Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 They need a time frame of around 30-40 years, but only at the start. So 1900 would be good to start. But then I'd jump to the mid 50s for the Baby Boomers. Then to the 70s/80s -- ancient for some kids -- but relevant to the most people where you could include everything from Dad struggling to tape a Disney movie on the VCR to answering machines and faxes etc ... then you jump to about a decade from now. That's what I'd do. But I'm no Imagineer.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>There's too big of a jump between the third scene (40's) and the last (90's). They need to redo the scenes so the jumps are evened out - I'd start with 1910, and jump roughly 30 years between each scene, so 1910, then 1940, then 1975, then 2010. That should keep it good to go for the next decade.<<< While I agree to a certain extent, there remains one huge problem, at least for me, and that is the exclusion of the historical aspect that quite frankly represents an era that pretty much has no living survivors. The story needs to be told to put the present, or even the recent past, into perspective. Progress from there to here. I was never bothered by the 40 year, or so, gap because I lived within those 40 years and didn't need to be reminded of it. I know where we went from there. Now maybe 40 years from now that era needs to be represented because it will be only history to our children. That presents quite the dilemma for the future of the show because previous to the 1900's not much changed. Not much changed until electricity was harnessed. People cooked and heated with wood fires almost since the beginning of recorded mankind, lighted their world with wax or oil of various origins and the planet was their plumbing system. Not much changed at all, with the possible exception of the shape of chamber pots. I think it is crucial to include the beginning scene to see where we came from for the benefit of those youngsters, of all ages now, that came on board after color TV. Yes, sir...quite a conundrum.
Originally Posted By OldKeyWestie <<Disney doesn't like AA-filled attractions anymore. That's the bottom line. They cost a lot and are expensive to maintain. Many of the top people at WDI these days feel likewise. AAs are passe ... people want thrills.>> So, maybe they could combine Mission Space and Carousel of Progress - time passing @ 2G's. Sentimentalists get to hear "Its a great big beautiful tomorrow.." while the SixFlagers get pinned to their seats.
Originally Posted By nats30 COP should go on and on. How else will the future generations know what life was like in the 1900s? They could change the scenes to show a longer span of time and at the end speculate what life would be like in the future
Originally Posted By NYthrillseeker The only changes I’d made are to the final scene, but just a few. Like the terminology and the Atari graphics on the video game as a few LPers have suggested. I honestly love the COP as it is though, it’s a classic and should remain that way. It’s a great big beautiful tomorrow!! Does anyone else think the father looks like Norm McDonald, or is it just me?
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys Let's update it w/ a new song. How's this ?: Now is the time. Now is the best time. Now is the best time of your life. Life is a prize, live every minute. Open your eyes and watch how you win it! Yesterday's memories may sparkle and gleam, tomorrow is still but a dream. Right here and now, you've got it made. The world's forward marching and you're in the parade! Now is the time. Now is the best time. Be it a time of joy or strife. There's so much to cheer for, be glad you're here. For it's the best time of your life.
Originally Posted By Labuda Yeah, I'm not liking that "Now is the time" thing as much as I do "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow". Lyricwise I just don't like it as much. And, it seems like it's probably a bit more ballady than the fabulous Sherman brothers song.
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 Its been a long time since we were on there, but I have a question... I remember that the dog looked the same even though to much timed passed for it to be the same dog... Unless they got a identical dog LOL... one other thought... they could continue on with the kids growing up and their kids playing games the grand children or great grand children...
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I used to think that the dog never changed either but it does and so does its name. I like Now is the time better but probably only because that was the first one I heard and was such a catchy tune that my kids and I sang it all day and all the way home. I also think it sends a better message. Today is the best day, don't always be waiting for Tomorrow to be better. When tomorrow gets here, it will be today.
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 For those of you who are interested... Here is the complete version of "Carousel Of Progress" text and lyrics.. starting at the introduction to the closing.. <a href="http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id215.htm" target="_blank">http://waltdatedworld.bravepag es.com/id215.htm</a>
Originally Posted By disney pete yeah i vote to keep it as it is for the time being. also great big beautiful tomorrow is my fav.
Originally Posted By Blackie Pueblo What I think they should update is the upkeep and attention to detail. Sadly my wife and I rode this attraction this weekend, and in the 40's... father had two left shoes on!!!
Originally Posted By Marzy I love CoP as it is. I wouldn't mind a few new scenes or if the last one was updated a bit, but only if they made it look the same and "blend in" with the rest.
Originally Posted By jkayjs I go on CoP everytime I'm there if it's open. I'm always afraid it may be my last. Was on it this last Thurs. and to my delight it was pretty full. Part way through a couple got up and left and people actually booed. It was great. And to put the icing on the cake there were folks singing along just like in the old day when I first went out in DL. BTW my vote is to leave it alone for now but spruce it up. But sprucing it up isn't enough as I've posted before Disney has to take renewed pride in this attraction. Redo the area around it and advertise is for the great attraction that it is. After all how many times on these very board has it been talked about how the average guest is not overly informed. If you tell them this is a not to be missed and show them where it is they will go.
Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire Last week when I saw COP, I noticed that to change the last scene, you dont need to do s much. I thnk they should just the clothing and the video game thats on the screen and that would be enough. The dialogue doesnt even need to be changed. That whay you are still sticking to the original.
Originally Posted By Eric Paddon I've been fascinated with the history of COP for years and have written essays on the attraction at several sites, and I think while it's great the attraction is still going, I really don't have much use for the attraction in its current state not so much because the last scene looks so creaky, but because the entire focus of it is just so wrong IMO. The COP in its NYWF, DL and original WDW versions were always trying to keep the focus on celebrating progress and keeping a forward vision, but the current version is just a monumental exercise in self-indulgent nostalgia that too often undermines the whole purpose of the original show, especially when I keep hearing the late Jean Shepherd's declarations that "Lindbergh will never make it" or "The Wright brothers will never fly". In a new version, I would at bare minimum make the Father an intelligent voice of authority like Rex Allen and Andrew Duggan were in the previous incarnations.
Originally Posted By dresswhites i may be alone in this, but when i saw it for the first time about 2 years ago i was bored. I like the concept of the carrousel theater, very unique. But the Carrousel Of Progress just seems really stale and dated to me. I some times think perhaps the Carrousel Progress is popular to some because it really the one attraction at WDW that is so connected to Walt. Part of the magic at Disneyland is that so much of it was touched by Walt. the Magic kingdom at WDW seemed cold to me. I enjoyed it, but there seemed to be a spark missing. Perhaps the Carrousel of Progress is a way for Florida to feel close to Walt. It like a comfortable chair or shirt that is worn but it still evokes happiness. Maybe I am overanlysing. America Sings was fun though, but towards the end it was too was fairly dated.
