The
Carousel of Progress is an
attractionIn general, an attraction draws one object towards another one. The term may have the following specific meanings.* In physics, attraction may refer to gravity or to the electromagnetic force*Attractiveness...
located in
TomorrowlandTomorrowland is one of the many themed lands at the five "Magic Kingdom-style" theme parks around the world owned or licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Each version of the land is different and features numerous attractions that depict views of the future...
at the
Magic KingdomThe Magic Kingdom is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. The first park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1971. The park saw an estimated 17 million visitors in 2008, making it the most visited theme park in the world....
Park at the
Walt Disney World ResortWalt Disney World Resort is the largest and most visited recreational resort in the world, containing four theme parks; two water parks; 23 themed hotels; and numerous shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation venues. Owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts segment of The Walt...
, currently operating under the name,
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. Created by both
Walt DisneyWalter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the twentieth century. As the co-founder Walter Elias...
and the Imagineers of WED Enterprises as the prime feature of the
General ElectricThe General Electric Company, or GE , is a multinational American technology and services conglomerate incorporated in the State of New York. In 2009, Forbes ranked GE as the world's largest company...
Pavilion for the
1964 New York World's FairThe 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major World's Fair to be held in New York City.-Overview:The site is Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the Borough of Queens and held both the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair and the 1939/1940 New York World’s Fair...
, the attraction was moved to Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in
Anaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of January 1, 2009, the city population was about 348,467, making it the 10th most-populated city in California and ranked 54th in the United States. The city anticipates that the population will surpass 400,000 by 2014 due to rapid development...
, remaining there from 1967 until 1973. It was replaced in Disneyland by
America SingsAmerica Sings was a show at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, from 1974 to 1988. It featured a cast of Audio-Animatronic animals that entertained the audience by singing songs from various periods in America's musical history, often in a humorous fashion....
in 1974, and reopened in its present home in Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom in 1975.
Steeped in both
nostalgiaThe term nostalgia describes a longing for the past, often in idealized form.The word is a learned formation of a Greek compound, consisting of , nóstos, "returning home", a Homeric word, and , álgos, "pain" or "ache"...
and
futurismFuturist architecture began as an early-20th century form of architecture characterized by anti-historicism and long horizontal lines suggesting speed, motion and urgency. Technology and even violence were among the themes of the Futurists...
, the attraction's premise is an exploration of the joys of living through the advent of electricity and other technological advances during the 20th century via a "typical"
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
family. To keep it up with the times, the attraction has been updated five times (in 1967, 1975, 1981, 1985, and 1994) and has had two different theme songs, both written by the
Sherman BrothersThe Sherman Brothers are an Academy Award-winning American songwriting duo that specialize in musical films, made up of Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman ....
(Disney's Academy Award-winning songwriting team).
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 by Imagineers, family and friends, who knew of his constant work on the attraction. Of all the attractions he presented at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, Disney seemed especially devoted to the Carousel of Progress.
The Carousel of Progress holds the record as the longest-running stage show, with the most performances, in the history of
American theaterTheater of the United States is based in the Western tradition, mostly borrowed from the performance styles prevalent in Europe. Regional or resident theatres in the United States are professional theatre companies outside of New York City that produce their own seasons.- Early history:The birth of...
.
The show
The basic plot of the Carousel of Progress show has essentially remained unchanged since it debuted at the
1964 New York World's FairThe 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major World's Fair to be held in New York City.-Overview:The site is Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the Borough of Queens and held both the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair and the 1939/1940 New York World’s Fair...
. It is divided into six scenes, with the audience seats rotating between each scene around the stage mechanically within the outer part of the theater building.
The first and the last scenes are basically identical and involve the loading and unloading of guests. The other 4 scenes, or "acts", depict an Audio-Animatronic family, narrated by the father, interacting with the latest technology and innovations during a particular era. Not much is known about the family: we do not know their last name, where they live (aside from being somewhere in the United States), 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 demonstrate how slightly older individuals can better enjoy new technology. Each of the four scenes is set during a different season of the year, just for variety. Also, each of the scenes features a male dog, who once, or twice, barks or growls, causing the father to firmly command their canine to stop interrupting his talk.
