Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I have rode COP in Disneyland and loved it.>> Can I pick a nit here? I know CoP could be deemed a ride, as the theater seats *did* revolve around the stage, but I wouldn't call it a ride. I have seen people write it about other theater attractions as well ("I didn't get to ride the Hall of Presidents") and it drives me batty! I know return you to your regular programming.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<someone hit the nail on the head and sounded off loudly when they said that Horizons was a continuation of COP in a sense.>> <<The Carousel of Progress was an interesting presentation in it's day -- the revolving theater is still unique in this day and age. But it was never more than an infomercial with a catchy tune!>> What a coinkydink... both attractions were sponsored by General Electric! If I was a billionaire, I would have Horizons resurrected for the enjoyment of today's and tomorrow's guests. I loved the optimistic futurism Horizons represented, and I'd love to be able to share it with everyone again.
Originally Posted By Boardwalkbum I've said it in threads before and I'll say it in this one again.....CoP ought to be designated a national landmark. The theme of the 1964 Worlds Fair was "Man in a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe". This show represented...and still does represent that theme wonderfully. A "space age" Worlds Fair, it featured (as all Worlds Fairs do of course) the latest technology as well as a glimpse into the future. The '64 Fair was on the verge of 4o years of technological achievement that would dwarf the 50 previous. CoP puts all of that into perspective. Also, the time periods we see reminds us that the 20th century was (for the most part) an American century. The idea and technology of the theatre space itself was groundbreaking and as someone (i think) pointed out is still unique. Walt was way involved in this project and its said was one of his favourites ever. I wish it was still in Flushing Meadows 2 miles from my house. In fact, if they want to move it back to its original location to there I'm all for it. Ovbiously some of you would readily agree to that idea. I'm not that greedy though, and a relocation to Epcot would be ok with me but NOT having it go the way of the dodo. I personally am not terribly adverse to the idea of trying to further update the final sequence or even to "add" a scene (which has been discussed on these boards at length) but, again the current theatre size doesnt lend itself to the latter idea. Perhaps by putting it in Epcot, and perhaps updating a bit via a new scene or some such, it would breathe the new life into it that many crave. Anyway, I dont care where they put it, just so long as they keep most of it intact and keep it open. This way I can avoid the inevitable sesonal closures that force me to walk around the building whistling "It's a Great Big Beautiful Tommorow".
Originally Posted By Labuda "Well it would be faster if you lived in Texas instead of London. (I'm REALLY sorry about that!!!)" Goofball! And, I'll choose to take it as a compliment that you thought I was one of our UKers.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Why Labuda - everyone over here are really nuts!!! BTW - CoP is my favorite attraction in MK and one of my favorites of WDW. It has an air of optimism that is good for the soul. Although in theory, it would be nice to update it, the current crop of imagineers are not really up to the task. They are great at setting scenes and ambience, and using new technology, but they seem to have forgotten how to tell a cohesive story that revives the soul, and the the whole family can enjoy (with the exception of Golden Dreams, and although I love it, we know how popular that attraction is). Tomorrowland died when Epcot was born. That's why we've seen the introduction of sci fi and cartoons.
Originally Posted By Labuda "Why Labuda - everyone over here are really nuts!!!" Yeah, but y'all gave us The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Duran Duran, Erasure, and Monty Python.
Originally Posted By Labuda Yeah, but there's no American band I like more than any of those, nor any American comedy group I prefer to Python.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden <<So, some of you COP apologists are suggesting that it's okay for the current show to end in the 1990s, and just stay that way? >> Nothing represents the spirit of Tomorrowland more than the 1990's.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad << Yeah, but y'all gave us The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Duran Duran, Erasure, and Monty Python. >> DVC_mom says don't forget the Bond, James Bond men! I think Brosnan is Irish isn't he? And Connery is Scottish so let's say UK, not England. John Clease is a comic master IMHO. If we begin naming people we love in the US that live in or came from GB, we would overload the LP server.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden << Yeah, but y'all gave us The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Duran Duran, Erasure, and Monty Python. >> And with apologies to Black Sabbath and Judas Priest,let's not forget the greatest heavy metal band of all time also hails from England, Iron Maiden. Maiden and Python have had numerous connections over the years, in fact Graham Chapman's final performance before he passed away was in the Maiden video for "Can I Play With Madness". And good point by DVCmom, we can't forget about Bond.
Originally Posted By danyoung >That's what Walt wanted when he gave birth to the thing...was to track progress through the 20th century.< Well, since he was in the middle of the 20th century, it would make sense that his attraction would be covering the time period that he was living in. But there is nothing in there that assumes that he wanted an artificial cutoff - that you can look this far into the future and no further. But that said, I don't have any problem with the 90's being the last decade featured. But it should be built into the attraction - "here in the 90's we've learned how to control our stoves with just our voices!" Otherwise it just seems hopelessly dated.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Let's all sing along... "There's a great big beautiful 1990s Shining at the end of last decade"
Originally Posted By elene This was my favorite ride as a kid (at Disneyland) and I was heartbroken when it left. I still visit it several times when I go to Walt Disney World. I am a bit bummed that they changed the soundtrack from the original. It just isn't the same with out the original guy's voice. Also he doesn't say one of the most famous lines "The robins are back. That's a sure sign of spring".
Originally Posted By Labuda ^^^ What preceded "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow"??? I know there 2was another song for a while at WDW, but I always thought that the song we have now was hte one that the Sherman brothers had written fro it back in the early 60s...
Originally Posted By danyoung "Now is the time, now is the best time, Now is the best time of your life!"
Originally Posted By Labuda That's what came after the original Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, Dan. And was then replaced by it. Did not precede the original incarnation.
Originally Posted By danyoung As far as I know there were only the 2 songs. Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow played in DL (and in the World's Fair) for the entire run. The WDW version started with Now Is The Time, and later changed back to GBBT (I think due to popular demand). Like anything else, I could be wrong . . .
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Your not wrong you are correct danyoung. The original song was "Its a great big beautiful tomorrow". Apparently the ride was sponcered by GE and they wanted a different song to inspire people to want to purchase appliances. So the song was changed to "This is the time, this is the best time of your life". Both songs were written by the Shurman brothers. When GE stopped sponcering CoP and Disney became the sponcer then the song changed back to the original. "the world is forward marching and your in the parade".
