Carousel of Progress

Underappreciated Disney Attractions

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Black. Enjoy the ride as we share attractions at Disney that we feel are underappreciated.


If you follow my blog, you know that I'm big on nostalgia and Disney history so it's a good bet that my pick for underappreciated Disney attraction combines those two things. Can you guess?  It's not hard to figure out...it's the Carousel of Progress (CoP).  I'm sure that to the average Disney guest, who is only focused on how many big name attractions they can do and how many character meet-and greats they can attend, CoP is dated, tired, boring, and cheesy.  However, if you view WDW has a historical icon dedicated to the origins of modern day theme park technology and innovation, CoP is ground zero.  It is to Disney fanatics, as Wrigley Field or Fenway Park is to baseball fans.  It's one of the few attractions located at WDW in Florida that was directly influenced and developed by Walt Disney himself.  Even though CoP's appearance at WDW didn't occur until 1975, its origins go back much, much further.  

In 1959, Walt Disney was approached by General Electric to sponsor a proposed attraction for the upcoming 1964 New York World's Fair.  Walt Disney developed a concept for the Fair as "a show that would interpret, in an educational and entertaining way, the role electricity has played in bettering man's living conditions".  The result of the GE/Disney collaboration was Progressland, which included the show which was subsequently named,  "Carousel of Progress".  Progressland was one of the most successful exhibits at the Fair with almost 16 million visitors viewing the show before the close of the Fair in 1965.  When the New York World Fair closed, the Carousel of Progress was moved to Disneyland where it, and the original music scored by the famous Sherman brothers, played from 1967 thru 1973.  In 1973, it was then moved to a new theater at Walt Disney World, opening in 1975 with a new theme song, "The Best Time of Your Life."  A 1993 rehab refurbished CoP to its original state and renamed it "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress" as a tribute to its past.  The theme song was also changed back to the original score of  "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow."

Through an innovative rotating carousel theater (hence the name), the show follows an Audio-Animatronic family through the last century, as they show how times have changed due to the many modern inventions.  The theater and show was design and manufactured by WED (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering/WDI) and MAPO (previously known as the manufacturing division of WDI).  Although the actual theater design has changed since the World's Fair, the basic concept of a carousel theater, where the audience rotates around multiple stationary stages, has remained.  This technology allowed to the audience to remain comfortably in place during scene changes, and avoided time-consuming disruption of changing seats during a show.  Maybe not so innovative in 2013, but a marvel in 1964!  Besides the theater, Disney Imagineer's developed and perfected the Audio-Animatronics (AA) performers for the show.  These AA figures were at the forefront of technology at the time and lead to the wonderful Audio-Animatronics we see today throughout the parks.  

The Carousel of Progress holds the record as the longest-running stage show  in the history of American theater.  The Carousel of Progress has a rich history that marks it as one of the oldest attractions in Walt Disney World.  A journey to Disney World should not be complete without a visit to the Carousel of Progress at least once in a lifetime. It's the closest thing you can get to being in Walt Disney's presence.  Even I will admit the show is somewhat cheesy and presents a future full of rosy optimism and vision that is often seldom found these cynical times, but maybe that is exactly what we need because...."There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, Shining at the end of every day..."

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Disney Point.


Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad <-- you are here
2nd Stop ~ The Disney Point 
3rd Stop ~ The Disney Chick
4th Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog

The Monorail

Por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas! 

Dream Disney Resort

Dream Disney Resort

Welcome to those of you joining me from Manda’s Disney Blog and those of you just hopping aboard. I am your Final stop on our Magical Blogorail this month.  This month we are talking about our dream Disney resort!  

If you'd had ask me about my Dream Disney Resort five years ago, I would have easily said the Polynesian Resort and Wilderness Lodge (in that order).  Since then, I've been fortunate enough to stay at both resorts, and they ARE wonderful resorts and I would go back in a heartbeat, but I suppose they are no longer a "dream".  Out of the two resorts, Wilderness Lodge edges out the competition, only by a fraction, due to the theme and being self contained.  That surprised me, because Poly had always been my first dream resort.  I found that I just love the northwest woods theme!  