The first act takes place during
Valentine's DayValentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the English-speaking countries, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering...
around the 1900s and features the family using the new innovations for that era, including
gas lampsGas lighting refers to a technology used to produce light from a gaseous fuel including hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, propane, butane, or ethylene....
, a kitchen
pumpA pump is a device used to move fluids, such as gases, liquids or slurries. A pump displaces a volume by physical or mechanical action. One common misconception about pumps is the thought that they create pressure. Pumps alone do not create pressure; they only displace fluid, causing a flow. ...
, a hand-cranked
washing machineA washing machine, clothes washer, or simply washer, is a machine designed to wash laundry, such as clothing, towels and sheets. The term is mostly applied only to machines that use water as the primary cleaning solution, as opposed to dry cleaning or even ultrasonic cleaners.All washer...
, and a
gramophoneThe record player, phonograph or gramophone was the most common device for playing recorded sound from the late 1870s until the late 1980s.- Terminology :...
. A mention of the St. Louis World's Fair dates the scene to 1904. The second act features devices such as
radioRadio is the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, a
sewing machineA sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric or other material together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies...
, and a homemade cooling device during the
4th of JulyIn the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
in the 1920s (the
Charles LindberghCharles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor and explorer.On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh, then a 25-year old U.S...
reference makes the most likely year 1927). The third act, set around
HalloweenHalloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Gaelic pagan festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints. It is largely a secular celebration but some have expressed strong feelings about perceived religious overtones...
in the 1940s, has the family interacting with technologies such as an automatic
dishwasherA dishwasher is a mechanical device for cleaning dishes and eating utensils. Dishwashers can be found in restaurants and private homes.-How dishwashers work:...
,
televisionTelevision is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission...
, and a homemade paint mixing system.
The final scene is set around
ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
and depicts the family interacting with the technology of the present day. As such, it is the act that has received the most changes since the show debuted in 1964. While the original final act featured the family's home in the 1960s, the current finale, which was introduced in 1994, shows the home in the 2000s with
high-definition televisionHigh-definition television is a digital television broadcasting system with higher resolution than traditional television systems...
,
virtual realityVirtual reality is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment, whether that environment is a simulation of the real world or an imaginary world...
games, voice activated appliances, and other recent innovations.
The Edison Square concept
In the late 1950s, after Disneyland Park's initial success, Walt Disney planned to expand the
Main Street, U.S.A.Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the entrance of the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world....
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 would chronicle the evolution of electricity in the home, from the late 1800s to the present and beyond - showing how much electrical
applianceHome appliances are electrical/mechanical appliances which accomplish some household functions, such as cooking or cleaning.Traditionally, home appliances are classified into:*Major appliances *Small appliances...
s, specifically GE appliances, have benefited American life. After each time period, or "act", was over, the audience would get up and walk 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. GE still wanted to work with Walt, but a better outlet was needed.
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. Walt leaped at the chance to rekindle his relationship with GE, who would fund the project and the new technology necessary to bring it to life. Reaching back to Edison Square, Walt Disney again pitched the idea of an electrical progress show to General Electric executives and they loved it.
During the planning phase, Disney's Imagineers perfected the
Audio-AnimatronicsAudio-Animatronics is the registered trademark for a form of robotics created by Walt Disney Imagineering for shows and attractions at Disney theme parks, and subsequently expanded on and used by other companies. The robots move and make noise, generally in speech or song...
technology necessary to operate the "performers" in the show. They were not the most advanced, but it was enough to get the show running. The technology used in
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki RoomWalt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is an attraction in Disneyland at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.-History:The attraction opened on June 23, 1963 and was the first to feature Audio-Animatronics, a WED Enterprises patented invention...
and another attraction designed by Disney at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair,
Great Moments with Mr. LincolnGreat Moments with Mr. Lincoln, also known as The Walt Disney Story Featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, is the name of a tourist attraction featuring an audio-animatronic version of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. It was originally showcased as the prime feature of the State of Illinois...
