yyzflyer...The Carousel of Progress is still alive and well at Walt Disney World. I believe you're thinking of Disneyland in California. There it's former location houses "Innoventions" which is a showcase for various current and upcoming technologies.

The song that plays in the current Carousel of Progress is actually the original song that debuted with the attraction when it premiered at the New York World's Fair (under General Electric sponsorship) in 1964 and later when it moved to Disneyland at the close of the fair.

That song, "It's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" written by the Sherman Brothers, was replaced when the attraction opened in Florida many years later because GE decided they didn't want to push the future any longer. They wanted you to purchase GE products now!

So, the Sherman Brothers were commissioned to write a new song for the attraction..."Now Is The Best Time (Of Your Life)." Why wait? Now is the best time! Go out and buy! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

But the Sherman Brothers are just darn good, and it was a memorable song as well. And some guests who grew up with Best Time think that Beautiful Tomorrow sounds strange and miss their old favorite. But many guests are thrilled to hear Beautiful Tomorrow again when it was brought back. This difference of opinion sort of "dates" a guest. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Why was the original song brought back? When Disney rehabbed Florida's Tomorrowland, they decided instead of being a World's Fair type of serious attempt at "prediction of the future" like it always had been, that instead it would become a more fanciful and fun "50's/60's retro look" back at what we thought the future would look like from that past vantage point. More Jetsonesque. More Buck Rogers than Buckminster Fuller, if you catch my drift.

During that rehab Disney Imagineers delighted at restoring the Carousel back to it's original perhaps overly optimistic vision of future. As a tip 'o the hat to Walt's original vision, the attraction was renamed "Walt Disney's Carousel Of Progress," Beautiful Tomorrow was brought back as the song, Rex Allen's voice and words as "The Father" were replaced by famous humorist's Jean Shepard's (A Christmas Story), and some of the show elements were enhanced a bit. Pre-show was also added that shows the history of the attraction with Walt explaining it's original concept in his own words.

And the Carousel that actually goes somewhere (the future) instead of just going 'round and 'round...still delights audiences today, almost 40 years after Walt and his talented team of artists and technicians created it.

And what makes the Carousel actually go round? I'll let you in on a little secret, and it's not as hi-tech as you might think. The entire theater sits on motorized flatbed railroad cars that circle standard railroad track! Choo-choo! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 04-05-2003).]

PremEx,

You're probably right. Having been to both parks in the last year gets a bit confusing. However, I'm pretty sure the C of P in DisneyWorld has been closed for some time despite what it says on their webpage. It was definitely closed when we went around it several times on the WedWay People Mover (or whatever it's called now) while waiting out some bad weather late last summer. Innoventions at DW is, of course, in Epcot, but is the California attraction the one where you choose your "adventure" starting point (actually chosen for you by line position) and is hosted by that annoying robot that looks and sounds like Steve Urkel? A short lecture follows, then you are free to explore. I thought this was in DisneyWorld. If the C of P is still there, that alone almost makes at trip worthwhile. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

BTW, the Eastern Airlines (then Delta) attraction is now the Buzz Lightyear ride. Same ride path, different concept.

Edited to add - Thanks for the history, PremEx. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif Like the earlier poster I thought the 70's version was the original song.


[This message has been edited by yyzflyer (edited 04-05-2003).]

When one mentions Disney, I can only think of the original, Disneyland! Right here in my backyard.

Also, from the Yesterland website:

On October 29, 2001, the Orlando Sentinel reported, "Carousel of Progress, which first appeared at the 1964 New York World's Fair, is now shuttered. Although there isn't a 'closed' sign on the futuristic building, the attraction has been taken off Magic Kingdom guide maps and the daily bulletin board on Main Street." It appeared that Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress had welcomed its final audience -- ironically just as Walt Disney World began the "100 Years of Magic" celebration, honoring Walt Disney one hundred years after his birth. However, during the 2001 holiday season, the Carousel of Progress reopened for a few weeks, closing once again in January 2002. The pattern repeated for peak periods in spring and summer of 2002. So, for now, if you visit the Magic Kingdom during a busy season, there's a good chance you'll find the Carousel of Progress operating. Take advantage of the opportunity, because it's likely that the Carousel of Progress will come to a permanent standstill one of these days.

So what we need is an Orlando FlyerTalker to report on the status so the "Do" can be planned when it's open.

Also see http://www.carouselofprogress.com.


Edited to add link above.

[This message has been edited by yyzflyer (edited 04-05-2003).]

It's still there and running. Might have just been down for maintenance. Sometimes it doesn't operate during slow seasons.

And in California's Innoventions, the voice of Tom Morrow (which was the name of the scientist in the old Flight To The Moon/Mission To Mars attractions...Imagineers love putting in references to past attractions) is not that of Steve Urkel. It's the voice of Broadway favorite and Tony Award winning Nathan Lane (most recently Mel Brook's The Producers and is the voice of Timon in The Lion King). Tom Morrow's name is not the only reference to past attractions in that show. Tom (Nathan) also sings a reworded version of "It's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" from the Carousel of Progress that used to occupy that same location. "It's A Great Big World Of Innovention" was written by the Sherman Brothers under another commission, and they were thrilled to be a small part of this new attraction.

Whenever an old favorite attraction is replaced by another, Imagineers try to hide or make reference somewhere in the new attraction to what stood before as a sort of tip 'o the hat to their Imagineering forefathers and what they created. Along with "Hidden Mickey's"...it's a favorite pastime for many Disney enthusiasts to hunt these historical references down, and Imagineers love getting more creative in their ways of "hidding them in plain sight." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 04-05-2003).]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I will already be in DisneyWorld May 10 - May 14 @ the Polynesian Resort then on Disney Cruise Line May 15 - May 18 with friends. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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Regards,
- Anna

[This message has been edited by AnnaS (edited 04-05-2003).]

You are too lucky. I have been obsessed the last few days with Disney. I have been reading another Bulletin Board for info on Disney and I am bound and determined to get there!

I am so jealous you are staying at the Polynesian. Everything I have read just raves about this resort.

Might be at Epcot on 5/4 with family

TW

If it's on a weekend or a 3 day weekend, I'll go. I can combine family visitation with FT carnage.

I prefer Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure and even have an annual pass for them I haven't had a chance to activate yet (I was actually down in that general area (Kissimmee/St. Cloud) for the past three days but did not have time to get to any of the parks ...).

May 4th weekend would work for me as well.
Space Mountain, here I come! (I hope)

I think trying to put something together for May is unrealistic. I am shooting for mid to late September.

How about Labor Day weekend?

Ohhh... one of my favorite rides. The Carousel of Progress. I remember it from the Worlds Fair in NYC in 196?. I also remember It's a Small World from the same fair.

I always go on both of these rides as soon as I get into the Magic Kingdom. The last ride is also always It's a Small World & I throw a coin in so that I can return. Yes, it's strange. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif. But it gets me back a couple of times a year http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

I haven't been able to get on Carousel of Progress my last 3 trips. Cast Members have told me that it's open "seasonally" and only during the day. Well, I was there for Columbus Day & it didn't open. I'm afraid that it has done it's last turn around the park http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif.

We'll be at the Polynesian for Memorial Day weekend. Gotta get some more uses out of those annual passes before they expire.

Thanks for the ride down memory lane!

Mary