Carousel of Progress refurb or replacement?

[disneycouple2004]

Found some more good news !!!

NEWS FROM CAST MEMBER...

Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 8:09 AM

Subject: This is from a CAST MEMBER

I am happy to report that there is no planned closing of COP!*

COP's external paint refurbish has just been completed last week.

Seating replacement and new carpeting is nearly done,
along with exterior 'pre-show' monitor repairs.

The scrims for the first three scenes will be replaced within the next 3 weeks.

Discussions are currently that the skins on father Audio-Animatronics figures throughout maybe replaced within the next quarter.

While COP isn't totally out of danger--all in the know seem to now believe for the present time there is no plan to remove it or close it.

* There may be some closure of a limited nature for refurbishing

[battlefield2freak]

thats great news. i never saww the face of the father AA up close we always sat like 3 rows fromt he back wall so we could get a good view of the entire scene so i guess it must be in bad condition then? if they are replacing carpeting and seats then im sure there will be some closureat some point even though its closed alot as it is right now since its a seasonal attraction.

[Mickie the Pooh]

This is very good news. If Disney is smart, [which is sometimes questionable LOL] they would rebuild some of the old earlier attractions that the baby boomers remember from their childhood, It isn't like they don't have the room there to do it, if they must put in thrill rides so be it, though Walt no doubt turns in his grave, but bring back what Disney was intended to be, and bring back the quality that made it what it was.

[Stu29573]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned (or at least I didn't see it when I was reading through the thread) is that I think this is the ONLY attraction at WDW that Walt personally worked on. Yes, there are Pirates and Small World, etc, but they are copies of the DLR originals. COP is the real deal.

By the way, as for the previous post, I've always wondered why they built Pooh in Mr. Toad's spot instead of on the filled in lagoon. Why do we have NO attractions on this spot? Is it cursed??????

[DisneyKim22]

Get rid of CoP??? Eeegads NOOOO!!!!! I look forward to this ride every trip and I'm glad I always missed the seasonal closure. It's always been open for me!

I am unbelievably happy that the seats and carpet have been replaced as they were getting a bit droopy. I'm okay with a refurb as long as it is just maintenance and sprucing up (and perhaps the updating of the final scene). I'm always afraid when they do major refurbs on rides I love (a.k.a. the original Imagination ride).

[burnt orange]

CoP is a classic not just a Disney Classic but an American Classic. It truly show the spirit of Walt and what he was all about. This attraction should be preserved at all costs.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!!

[burnt orange]

This is very good news. If Disney is smart, [which is sometimes questionable LOL] they would rebuild some of the old earlier attractions that the baby boomers remember from their childhood, It isn't like they don't have the room there to do it, if they must put in thrill rides so be it, though Walt no doubt turns in his grave, but bring back what Disney was intended to be, and bring back the quality that made it what it was.

You are expressing my sentiments exactly. I still miss World of Motion so much and of course Horizons. At least Soarin' has helped to fill a void.

[poohbearkris]

I just have to say that I took DH to WDW lasr year. This was one of his favorite attractions. I also love it because it may be one of the best depictions of life in the past, reminding us of all the advances over time. I think it is great for teaching children as well. I have loved thid ride since I have been small. I guess if you are looking for more thrill rides, you may want to look for a different park.

[WEDTOPIA]

I've defended classic WDW attractions many times because some people just don't get it.

First of all , Intercot is firmly established as a site where WDW fanatics from all over the world come to share their passion for their favorite place on Earth. To be sure ,there are opinions , both positive and negative , but for the most part the comments are kept subtle and usually reflect a persons preferences , but not outright hatred.

Most of us don't have any problem with discussions on favorites and least favorites. But when comments are made that are offensive and downright rude and crude , I think we have every right to knock it it down and convey the message that certain phrases and terms have no place in an environment such as this. I believe that the original poster has used one of these terms and the resulting onslaught proves my point. As Marker mentioned , certain words may imply that anyone who enjoys a particular attraction that is being condemned ,is " stupid " as well.