, made the Carousel of Progress possible. Besides the AAs, the Imagineers (led by Disney Legends
Roger E. BroggieRoger E. Broggie was an American mechanical engineer who worked with Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Company.-Early life:...
and
Bob GurrRobert "Bob" Henry Gurr is an American amusement ride designer and Imagineer. His most famous work was for Walt Disney's Disneyland Park, and its subsequent sister parks...
) also devised a "carousel theater", so that the audience rode around a stationary set of stages instead of walking from stage to stage.
Singing cowboy
Rex AllenRex Elvie Allen was an American film actor, singer and songwriter who is particularly known as the narrator in many Walt Disney nature and Western productions. For contributions to the recording industry, Rex Allen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.-Family and early life:Allen...
was tapped to voice Father, the host and narrator of the show that replaced the "Wilbur K. Watt" character. Allen later commented that he did not know exactly what he was getting into.
Walt Disney asked Disney songwriters
Richard M. ShermanRichard Morton Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical film with his brother Robert Bernard Sherman....
and
Robert B. ShermanRobert Bernard Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical films with his brother Richard Morton Sherman...
to create a song that could serve as a bridge between the "acts" in the show. Walt explained to the brothers what the show was about, and they wrote a song with his enthusiasm in mind. The song was titled "
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow"There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" is the theme song to two Disney attractions, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World and Innoventions at Disneyland...
". 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 at the Fair as
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 divider walls) revolved clockwise around six fixed stages every four minutes. There were identical load and unload theaters with the dazzling wall of light, the "Kaleidophonic Screen", and the "performers" appeared in the 1890s, 1920s, 1940s, and 1960s - literally a "Carousel of Progress"! Though more than 200 people entered and exited the attraction 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 was constructed next to the General Electric Pavilion on an empty lot to protect visitors from New York's hot summer sun.
At the end of the Carousel show, fairgoers were invited to journey up to the second floor of the pavilion and see the General Electric Skydome Spectacular. The Skydome Spectacular projected images of nature and energy into the domed roof of the GE pavilion, similar to a
planetariumA planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
. The show demonstrated the many ways that GE was harnessing electricity and the power of the sun for the benefit of its customers.
Disneyland
The Carousel of Progress opened at Disneyland Park on July 2, 1967, as part of the New Tomorrowland. Due to the success of the attractions Disney created for the Fair, General Electric agreed to sponsor the Carousel of Progress at Disneyland. However, the Carousel of Progress was to be a permanent fixture at Disneyland, and it is unknown how many years General Electric would have sponsored the ride had it stayed there (presumably, 10–12 years, as many other sponsors throughout Disneyland Park have historically done).
The actual attraction was located on ground level, and a new 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 recorded for Mother, "Christmas in the Home of the 1960s" was slightly updated in set design and technology, all references to General Electric's passé "Medallion Home" campaign were dropped, and Father from the "The Home of the 1940s" now sat on a bar stool, rather than on the kitchen nook bench.
After the show, guests boarded a speedramp that would take them to the second level of the building. On the upper level, a 4-minute post show, narrated by Mother and Father, with a few barks and growls from their dog, coincided with guests gazing at an enormous model of Progress City. Progress City was based on Walt Disney's original concept for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and the Walt Disney World property.
As the 1970s rolled in, the Carousel of Progress saw dwindling audiences. GE thought they were not getting the most for their advertising dollars, surmising that 80% of the people that saw the attraction were Californians, and had seen the attraction many times. GE asked Disney to move the show to their new Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The Disneyland show closed on September 9, 1973 and was packed up for Florida.
