I went on COP for the first time yesterday!

Originally Posted By blueharvest82

I am at the Mk probably once a week, I usually avoid some of the older attractions. I love pirates and HM to no end, but attractions like HOP and COP I usually avoid. So I went on COP for the first time and I actually enjoyed it. I thought the concept of the spinning theatre was great and I loved the story line.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

I love it too, if for no other reason its nostalgic value and ties to Walt.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

It is a fantastic attraction... one that deserves far more attention than it gets. I used to think it should be restored to its original form (original final scene instead of the hokey talking oven thing) and preserved as something as a museum piece.

But museum pieces really don't belong in Tomorrowland, so I've changed my mind. I still think the Carousel should be retained, and that the same basic storyline should be used. But I would rip out all of the existing sets and animatronics and start over. Rebuild everything using today's technology.

I would change the scenes to be:

1) Turn of the 20th Century
2) Mid 20th Century (50's)
3) Turn of the 21st Century
4) Mid 21st Century (future)

This would give it a future component to fit the Tomorrowland them, and would bring the other scenes up to date by using current technology to display them more accurately than at present. (Maybe we can even get rid of the guy's rubbery neck that looks like some part is about to poke through and start spraying hydraulic fluid all over.)

 

Originally Posted By Mickeyfan1

Carousel of Progress was always one of my favorite attractions at Disneyland. The original version was the best. After the last scene you did one more rotation but did not get up and go outside. Instead your host or hostess invited you to join them and you walked forward towards the "stage" area where you boarded a "speed ramp" and went to the upper level of the building to see the model of "Progress City" with more narration from Dad. It was great. Later they closed this "exit" and the only way to see the model was to ride the People Mover. Now I have no idea where the model is.

Not up to all the abbreviations some of you use, so not sure what HOP refers too.

So glad you enjoyed the Carousel and remember, "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow....."

<a href="http://clamhead.vox.com/library/audio/6a00b8ea06ece0dece00d09e62cab7be2b.html" target="_blank">http://clamhead.vox.com/librar
y/audio/6a00b8ea06ece0dece00d09e62cab7be2b.html</a>

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

HOP = Hall of Presidents

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

Isn't the model the one that you see on TTA in the Stitch building? Or is that the model that was done for Epcot?

 

Originally Posted By avromark

Couldn't they just add a second story to the theatre and have a nostalgia as well as future story. Wasn't Horizons supposed to be a continuation of COP?

HOP is also a breakfast cereal bar

 

Originally Posted By jonvn

"Later they closed this "exit" and the only way to see the model was to ride the People Mover. Now I have no idea where the model is. "

They never closed this exit while CoP was running. For a short time, you could see the model after CoP closed via the PeopleMover only.

It is now on display on the PeopleMover (TTA) in Magic Kingdom. This is most of the city. I don't think they moved the entire thing. Also, the interactive element of it is gone. Small sections of the city would light up as they were discussed. I tried to take some photos of it as I rode by, but they didn't turn out that great.

What a miserable shame that this thing was broken up like it was. And it's even worse that there are plans afoot to remove the CoP for another cartoon show. That's the rumor, anyway.

 

Originally Posted By Mickeyfan1

Jonvn, the exit I was refering to was when the attraction was originally in Disneyland. And, now that I think of it you are right that is was moved to WDW once America Sings took over the theater in Disneyland. America Sings was a nice attraction, but totally out of place in Tomorrowland.

At least some of us have fond memories of the way things use to be.

Thanks for jarring my memory!

 

Originally Posted By cassiedoodle

when i was in WDW a few years ago, we saw a kid jump out of his seat just as the doors were closing and the theater began to spin.

the "carousel" came to a skreatching halt. then a man came over the loud speaker yelling "PLEASE REMAIN SEATED AT ALL TIMES!"

lol, it was definitely an experience i will never forget!

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

CoP is honestly my fav attraction at the MK. In fact, I only ever go to the MK to see Country Bears, HoP and CoP, as well as to ride the TTA. Add Wishes and Splash and I am done with that park feeling every single other attraction is subpar to their counterparts around the globe.

