Originally Posted By RoadTrip I spent today at WDW's Magic Kingdom and I have to say that two under-rated classics impressed me more than anything else... The Carousel of Progress and the Country Bears Jamboree. It was a different kind of visit for me today... I looked at it as potentially my last visit to the MK ever. With my health issues I can no longer take the "next trip" for granted. I certainly believe I will still be here, but whether I would be up to a WDW vacation is unknown. So I really tried to soak in every detail of what I saw today. And there is SO MUCH in both CoP and the Country Bears. Frankly the Country Bears surprised me the most. It truly is a classic... the humor is both "pie in the face" and at times quite subtle. The interaction between the various animatronic bears and the "heads on the wall" was enormously enjoyable. Disneyland may be the better park and probably always will be. But those of us whose "home" is WDW should be HUGELY grateful that those two classics have survived there.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I'd like to see CoP restored to its original state, with the original fourth act, and the exit past the Progress City model.
Originally Posted By oc_dean What's happened with your health to be having second thoughts of ever going back to WDW? Regarding those attractions, I can understand the sentiment between those .. and the faster pace of newer attractions built since then. What gets lost on newer generations, that everything has to be In-your-face stimulation. But sooner or later .. those same people get older, and start to appreciate them. Probably one of several reasons why those attractions continue to exist.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I agree that the Country Bears are great, and unfortunately are skipped too often. In a park with 4 big AA shows (CJB, COP, HOP, Tiki Room) it can feel like too much of one thing, but the Country Bears are a lot of fun. In recent visits (since they edited the show) I've been surprised by how relatively-full the audience has been (not to mention enthusiastic), even on quiet days in the park. I still prefer the Vacation and Christmas show myself, but it's a lot of fun regardless COP is a classic, and it's neat how it's kind of revered as the grand dame of the AA shows. I agree that it needs some updates (maintenance at the very least), and changing Act 4 would do a world of good, but it's still a very good attraction. It's just a shame that they shut it down during thunderstorms, since it's a great place to escape the elements for a while
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<What's happened with your health to be having second thoughts of ever going back to WDW?>> Worsening Emphysema/COPD and Diastolic Heart Failure. Over 40 years of smoking was really freaking dumb and now I am paying the price. Even with supplemental oxygen this trip wasn't easy.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I agree that the Country Bears are great, and unfortunately are skipped too often. In a park with 4 big AA shows (CJB, COP, HOP, Tiki Room) it can feel like too much of one thing, but the Country Bears are a lot of fun. In recent visits (since they edited the show) I've been surprised by how relatively-full the audience has been (not to mention enthusiastic), even on quiet days in the park. I still prefer the Vacation and Christmas show myself, but it's a lot of fun regardless>> I was surprised by the crowd too. The auditorium was FULL. I don't know that I've ever seen that before. And as you mentioned... they were enthusiastic.
Originally Posted By hopemax I don't see CoP as much as I used to, because the state of the attraction bothers me. I do watch the Bears more frequently, and it's interesting to watch the audience. Yes, it's campy but most people seem to be enjoying it (sometimes despite themselves). I like the people who are trying hard not to laugh, and then at some point give in (yes, you really are enjoying a singing AA Bear show). It's like the Muppets, where the humor is actually a lot more adult than what you would think.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "changing Act 4 would do a world of good," Because Act 4 sucks. And it needs a few more acts between 3 & 4.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip "Mama don't whip little Buford. Mama don't pound on his head. Mama don't whip little Buford. I think you should shoot him instead."