The empty carousel theater in Tomorrowland was filled with a new show in 1974 called America Sings, a salute to American music. That show closed in 1988, not to be replaced for ten years. The Disneyland version of Epcot's popular Innoventions exhibit opened with the New Tomorrowland in 1998, using "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" as its theme song.
The Magic Kingdom
The attraction opened on January 15, 1975. General Electric signed a 10-year contract to sponsor the attraction at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Unlike the small changes that had occurred when the Carousel of Progress moved from the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair to Disneyland Park, extensive changes were made when the attraction moved to Walt Disney World.
A new carousel theater building was designed to house the attraction: a one-story pavilion, with a loft above. The loft was created so that the WEDway
PeopleMoverThe PeopleMover was a transport attraction that operated from July 2, 1967 to August 21, 1995 in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Guests boarded small trains that ran on elevated tracks for a "grand circle tour" above Tomorrowland...
(now the
Tomorrowland Transit AuthorityThe Tomorrowland Transit Authority is a peoplemover system in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort. Themed as an urban mass transit system of the future, riders are taken on a train ride around the second floor of many attractions in Tomorrowland...
) could pass above it. The interior and exterior of the building received new color schemes with blue and white stripes that grew smaller and larger as the building turned. Also, the theaters now rotated counterclockwise, rather than clockwise, like the two former theater systems.
The load and unload theaters no longer featured the stunning "Kaleidophonic Screens" that had dazzled guests as they boarded and exited their respective theater. The old screens had stretched from one wall to the other, with the giant GE logo in the center. They lit up in various colors and patterns like a kaleidoscope as the orchestral version of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" played. Various problems plagued the screens after 1973, so silver curtains with the GE logo in the center took their place in both the load and unload theaters with different colored lights shining on them.
The Florida version was planned with no post-show. Guests would load and unload on the first floor. The Progress City/EPCOT model was significantly sized down so it could fit in a window display that could be seen from the WEDway PeopleMover.
Because of the changing times, a new theme song, written by the Sherman Brothers, was created for the Florida show. GE asked the Shermans to write a new song because they did not want their customers to wait for a "great big beautiful tomorrow;" GE wanted them to buy appliances today, so a song titled "Now is the Time," also known as "
The Best Time Of Your Life"The Best Time of Your Life" is a song written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman in 1974 as a new theme song for Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress...
," was created. Although the song was still very peppy and positive, the Shermans still felt that "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" was a better fit.
A new cast of voices and "performers" were showcased in the 1975 version, including actor
Andrew DugganAndrew Duggan was a tall and authoritative character actor who appeared in 70 movies including The Incredible Mr. Limpet as Harlock with Don Knotts , and over 140 television shows between 1949 and 1987...
as Father. The first three "acts" had some cosmetic and set design changes. The finale was changed to "Christmas in the Home of the 1970s," and the dog also changed breed.
In 1981, the finale was updated to showcase "Christmas in the Home of the 1980s." A new script was written for this scene change, but the rest of the show remained the same. The attraction closed briefly so that the changes could be implemented.
On March 10, 1985, General Electric's contract expired, and they chose not to renew. The attraction closed shortly thereafter so that all General Electric references 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 six fixed stages on the signs outside of the attraction and the silver GE curtain was kept but a round sign with the blueprint logo and the name Carousel of Progress hid the GE logo.
In 1993 the attraction closed for refurbishment, to better reflect the theme of the New Tomorrowland: "The Future that Never Was." Gears and other mechanical symbols were being prominently featured in the other pavilions in the New Tomorrowland, so the Carousel of Progress was redesigned to feature them. The attraction and show were re-named "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress." A giant cog sign in the load and unload theaters that says Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress replaced the blueprint sign. The finale was updated to "Christmas in the House of 2000" (as envisioned in 1994). A new cast was hired for the narration recordings, with American writer, raconteur, and radio personality
Jean ShepherdJean Parker Shepherd was an American raconteur, radio and TV personality, writer and actor who was often referred to by the nickname Shep....
as the voice of the father. For the first time, names of some of the characters in the attraction were revealed. A 4-minute pre-show about the creation of the attraction was played on monitors while guests waited in line. A contemporary version of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" returned as the attraction's theme song. The attraction reopened in 1994, as the New Tomorrowland was unveiled in phases. Since then, the attraction has undergone slight mechanical and cosmetic changes.
