Originally Posted By Bellella Two questions about this one- why is it only open seasonally, and when is it usually open? If and when I go to WDW, this ride will be at the top of my priority list.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Two answers...It is open everyday not seasonally and it is open everyday not seasonally. Hope that helps!
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 ^^^ When did that change? Also I keep hearing rumors that eventually they're going to move it over to Innoventions.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper It hasn't bean seasonal for years. And Innoventions is a fanboy pipedream. It'll never happen, even though it makes sense.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Unless Imagineering can create a better show, they should just close "Carousel of Progress" The original story when it opened in 1964 -- started at 'just past the turn of the century' 1900 and jumped 20 years to 1920, 1940 and 1960 -- and it worked beautifully. Since that time, they've continued to expand the final scene to 'present day' and it just gets more and more weird. My thought was to combine the time frames in each scene so that the time jumps could be larger and less awkward. I think a group of Imagineer writers could make it happen -- even having the 'Dad' character appear twice in each scene. Dunno. As it is, this one is most certainly a museum piece. That I'm sure makes no sense to the average guest.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^The attraction still makes sense, but with the jumps in technology that occur yearly at this point, the attraction set-up as is is not viable. Something needs to be changed, though I don't know what it is at this point.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I disagree Hokie... The jump in time is so drastic toward the end that it doesn't make sense from a story perspective. 20 year jump, 20 years jump, 60+ year jump. Huh?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^It's the only way the attraction will work with the current story.
Originally Posted By tonyanton When the show opened in '64 there were folks around who would have still remembered the "Act I" time period. If I were to revamp the show I would go with one of two options, either still start the same time and span more than 20 years between acts or start at a later period that older folks today would still recall. Option 1: Act I: Turn of the last century Act II: 1940s Act III: 1980s Act IV: Present/The Future Option 2: Act I: 1940s Act II: 1960s Act III: 1980s Act IV: Present/The Future I think we are far enough from the 1980s to build an act around it, everything from clothing and home design to technology (ATARI, the first Mac, cordless phones, microwaves becoming a regular kitchen staple, etc).
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <^^^It's the only way the attraction will work with the current story.> Good grief. That's my point! It needs to be changed. (I feel like in the carousel of arguments)
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA tonyanton, I like your ideas... Another option might be... Act I - 1900s - 1930s Act II - 1940s - 1960s Act III - 1970s - 1990s Act IV - Present day I picture the stage divided up into sections to point up the changes in time, and even having the "Father" move from section to section of the stage in different costumes etc....
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I picture the stage divided up into sections to point up the changes in time, and even having the "Father" move from section to section of the stage in different costumes etc....>> I don't see how they could effectively do that. I think it's time to scrap the COP and send it to the grave.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <I don't see how they could effectively do that.> Fortunately, it's not up to you! Hokie, your brainstorming techniques leave much to be desired.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> I think it's time to scrap the COP and send it to the grave. << Only if they close it down and replace it with nothing. Seriously, tear it down, use the real estate for an E-ticket. Oh, wait, WDW doesn't build those anymore, does it?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Hokie, your brainstorming techniques leave much to be desired. >> Not really. I'm just realistic. Aside from spending a crap load of money on an attraction with a dated premise and constant need for updating that also brings in basically zero income, something like that just isn't going to happen.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Why does it have to be relevant to current times at this point. Is an antique table held up with stainless steel legs a good idea. It works as a historic, Walt Disney inspired show. It doesn't have to appeal to everyone's current idea of what the present/future should look like. It is still close enough to what most of us experience today to be as relevant as anything we can think up now. Do you have a talking oven? Didn't think so! It's not even the present. Could you have one? Probably, but why does it matter. I am getting to the point of being older then dirt and my children and grandchildren have no clue (as I didn't) what the turn of the 20th century looked like. What is wrong with showing that. We know what today is...we are living in it. The concept of trying to guess the future before it gets here ended with massive advances in technology. No one knows what tomorrow my bring. At least back when the ride was created, one could make a pretty good guess. Today...not a chance. Let it be what it is...a tribute to the past that shows today's children what it was like in the not that distant past or where we came from with the common thoughts that it just couldn't get any better with every new turn of the carrousel. To address the concept that seems to be...I don't like it so they should tear it down and put something there that I do like is about as self involved as one can get. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER tear something down because it seem, to some, to be out of date. Add to the parks...don't replace what is presently there. If people stop going, then maybe replace it with something else. Until then, if one doesn't like it or cannot appreciate it...don't go. If enough of you feel that way...it will become part of the ever growing Disney grave yard of original attractions that were just to unsophisticated to please today's myopic visioned guest, thrill seeking crowd.
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl I love COP.. I know it is not modern, up to date or exciting..but it is Disney to me...
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub If we demand it to be torn down WDW executives will be more than happy to expand that parking lot. Be careful what you ask for. I still find this attraction interesting and have overheard many parents chuckling that their children always want to enter the Carousel at least once per trip. So it does still appeal to many different age groups. I was surprised last month when my daughter and her husband wanted to specifically see Capt.EO just out of curiousity about Disney Attractions that no longer exist but they have heard about.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper My dislike of the attraction has nothing to do with being a "myopic thrill seeker" and everything to do with it being an untenable concept at this point in time. Not enough time is covered anymore. In the 70s and 80s it still worked. That's 30-40 years ago, and 50 since the last actual scene used. The attraction doesn't belong in Tomorrowland. And if they're going to keep it, the only place it does belong is somewhere in Epcot.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Well, it is where it is and unless someone comes along that has the power of levitation that is where it will stay. (Yes, I know it was levitated all the way from New York to California and then too Florida, but that ship has sailed.) It's all in how you look at it anyway. How better to display tomorrow then with a small glance into yesterday. It kind of makes it all seem a whole lot more significant.
