Carousel of Progress
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Various sources say Walt Disney himself proclaimed that the Carousel of Progress was his favorite attraction and that it should never cease operation. This can be somewhat supported through those who knew of his constant work on the attraction over the other attractions he presented at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, including discussions with Imagineers, along with family and friends. The attraction was supposed to be a permanent fixture at Disneyland Park, but because the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World needed attractions to better complement its developing Tomorrowland, let alone the first Space Mountain was already in construction, officials from both General Electric and Disneyland Park agreed that the Carousel of Progress would do far better on the East Coast once again, and also at a flagship resort. This may have also been because 80% of the people who visited the attraction everyday at Disneyland Park were Californians, and some complained that they were seeing the same show over and over again.
The Carousel of Progress is the longest running stage show in the history of theater in the United States. Despite the attraction having a different presentation in 1964, 1967, 1975, 1981, 1985, and 1994 respectively, along with two different theme songs, the attraction still shows the joy of living through electricity and other technological advances via a "typical" American family, and the humor that involves the relationship the family has with various products throughout the 20th Century.
History
The Edison Square Concept
In the late 1950s, after Disneyland Park's initial success, Walt Disney had plans to expand the Main Street, U.S.A. area with two districts: International Street and Edison Square. In Edison Square, guests would be treated to a show hosted by an "electro-mechanical" man named "Wilbur K. Watt". The show itself would chronicle the evolution of electricity in the home, from the late 1800s to the present and beyond. Unlike the final incarnation, after each "act" was over, the audience got up and walked to the next one.Unfortunately, the Main Street expansion idea fell by the wayside. One of the reasons for this was that the technology necessary to put on the show just was not up to par with what Walt Disney wanted. The idea, however, stayed in Walt's mind for the next few years. He just needed an outlet for it.
The 1964-1965 New York World's Fair
General Electric approached Walt Disney to develop a show for the company's pavilion at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. Disney leapt at the chance to work with a corporate sponsor and to develop new technology. This was done mainly because any large corporation would provide funding for it. Disney pitched what would eventually become the Carousel of Progress to General Electric executives and they loved it.During the planning phase, Disney's Imagineers perfected the Audio-Animatronics technology necessary to operate the "performers" in the show. It wasn't the most advanced, but it was enough to get the show running. The technology used in both Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and another attraction designed by Disney at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln made the Carousel of Progress possible.
Disney songwriters Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman were asked by Walt Disney to create a song that could be used as a bridge between the "acts" in the show. Walt explained to the brothers what the show was about and they wrote the song with his enthusiasm in mind. They came up with "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow". The Shermans later stated that they believe that the song was Walt's "theme song" because he was so optimistic and excited about the future and technology itself.
The show opened as the theme and entitled exhibit, Progressland. It was one of the most visited pavilions at the Fair. One of the unique features that made the attraction so popular was that a circle of six theaters all connected by dividing walls revolved clockwise around six fixed stages every four minutes, showcasing an identical load and unload theater, along with the "performers" featured in the 1890s, 1920s, 1940s, and 1960s, literally a Carousel of Progress! Though over 200 people were entering and exiting the attraction itself every four minutes, it was not uncommon to wait over an hour in line! For the 1965 season of the Fair, a massive covered queue line was constructed next to the General Electric Pavilion on an empty lot to protect visitors from New York's hot summer sun. General Electric would later sponsor the Carousel of Progress at Disneyland Park, and at the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World. General Electric also sponsored other Disney shows and attractions.
Disneyland Park
Due to the success of the attractions Disney created for the Fair, General Electric agreed to sponsor the Carousel of Progress at Disneyland Park. However, as previously stated, the Carousel of Progress was to be a permanent fixture at Disneyland Park, so it is unknown how many years General Electric had intended to sponsor the ride had it stayed there. It most likely was 10-12 years...as many other sponsors throughout Disneyland Park had done and still doBecause the Carousel of Progress would no longer be with other General Electric exhibits in just one pavilion, a new pavilion needed to be constructed for the Carousel of Progress in the developing New Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park. A two story pavilion was designed for the Carousel of Progress. The actual attraction was located on ground level, and a new, but nearly identical theater system was constructed. The sets and "performers" all came right from the Fair itself and remained nearly original. There were some slight changes: A new voice was found for "Mother", and "Christmas in the Home of the 1960s" was slightly updated in set design. There was also no longer a reference to General Electric's "Medallion" campaign in this contemporary scene. "Father" from the "The Home of the 1940s" now sat on a once unoccupied bar stool rather than on the kitchen knook bench. The unload theater set was redesigned for guests to board a speedramp that took them to the second level of the building where a 4 minute post show narrated by "Mother" and "Father", coincided with guests gazing at an enormous model of Progress City, or EPCOT. It was to be the centerpiece of Walt Disney World, a community where people could live, work, and play. It never became a 100% reality.
The Carousel of Progress opened at Disneyland Park on July 2, 1967 and closed on September 9, 1973.
The Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World
General Electric signed a 10 year contract to sponsor the attraction at the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World. Unlike the small changes that followed the Carousel of Progress from the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair to Disneyland Park, extensive changes followed the Carousel of Progress from Disneyland Park to the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World.
A new pavilion was designed to house the attraction. It's only a one story pavilion with a loft over it so the Tomorrowland Transit Authority/TTA/ the former WEDway Peoplemover can pass through the pavilion. A new theater system was designed that changed the capacity of the two former theater systems. It also had a new color scheme that the two former theater systems did not have. Also, the theaters now rotated counterclockwise, rather than clockwise like the two former theater systems. The exterior color scheme of the pavilion was also different from the two former pavilions.