Due to the a decrease in attendance following the
September 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks were a series of coordinated suicide attacks by Al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. On that morning, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners...
, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress closed in October 2001. It was reopened soon afterwards on a seasonal basis, causing fans to become concerned for the attraction's future. Although numerous "permanent closure" rumors still plague the attraction, Disney has consistently said that there are no plans for permanent closure or any closure at all. For various reasons, the attraction has had some minor refurbishments in recent years. Though it is still listed as a seasonal attraction, it has remained open nearly every day of the year and during the Magic Kingdom's regular park hours since 2003.
The Sherman Brothers write in their joint autobiography regarding the history of the pavilion:
Cast (current 1994 version)
| Character |
Voice Actor |
| Father |
Jean ShepherdJean Parker Shepherd was an American raconteur, radio and TV personality, writer and actor who was often referred to by the nickname Shep....
|
| Mother |
B.J. Ward |
| Daughter |
Debi Derryberry Debi Derryberry is an American voice actress who won an American Anime Award.-History:Debi has provided the voices of numerous characters, mostly young boys and tomboyish girls, and is probably best known as the voice of titular hero of the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy...
|
| Young son |
Peter Nelson Peter Nelson is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as the evil Visitor youth leader Brian in the 1983 NBC mini series V and the 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle as Brian....
|
| Teenage son |
Paul Osterhout |
| Grandfather |
Rex AllenRex Elvie Allen was an American film actor, singer and songwriter who is particularly known as the narrator in many Walt Disney nature and Western productions. For contributions to the recording industry, Rex Allen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.-Family and early life:Allen...
|
| Grandmother |
Mary Cervantes |
| Grandmother(Act IV) |
Janet WaldoJanet Waldo is an American actress and voice artist with a career encompassing radio, television, animation and live-action films. She is best known in animation for voicing Judy Jetson, Penelope Pitstop, and Josie McCoy in Josie and the Pussycats...
|
| Cousin Orville |
Mel BlancMelvin Jerome "Mel" Blanc was an American voice actor and comedian. Although he began his nearly six-decade-long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros...
|
| Radio Personalities |
Noel Blanc |
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 demonstrate how their products would change the pattern of domestic chores and improve life. The desire to sell during the
Great DepressionThe Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the rural electrification projects of the
New DealThe New Deal was the name that United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave to his complex package of economic programs 1933-36 with the goals of what historians call the 3 Rs, of giving Relief to the unemployed and badly hurt farmers, Reform of business and financial practices, and promoting...
were two of the motivating forces behind these films.
Also, there are the remnants of an exhibition from the 1933
Century of ProgressA Century of Progress International Exposition was the name of a World's Fair held in Chicago, Illinois from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation...
exposition in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry that feature four typical rooms of Chicago houses in various decades prior to the exhibition.
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 renovation, "Great, Big Beautiful Tomorrow" added back: 1994
- Designer: WED Enterprises
- Sponsor: General Electric (Opening-March 10, 1985)
- Audio-Animatronics: 32
- Seating: 212
- Show length: 20:45
- Ride system: Rotating theater with Audio-Animatronics
- Known Hidden Mickeys: Final scene: Mickey nutcracker; mickey salt/pepper shakers; plush Mickey under the Christmas tree, Mickey from Fantasia
Fantasia is a American animated feature produced by Walt Disney and the third film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. Fantasia features animation set to classical music and no dialogue—only spoken introductions by the host, American composer and music critic Deems Taylor, before segments...
(this one is very hard to see; as it is made up of colored lines.)