I fervently hope that anyone wishing to post comments would think them out before posting , and understand the magnitude of fervor that some words create .

And by the way , CoP is a classic attraction and in my opinion , should be re-furbished as needed ,but never taken away.

[Dare To Dream]

We rode COP on Saturday. As we were exiting we (and many others) were stopped by CM's who wanted to know if we liked the ride, the CM's, why did we like the ride. Everyone around me gave it the highest marks and talked about the linkage to Walt. Hopefully this is a good sign!

note - we noticed some additives on Saturday - Valentine's Day gift on the table in the one scenario, boy on the dog in the last scene.

[Wolfbanesquest]

If CoP was ever removed, I think there would be a revolt at WDW, of which, I would be the leader! It is a Walt Disney original and still very enjoyable to me and mine. Yes, the final scene needs to updated, but that ride is the epitomy of what WDW is all about.

[The Bookseller]

There's many rides out there that are original (I.E. without Animation theming). Places like the Jungle Cruise, It's A Small World, Pirate of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, the Hall of Presidents and Carousel of Progress are all embedded in WDW-MK's DNA. Getting rid of them is like denaturing the place.

There's so much pixie dust in these walls, they don't deserve to be teared down.

[PirateLover]

Put me in the "love it" category as well! I would be devastated if it were removed, though I wouldn't care if they changed the last scene. The other scenes represent technologies that became household staples, whereas the last scene represented where people thought technology might be heading in the 90s (i'm not sure when that scene was last modified). Something is just off about it. Although the voice-recognition oven does provide for some hilarity
Other than that I love this attraction.

[texasteacher]

This is very good news. If Disney is smart, [which is sometimes questionable LOL] they would rebuild some of the old earlier attractions that the baby boomers remember from their childhood, It isn't like they don't have the room there to do it, if they must put in thrill rides so be it, though Walt no doubt turns in his grave, but bring back what Disney was intended to be, and bring back the quality that made it what it was.

I second that!

[Clotho]

I am in the "BOOOORING" category.

AND

I am in the "don't take it away" category.

I think it needs updating in a big way. I agree that a voice activated stove doesn't exist...but the IDEA of it is outdated. The idea of voice-activated things isn't so "futuristic" any more. I mean, seriously...the iPhone isn't known for it's voice-activation, and even as a current innovation, it is far more futuristic than a stove you can tell to cook at 435 for 10 minutes! With all the amazing Imagineers on staff, you would think that they could update it to be more innovative.

I also think that the last jump to the final scene is getting too big. If you can't add an additional scene (I know they can't), they need to do a MAJOR update, where the time between the scenes is longer, so it isn't a jump-jump-MEGA LEAP!! Literally it is 20 years-20-years-60 years (and this leap is alreayd outdated)

Hubby and I just talked about it, and we think it has to be impossibly sci-fi for the future scene to last more than a decade. Maybe even 5 years, at the rate things move...

So ultimately, this is an attraction that is dying a slow death. It can't continue on this theme successfully for the forseeable future. Every year that passes, the final scene becomes either increasingly outdated, or if updated, will reveal and increasingly larger gap compared to the previous scenes by comparison. And this will become increasingly jarring, interrupting the "story" of the show irrevocably.

So get rid of it now? No. Get rid of it in the next decade plus? Yes. This is a ride that cannot stand the test of time, I am afraid.

Hubby just mentioned the idea of it being a "history" or "nostalgia" ride. Basically drop anything having to do with the present or future, and end, for instance, in the 60's. Then you don't have to keep trying to chase a decade ahead or more. I posit that kids would NOT be interested in this. (I already think that Hall or Presidents bores most kids; and though I am sure I will get a smattering of people who have kids who LOVE it, but I bet if you polled a majority of kids, it is not even in their top 100 things to see at Disney...) Maybe a one-trip kind of experience, but not the classic we may believe it to be today. Sad, but I believe it to be true...

Thoughts?