There was to be no post show at the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World for the Carousel of Progress. The Progress City/EPCOT model was significantly sized down so it could fit in a window display that could be seen on the former WEDway peoplemover now Tomorrowland Tranisty Authority/TTA. The load and unload theaters no longer had the stunning "Kaleidophonic Screens" that dazzled guests as they boarded and exited their respective theater. The screens stretched from one wall to the other with the GE logo in the center. They lit up in various colors and patterns as the orchestral version of "There's a Great Big Beautiful" played on speakers in the respective theaters. Various problems plagued the screens after 1973, and instead silver curtains with the GE logo in the center took their place in both the load and unload theaters.
A new cast of voices and "performers" were showcased in the 1975 version. The first three "acts" had some cosmetic or set design changes. The finale was changed to "Christmas in the Home of the 1970s". The dog also changed breed.
A new theme song, written by the Sherman Brothers, was created for the Carousel of Progress for the 1975 version. "Now is the Time", also known as "The Best Time of Your Life" was created to coincide with General Electric's new campaign slogan: "We Bring Good Things to Life". The attraction opened on July 15, 1975 and remained successful in both attendance figures and reviews for years to come.
In 1981 the finale was changed to "Christmas in the Home of the 1980s". A new script was written for this scene change. The rest of the show remained the same. The attraction closed for a brief time to allow this to happen during 1981.
On March 10, 1985...General Electric's contract expired. They chose not to renew their contract. The attraction closed shortly thereafter so that all General Electric references both in presentation and narration could be excluded from the attraction. The GE logo was replaced with a logo that showed a blueprint of the six carousel theaters surrounding the fixed six stages.
In 1993 the attraction closed so it could be updated to coincide with the theme of the New Tomorrowland: "The Future that never was..." Gears and other mechanical symbols were prominent throughout other pavilions in the New Tomorrowland, thus the Carousel of Progress contained this in both exterior and interior design. Both the name of the attraction and show was changed to "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress". The finale was updated to "Christmas in the House of 2000", though envisioned in 1994. A new cast was hired for narration. Names of characters in the attraction were better revealed. A 4 minute pre show on the creation of the attraction was advertised on monitors while guests waited in line. "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" returned as the attractions theme song, though in a contemporary format. The attraction reopened in 1994 as the New Tomorrowland opened up in various phases. Since then the attraction has gone through slight mechanical and cosmetic changes.
Due to the attacks of 9/11, along with already dropping attendance figures, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress closed in October 2001, only to reopen on a seasonal basis. Concern over the attraction's closure became evident during this time, and though numerous rumors still plague the attraction's pavilion if it is ever to close, Disney has consistently said there are no plans for the attractions permanent closure or any closure at all since 2003. For various reasons the attraction has had some small refurbishments and has remained opened nearly every day of the year and during the Magic Kingdom's regular park hours since 2003.
The Show (Current 1994 Version)
The actual show for the Carousel of Progress is divided into six scenes, two of those scenes are identical and involve the loading and unloading of guests. The other 4 scenes, or acts involve a counterclockwise presentation. Not much is known of the family. We don't know their last name, where they live or if they ever change location. The family does not nor are they meant to age 100 years. They age 3-5 years as the show progresses to show how slightly older individuals can better enjoy new technology.
- Load/Unload:
- Circa 1890:
- Circa 1920s:
- Circa 1940s:
- Circa 2000 (Created in 1994):
Precursors
The show did not spring into being as from a blank slate. It is an elaboration and trivialization of some industrial films that American appliance manufacturers funded to show how their products would change the pattern of domestic chores and improve life. The desire to sell during the Great Depression and the rural electrification projects of the New Deal were two of the motivating forces behind these films.
Also, there are the remnants of an exhibition from the 1933 Century of Progress exposition in the Chicago Museum of Science that feature four typical rooms of Chicago houses in various decades prior to the exhibition.
Attraction Facts
Disneyland
- Grand opening: July 2, 1967
- Closure date: September 9, 1973
- Designer: WED Enterprises
- Sponsor: General Electric
- Future attractions:
- * America Sings (1974-1988)
- * Innoventions (1998-Present)
- Audio-Animatronics: 32
- Show length: 20:45
- Required ticket: Free
- Ride system: Rotating theater with Audio-Animatronics
Magic Kingdom
- Grand opening: January 15, 1975
- Finale Updated and General Electric references dropped: 1985
- Major rennovation, "Great, Big Beautiful Tomorrow" added back: 1994
- Designer: WED Enterprises
- Sponsor: General Electric (Opening-March 10, 1985)
- Audio-Animatronics: 32
- Seating: 226
- Show length: 20:45
- Ride system: Rotating theater with Audio-Animatronics
Spin-Offs and Related Rides
From October 1, 1983 until January 9, 1999 an attraction known as Horizons, existed at Epcot, a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. It was more or less a sequel to the Carousel of Progress. It was also presented by General Electric (1983-1994).Also in 1983, Meet the World, at Tokyo Disneyland, was an attraction that was housed via rotating-theater. It featured both audio-animatronics and video, looking at thousands of years of Japanese history. It closed in 2002.
Soundtrack
The entire soundtrack for the Disneyland version (1967 - 1973) can be heard on A Musical History of Disneyland (2005).The theme song "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" can be found on a few official theme park albums over the years. Here are a couple:
- (Magic Kingdom 1994 version)
- (Magic Kingdom 1994 version)
Links
- [Attraction Profile at the Official Page for Walt Disney World]
- [Fanpage dedicated to the complete history of the Show - CarouselofProgress.com]
- [Yesterland profile for Disneyland's Carousel of Progress]
- [AllEarsNet profile for Carousel of Progress]
- [WDWMagic profile for Carousel of Progress]
- [Carousel of Progress: The Best Time of Your Life]
- [MousePlanet profile for Carousel of Progress]
- [LaughingPlace profile for Carousel of Progress]
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