Spin-offs and related attractions
From October 1, 1983, until January 9, 1999, an attraction known as
HorizonsHorizons was the name of a dark ride attraction at Epcot , a park at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida USA. Located on the eastern side of the "Future World" section of Epcot, the attraction used Disney's Omnimover conveyance system, which took guests past show scenes depicting visions...
existed at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort. It was more or less a sequel to the Carousel of Progress, depicting the host family living and working in techologically-enhanced environments in the near future. It was also presented by General Electric (1983-1994). In that attraction, there was a scene where a robot was "working" in the kitchen, making quite a mess, among other things. In the background, the song "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" could be heard.
Also in 1983,
Meet the Worldwas an attraction at Tomorrowland in Tokyo Disneyland from 1983 until 2002.It was a show which explored the history of Japan over the course of 19 minutes, focusing specifically on the history of Japan's engagement with the outside world. The show featured an animated crane explaining Japanese...
, at
Tokyo Disneylandis a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and was opened on April 15, 1983. The park was constructed by Walt Disney Imagineering in the same style as Disneyland in...
, was an attraction that was housed in a rotating theater. It featured both audio-animatronics and
videoVideo is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.-History:...
, looking at thousands of years of Japanese history. It closed in 2002.
Innoventions (1998-present), the current occupant of the building formerly used for the Carousel of Progress at Disneyland, depicts a few images from the older attraction on its colorful exterior
muralA mural is any piece of artwork painted directly on a wall, ceiling, or other large permanent surface.-History:Murals of sorts date to Upper Paleolithic times such as the paintings in the Chauvet Cave in Ardèche department of southern France...
s, and the Innoventions character Tom Morrow sings an updated version of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow". Banners hung from the building depict the Carousel of Progress and other past attractions, along with their inception dates.
Inside, the
ASIMOis a humanoid robot created by Honda. Standing at 130 centimeters and weighing 54 kilograms , the robot resembles a small astronaut wearing a backpack and can walk or run on two feet at speeds up to 6 km/h , matching EMIEW. ASIMO was created at Honda's Research & Development Wako Fundamental...
show features a stage set reminiscent of the "contemporary" scene in the Carousel of Progress, including a view of the Community of Tomorrow through the picture window. The ASIMO exit music is the original Rex Allen recording from the Carousel of Progress at Disneyland.
Soundtrack
The entire soundtrack for the Disneyland version (1967 - 1973) can be heard on
A Musical History of DisneylandA Musical History of Disneyland is a CD boxed set collection of music from Disneyland, spanning opening day to the present. Released on May 5 2005 in honor of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, it is the biggest release in Walt Disney Records' history....
(2005). The soundtrack was also released as part of the 5-disc CD set "Walt Disney and the 1964 World's Fair" released on March 24, 2009 which includes instrumental versions of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" representing different era's of progress, and an early 'Alternate Universe' version of the complete show.
The theme song "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" can be found on a few official theme park albums over the years, including:
- Walt Disney World Resort: The Official Album
Walt Disney World Resort: The Official Album was the official album for Walt Disney World during the Millennium Celebration. The cover says "2000" but it was released in 1999...
(1999) (Magic Kingdom 1994 version)
- Walt Disney World Resort: Official Album
Walt Disney World Resort: Official Album was the official album for Walt Disney World in 2000. Out of print.-Track listing:#"All Aboard!" - Main Street Station – 0:28#"Fortuosity" Walt Disney World Resort: Official Album was the official album for Walt Disney World in 2000. Out of print.-Track...
(2000) (Magic Kingdom 1994 version)
In popular culture
- In an episode titled Breakfast Food Killer of the Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries predominantly comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
series Drawn TogetherDrawn Together is an American animated television series, which ran on Comedy Central from October 27, 2004 to November 14, 2007. The series was created by Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein, and uses a sitcom format with a TV reality show setting...
, the Carousel of Progress is referenced several times throughout the episode whenever the characters changed from one scene to another.
External links