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>Worsening Emphysema/COPD and Diastolic Heart Failure. Over 40 years of smoking was really freaking dumb and now I am paying the price. Even with supplemental oxygen this trip wasn't easy.<< Thanks for telling me .. and I'm so sorry to hear the news. I guess at times like this ... we just take life one day at a time, and whatever good days we get .. to not take them for granted. You have my empathy and sympathy.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>Worsening Emphysema/COPD and Diastolic Heart Failure. Over 40 years of smoking was really freaking dumb and now I am paying the price. Even with supplemental oxygen this trip wasn't easy.<<< I understand your situation, both of us were stupid to smoke for all those years and it is catching up to all of us. COPD has occupied my health record as well and although it has been mild so far, it is still a lingering threat. Oh, to have life to do over with our current knowledge. Wouldn't that be nice. There are a few things that I would do differently, that's for sure. Anyway good luck and don't give up. I know that I started a regiment of more exercise (walking) and over the last three years I am feeling a lot better. I don't have the heart situation (yet) so I know that helps a lot. I'm leaving for Europe on Monday for a month long trip and some of those same thoughts have gone to my head... how many more opportunities will I be able to take advantage of. Do while you can and worry about tomorrow when it gets here. In the meantime STAY OFF MISSION: SPACE ORANGE! ;-)
Originally Posted By elene My son is 6 and LOVES the Carousel of Progress. He always wants to see it. It was one of my favorite rides when it was at Disneyland too when I was a kid. I am a HUGE Country Bear fan--although it is hard for me to get used to the cut version--I listened to that record endlessly and know it by heart. My son doesn't like the Country Bears nearly as much but will tolerate it. I think one of my son's favorite attractions is the Tiki Room. I don't know if that would appeal to a lot of kids today. How do other people's kids feel about it? My son wants to see it EVERY trip to Disneyland at least once.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip << In the meantime STAY OFF MISSION: SPACE ORANGE! ;-)>> I had a FP+ for Mission Space, and I went on the ORANGE SIDE!! Survived it just fine. I know what you mean about getting exercise. I had been going to pulmonary rehab three times a week which was basically about 75 minutes of exercise. The nurses there made me stop going in mid-June when my leg swelling became so bad from the heart failure. That is now under control, so I am going to have my cardiologist contact them to give me permission to return. It really did help with my breathing.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Hi RT! I always overhear parents mentioning how much their children love and request a trip on the Carousel of Progress. Makes my vintage heart so happy. Exploring the long gone classics of DL at WDW is the best part of WDW. Of course it will probably be ruthlessly destroyed eventually... can;t make money with CoP or the CB's... I never understand the logic of changing the final scene. It has to be one of the 4 seasons. It also has to represent a compilation of the century as it has progressed. And it has to be entertaining, kinda campy, with a blend of old and new. I don't know of very many families that have a more modernistic looking kitchen than this one that combines a nice family area. And the family trying to figure out the technology... I guess they should be discussing Disney Vacation Planning with those DVC points and their MagicBands on their wrists.! But I love seeing the father mess up the turkey and grandma playing with that wristband technology...talk about futuristic!!! And gramps in the toilet amazed with the auto toilet flush that still hasn't been perfected. Good times with the hope for the future. Can't you just see the little brains storing the scenes in their minds to go home and create a better tomorrow?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA To me, 'Pirates of the Caribbean'' at Disneyland is a high water mark for Walt and the Imagineers. 'The Enchanted Tiki Room' 'Carousel of Progress' 'Mr Lincoln' were also amazing in the 60s, but 'Pirates' brought it all together in an attraction that. In my opinion, still works beautifully in 2015. The fascinating thing about AA technology is that when 'Pirates of the Caribbean' opened in 1967 (almost 50 years ago!), that it was SO ahead of its time, that with the exception of a few upgrades along the way (they've become smoother and The Auctioneer is more advanced), that using AA figures as the star attractions of a theme park show has diminished from what it was in 1967. Some cool and advanced AAs have been created, the Lava Monster in Tokyo Disneysea and even Stich are advanced and amazing. Even feature animation has advanced so much is the last 50 years, it's interesting to note that the fascination for AAs is still there to some degree, but there hasn't really been a jump to the next AA advance. Anyone else get what I'm saying? I have a nostalgic affection for 'Carousel of Progress' and 'The Tiki Room' but I grew up with those attractions, and can understand why younger audiences are more 'eh' toward them.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I never understand the logic of changing the final scene. It has to be one of the 4 seasons. It also has to represent a compilation of the century as it has progressed. And it has to be entertaining, kinda campy, with a blend of old and new. I don't know of very many families that have a more modernistic looking kitchen than this one that combines a nice family area. And the family trying to figure out the technology... >> The final scene is very different stylistically from the others. And the jump in time is much greater than the 20 year increments between the other scenes. But unless you want to make it a "museum piece" by reverting to the original version, I don't know how you could improve on what is there now. Even though that scene has been around for over 20 years now, it still feels current (if a little campy).
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Actually, RT, it now is a museum piece. There is no way to segue into a more modern last scene without changing the rest and that would throw it out of logical progression. I think it is fine the way it is... it starts at the turn of the century and progresses to basically the turn of the next century and what a century of advancement that was. From kerosene lamps to talking ovens and beyond. It frames everything in a way that makes today and tomorrow even more exciting to think about. It will never again be updated as far as scenes go, but, it is a lasting tribute to the start of what a Disney Theme Park really started out as and what we have today. It should never be closed if for no other reason then it was an engineering marvel for it's time. And talk about quality of design. It's still running everyday and it's almost as old as we are. It does seem to stop more, but, that is usually because our super intelligent current generations lack the ability to have any common sense or courtesy toward others.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss "it now is a museum piece ... It should never be closed" If Disney ever does decides to close it, I think it should be donated to the Smithsonian Institution. It would cost a fortune to remove the attraction and rebuilt it in Washington D.C., but I would gladly donate towards making it happen.