As of now, my Dream Disney Resort is not so much about resort but about room location.  I have always, always, always wanted to stay in the Contemporary Resort on a high floor with a Magic Kingdom View.  Growing up, my family took many summer vacations to Disney World in our little RV staying at Fort Wilderness.  Taking the boat over to the Contemporary Resort to play in the arcade was a real treat for my brother and I.  Even more so when we were older and my parents would let us venture off on our own.  Back then, we explored much of the hotel and I got my first glimpse of the Magic Kingdom was the top of the Contemporary (back in the days of the Top of the World Lounge).  Wow, what an amazing view!    

I don't care so much about the look and feel of the Contemporary Resort itself...not that it's bad, it's just not my style and when I'm spending that much money, I want a theme that appeals to me.  However, to be able to sit on your own private balcony each morning and evening and see that view and hear those sounds (the dog howling at the Haunted Mansion, the whistle of the train, and the boat horns) would be a dream.  And how about fireworks?  I can only imagine!  Plus, who can't love a hotel with a monorail going through it!  

What a view!
Photo courtesy of ideallydisney.com

I miss the conical shape trees that used to line the parking lot.
Photo courtesy of ideallydisney.com

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Black this month. We will be back on October 8th with an all new theme.  Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney news, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Disney Point
2nd Stop ~ Heidi's Head
3rd Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog
4th Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad

Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) PeopleMover

Ahhhhh….the PeopleMover.  You can’t help but to smile on this attraction.  The leisurely pace, the ride’s characteristic dialog (“Paging Mr. Morrow. Mr. Tom Morrow”), the lack of a long queue line, and the views make this attraction a favorite among repeat visitors.  It’s a great place to take a respite from the Florida heat and relax, if only for 10 minutes.  It goes to show that sometimes special effects and cutting edge technology can’t win out on old-school attractions.  

The TTA has a long history at Walt Disney World.  In 1975 the attraction opened as the WEDWay PeopleMover.  It was based on the first prototype PeopleMover at Disneyland in California.  The difference being that the Disneyland version used rotating tires; while the Disney World version used a linear synchronous motor system comprising of magnets which “push and pull” the ride vehicles along a track.  Another difference between the two parks is that instead of an open track with covered cars as in Disneyland, the WDW version had open-air cars with a ceiling over the track.

Themed as a commuter transit system of the future, passengers are taken on a 1-mile train ride on a raised platform above, around and inside many of the attractions of Tomorrowland.  Passengers depart from a centralized location, Rockettower Plaza, located beneath the Astro-Orbiters.  Guests board the Metro-liners, as the vehicles are called, on the second story of Rockettower Plaza.  The design of the station platform has guests boarding and disembarking the cars onto a moving platform. This allows the vehicles to remain in motion at all times.  The cars then travel a one-way loop, with a brief stretch at the entrance to Space Mountain operating with two-way traffic.   

From 1975 to 1994, the PeopleMover remained largely unchanged.  However, in 1994 Tomorrowland underwent a massive refurbishment that changed the Tomorrowland landscape significantly.  Much of the 70’s-retro, futuristic, white architecture disappeared, replaced by bold, metallic structures.  It was during this refurbishment that the attraction's name changed from the WEDWay PeopleMover to The Tomorrowland Transit Authority.  “PeopleMover” wasn’t added to The Tomorrowland Transit Authority’s name until 2009.  

Over the years the PeopleMover has taken guests on a 10 minute ride showing some of Tomorrowland’s favorite attractions.  Today guests can glimpse a view inside Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Space Mountain, and Mickey's Star Traders.  The TTA swings by the outside of attractions such as the Tomorrowland Speedway, Carousel of Progress, Stitch’s Great Escape and the Laugh Floor.  In the tunnel above Stitch’s Great Escape, the TTA train passes a large diorama containing an original architectural model of EPCOT as envisioned by Walt Disney.

I highly recommend any visitor to Tomorrowland to take a trip on the “Tomorrowland Transit Authority metroliner non-stop, now departing Rockettower Plaza Station for a round-trip super skyway tour”. 

Epcot

It's a beautiful day at Epcot!

Favorite WDW Restaurant

Welcome to those of you joining me from Manda’s Disney Blog and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail this month.  Today we are talking about our favorite restaurants.  What a great topic!  Who doesn't love to eat while at Disney?

My favorite restaurant at WDW has to be 'Ohana's at the Polynesian Resort.  'Ohana means family and this restaurant is themed around it.  Food is served family style, your wait staff are "cousins" and the entertainment is geared toward family friendly fun.  

The atmosphere at 'Ohana is decidedly tropical.  From the tiki god statues, to the large wicker chairs, to the umbrella drinks, you are immersed in the tropic paradise of the Polynesian Resort.  