 

Originally Posted By cassiedoodle

tta is my favorite

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

<<the "carousel" came to a skreatching halt. then a man came over the loud speaker yelling "PLEASE REMAIN SEATED AT ALL TIMES!">>

That doesn't surprise me. A Disneyland cast member was killed by being crushed between the turning walls when the building was used for America Sings.

<<At the end of each 24-minute show, there was a 45-second interval after the audience had left the theater in which the stage moved into position to start a new cycle. Somehow, Deborah got too close to the passway between the moving theater wall and the stationary stage wall.

She may have fallen, stepped backwards or tried to jump from one stage to the other. Fellow operators think she leaned back on purpose because when the building was used for the Carousel of Progress, it rotated in the opposite direction and was safe to lean back to talk to co-workers in adjacent theaters. But Debbie was a new hire; she'd never worked the Carousel of Progress.>>

Source: http://www.mouseplanet.com/david/dk040708.htm

 

Originally Posted By nbodyhome

I think I'm the only one here who is iffy on the COP. I loved the song "Now is the Time", not as much GBBT. Besides that it needs some updating (that last scene has been there forever), I keep wanting to tell the husband/father to get off his butt and do something (help with the rumpus room, get his own drink, etc.).

 

Originally Posted By jonvn

you know...he's a robot....he doesn't ever get off his duff.

In the version at Disneyland, he had a sandwich in his hand and he had taken a big bite out of it...

What a nice little detail.

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

>>>But museum pieces really don't belong in Tomorrowland, so I've changed my mind. I still think the Carousel should be retained, and that the same basic storyline should be used. But I would rip out all of the existing sets and animatronics and start over. Rebuild everything using today's technology.<<<

On a certain level I understand what you are saying, however, I think the "historic" aspect can indeed fit in Tomorrowland. Sure it's not a glimpse into the future but it is a vivid reminder of where we started and how quickly things have progressed. That naturally leads to tomorrow. It is a perfect fit in my mind.

Not only does it stay on as a tribute to Walt Disney but it also serves as a lesson to young people of what things were like before technology advanced at warp speed. As I said before, it is not real impressive to move ahead when you don't even know where you have been.

I'm about to turn 60 and I enjoyed seeing the scenes depicting what life was like before I entered the picture. Why wouldn't looking a short bursts of the past make the other, future based attractions, seem more amazing.

Now as far as upgrading the attraction to be more current technology wise. That's a great idea but one that I'm sure will never happen.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

<<<feeling every single other attraction is subpar to their counterparts around the globe.>>>

I agree with you Dave however, my kids don't, and that's why I keep spending two or more days out of a week in the MK.

Someday I will take my kids to Paris, Tokyo, and elsewhere, but they will be much older by then. For now we settle for WDW and DL. I guess it helps that they don't know any better, LOL.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

I hope they simply relocate the COP if it is taken out, maybe take it over to Epcot or something, update it, I dunno. It's never fun to see an old favorite go away, never, but I know on some level it's necessary.

20,000 Leagues really hurt bad though, and what makes it's departure still smart, is that damn playground. I take 6 kids, some very young, I don't ever go to that playground. It's a waste. If I want a playground, I walk 200 yards down the street at HOME.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

Also, that is great information about the model and the previous exit and the lecture and whatnot. I really wish I could have seen that! I have been admiring that model for years without every having known about what it really was. It's huge now, I can't imagine if thats only part of what it once was, how really big it was! I love that model and you can see it really well when riding thee TTA (some call this the people mover) becuase the cars slow down giving you a chance to look when you creep past the model.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

<<CoP is honestly my fav attraction at the MK. In fact, I only ever go to the MK to see Country Bears, HoP and CoP, as well as to ride the TTA. Add Wishes and Splash and I am done with that park feeling every single other attraction is subpar to their counterparts around the globe.>>

I've never been to Paris, Tokyo or Hong Kong so I can't comment on those parks. But I think you are selling WDW a little short. I believe the following attractions (in addition to what you mentioned) are better at WDW than at Disneyland:

Railroad
Treehouse
Pooh

Hmmm... a pretty sad little list, isn't it?

I guess you are right.

Nevermind.

;-)