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Carousel of Progress -- 4/9/02
Howdy Ya'll!
Today we continue our progression through Tomorrowland with a stop at the Carousel of Progress. Luckily we have chosen a day and time that it is open- those are few and far between these days. In fact, if you haven't experienced this attraction, I urge you to make it a priority, because it is not long for this world.
The CoP was completely Walt's own idea from beginning to end. He thought it would be neat to see the same family go throughout the 20th century and experience all the new technology as it happened. It has changed but little since it's inception, and remains a family favorite.
You are seated in a round theater that revolves around a stage with several settings. There are actually as many seating rooms as there are vignettes on the stage. Once sponsored by GE, you are first introduced to the show , then your seating area moves to the right (exit, stage right!) and to the first vignette, the turn of the century.
The CoP has Dad telling all about how they have the latest in technological developments and how wonderful life is at their particular stage because of them. To the left and right are smaller revolving stages with animatronic family members using the various appliances and such, with humorous results. Always the dog, whose name changes with every scene, is at Dad's feet. The show goes from the turn of the century to the 20's, then the 40's, and lastly today (more or less).
The animatronic family consists of Dad, Mom (Sara), daughter Judy (AKA Jane), brother Jimmy, the Dog (Rover, Sport, or Queenie), annoying Uncle Orville, and Grandma and Grandpa. The show is presented with one of 2 theme songs, "Now is the Time" and "It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow". The latter was the original song, but during the 70's and 80's, while GE sponsored it, "Now is the Time" was the theme. I believe they are using the original song again, now that there is no corporate sponsor. Written by Walt's favorite composers, the Sherman Brothers (they wrote LOTS of the music for the Disney movies and attractions), "A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" is by far my favorite. I can't help but hum it for the rest of the day after I have visited CoP.
Originally, WED Enterprises designed this attraction for Progressland at the New York World's Fair in 1964-5. Walt immersed himself in the project, choosing the voices for Dad himself, and even modeling for the imagineers what Uncle Orville would do in the bathtub! For this reason, I feel closer to the real Walt Disney and the whole original "Disney" feeling when I visit this attraction. It's one of the few truly "touched by Walt" attractions left. I hope they never completely close it.
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