Ohana's dining room wraps around a massive fire pit, where your food for the evening is being cooked.  The room is surrounded with floor to ceiling windows with views of the tropical landscaping of the resort, the Seven Seas Lagoon, and the Magic Kingdom with an amazing view of Cinderella Castle.  If you are lucky enough to get a window seat, the view is breathtaking.  I've never been during the fireworks show, but can only imagine how wonderful that would be.  

Once you're seated, your "cousins" will arrive to start your meal off with drinks.  If you partake of adult libations, this is the place to get your umbrella drink on!  Your meal starts with "Ohana Welcome Bread", a delicious warm Pineapple bread.  Salad shows up shortly after, along with an appetizer course -- lo mein noodles, stir-fry veggies, pork dumplings, and sticky chicken wings.  Don't fill up on this though, the main course is found on the fire pit.  Huge skewers of meats are constantly being cooked on the open pit.  Your "cousin" brings your meat one skewer at a time to your table.  Grilled turkey, pork loin, chicken, and sirloin steak all marinated and cooked to perfection.  The meats are accompanied by a variety of sauces for dipping.  You can ask for as little or as much as you want (or can handle).  You come away hungry here, it is your own fault!

But don't fill up too quick, 'Ohana's saves the best for last:  dessert, 'Ohana bread pudding a la mode with bananas foster sauce.  I have to stay that, in my opinion, this is the best dessert on property.  The pudding is rich and delicious, the ice cream creamy, and the sauce is warm and gooey.  A perfect combination!  

'Ohana's isn't all about eating, though.  There is wonderful entertainment provided by Hawaiian cultural ambassador of sorts.  She passes out leis, teaches hula dances, serenades the dining room throughout the meal, and leads the coconut races for the kids.  It's quite a fun experience for the little ones.  

'Ohana is a widely popular dining option at WDW and Advanced Dining Reservations fill up fast.  I don't find myself going there every time I'm at Walt Disney World, but special occasions do require a trip to 'Ohana.  

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Disney Point.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Disney Chick
2nd Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog
3rd Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
4th Stop ~ The Disney Point 

Where are the kids?

I'm two weeks back from another fabulous trip to Disney World.  Four magical days....2 gals and no children.  That's right...no children.  I left them at home!  Not really at home by themselves, but with their grandparents at church camp.  But here's the real kicker....I didn't tell them I was going.  I haven't told them I went, either!!!!  Yes, I am a bad mother, but I think their father is equally to blame.  He was golfing in Scotland at the time.  Not only did I go to Disney World without my kids, I went without my husband, too.  It was just me and my sister-in-law....and I'm not going to lie, it was a great trip.  Don't get me wrong, I love going with my kids and husband, but sometimes a girl just needs some girl time.

I've been wanting to blog about all we did and see, but life has been getting in the way lately.  I hope to  do some in-depth postings soon, but until then here were some high points:

• The updated Alligator Bayou rooms in Port Orleans Riverside are adorable!

• Wi-fi at the resort and in the parks was significantly better than last year.
• Paying with your room card is so much easier with the new system.  Hover your card over the device and insert a PIN code. 
• Weather was surprisingly comfortable for mid-July.  Rained each day but nothing that a poncho couldn't work around. 
• We managed to get into Epcot before it opened, and were the first group on Soarin'.
  
  
  
• Ice Cream Martini. There are no words to describe!

• Ate lunch at Be Our Guest.  The dining rooms are AMAZING!  It really was snowing outside the windows.  

• I had a Disney-geek freak out moment when I realized that the former Fantasyland Skyway building and stroller parking area has been theme to Tangled, and a new "portal" exists between Fantasyland and Liberty Square.  How did I miss this is the blogs of New Fantasyland?

Maximus has left his mark!

• Riding Big Thunder Mountain in the rain is a blast and can cause an episode of the giggles.  
• The Outer Rim Lounge at the Contemporary Resort doesn't open till 4pm.  Too bad if you wanted to take a mid-afternoon break.  
• Watching the glass blower in the back of the Crystal Arts shop on Main Street was a special treat.  

• I can't say that standing for almost two hours in order to watch the castle display and fireworks from this view was worth it, but it was nice to see once.  My feet won't be doing it again.  

• And lastly, we learned there is no dancing outside your ride vehicle.  Good information to know.