knowing only that attraction. I saw it during the U.S. Bicentennial celebration (proud high school graduate in 1976 and recall finding it "cute and fun" but it didn't knock me out the way that Carousel of Progress did. C of P was an absolute "do not miss" attraction when I was a kid. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for America Sings. But I'm glad you young'uns (danyoung'un the exception ;-) feel the passion for one of your long lost faves, too.
