The Carousel of Progress was one of three Disney attractions that debuted not in a Disney theme park, but at the 1964 World's Fair in New York. (The other were Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and It's a Small World, both now playing at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.) In 1975, the show moved to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and now Disney boasts that the show has had "more performances than any other stage show in history."
It's not always been the same show, though. When the show moved from its post-fair home at Disneyland to Walt Disney World, the Sherman Brothers wrote a new theme song for the show, "The Best Time of Your Life (Now is the Time)" replacing their original "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow." Rumor had it that the show's sponsor, General Electric, wanted people buying appliances today, not tomorrow. But one also could make a solid case that Disney needed to freshen a show that's been playing at Disneyland for nearly a decade, and also had played on the east coast once before.
In 1994, General Electric bowed out as sponsor, and Disney revamped the show again, return the original "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" theme.
Carousel of Progress remains a visitor favorite, in large due to the Sherman Brothers' songs, not to mention being one of those welcomed cool, dark places to sit on a blistering Florida summer day. As for the show itself, the stages representing the life 1900s, 20s and 40s might have worked for audiences in the mid-60s, but audiences in the 2010s contain too few visitors who have any memory of those times and the sets just don't seem all that different from one another. And the fourth set, "Christmas in 2000," seems almost cringe-worthy as a mid-1990s vision of what life was going to be like 10 years ago.
I mean, 10 years ago from now, or six years in the future from then. (Quick, someone fetch me Dr. Dan Streetmentioner's "Time Traveler's Handbook of 1001 Tense Formations.")
Anyway, here's a look at the show:
Any Carousel of Progress fans out there? Haters? Let's hear your thoughts about the show, in the comments.
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Call me sentimental or nostalgic, but I make this a must-stop every time I'm in the Magic Kingdom. It never has a line, which is a shame as it represents the ideal themed show, in my books. Sure, its visions for the future are straight-80s, but that somehow adds to it.
I'm interested to see its competition.
I remember the 50's very well, my mother lived in the 20's and my father lived in the early 1900's. So CoP, is like a trip into my familys' past, and how they lived. And Robert, I'm proud to say I fell in love with CoP, when I first saw it at Disneyland with my wife and her family many years ago. So count me in as one of those old folks who love the show and Zachary as one of the young folks!!!!
WORD TO YOUR MOTHER!!!!!!!!!
I just love the song, history, and animatronics which aren't too shabby.
Something tells me that this will be around for awhile since it is the only "Classic Disney" attraction that WDW has (meaning that Walt Disney actually built and rode).
I love the message and the whole feel goodness of it all. I hope for an update, buts its not too shabby right now. Lets all be a little more positive about this attraction! I would like to see it perhaps moved so that it can stay in place forever. Not sure if its really prime real estate in Tomorrowland. Why not get rid of the stage that is never used?
Theres a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow just a dream away......
CoP is a unique, entertaining, immersive attraction, without which many of the animatronic adventures everyone loves today would not exist. It is a shame that so many people are too focused on the next three minute thrill to stop and enjoy the classics that inspired an entire generation of theme park enthusiasts.
And for the record, I am GEN X. "Good taste" was not retired circa 1960.
I was born in '87, and I love this attraction. Much better than most of the "thrill rides" in the park, like Big Thunder Mountain Failroad.
Oh, and luis, mentioning baby boomers and "the bee's knees" in the same sentence...well, that's just wrong! By several decades. Now, THAT'S outdated.
Kids these days... =)
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