Carousel's Dog

[CU Tiger]

Is the dog (Rover) in the carousel of progress supposed to be the same dog through the years? If so, that’s a long life for a dog!:thumbsup::mickey:

[Main Street Jim]

In the original show, <s>he had different names in each scene; I can remember "Queenie" and "Rover" at least. I'll have to go back and listen to my mp3 of that show :) Maybe it's supposed to be "different" dogs, but all with the same name :)

[MickeysBestPal]

Is the dog (Rover) in the carousel of progress supposed to be the same dog through the years?

Nope.

Heck, it's not possible to even be the same family or host in each seen.

The first scene is in 1905, or so, the last one is in 1990, or so.
Just how old would the host be in the last scene if he was about 30 in the first scene?

Burning a turkey dinner would be the least of his worries. ;)

[bunkyg]

That is one special dog! Not only does he spend his days in COP he also has the time to appear in 2 other attractions at WDW!

[TracyL]

It's the same family, in the sense that all the characters have the same names in every scene (although you'll notice that their nicknames evolve with the times, so that "Patricia" circa 1900 is "Patty" in the postwar scene and "Trish" in the last scene).

It's not meant, obviously, to be the same family literally.

[lindique]

In the original show, <s>he had different names in each scene; I can remember "Queenie" and "Rover" at least. I'll have to go back and listen to my mp3 of that show :) Maybe it's supposed to be "different" dogs, but all with the same name :)
Was another name for the dog "Sport" possibly in the old show? I'm trying to remember.....

[marlyn]

That is one special dog! Not only does he spend his days in COP he also has the time to appear in 2 other attractions at WDW!

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[BigThunderFan]

Was another name for the dog "Sport" possibly in the old show? I'm trying to remember.....

YES! I remember the dialogue now: dog growls, "Sport! Now he could be a good customer of General Electric..." :mickey: referring to the person being growled at of course...

[lindique]

YES! I remember the dialogue now: dog growls, "Sport! Now he could be a good customer of General Electric..." :mickey: referring to the person being growled at of course...
Glad to see there is another fan on the Boards!! I first saw this show at the New York World's Fair. It was pretty impressive in those days.

[Crow]

yea is it supposed to b the same family in some way.
i noticed some of the things werent working last time i went..

[BigThunderFan]

It's funny to listen to all the different versions from over the years. It always follows the same basic format, just subtle changes in the script. And of course the song remains the same... :thumbsup:

[MickeysBestPal]

-- of course the song remains the same... :thumbsup:

The song is something that DID change, very substantially.

Many long-time CoP fans remember that when the attraction first opened at the then brand-new Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom in Florida, the featured song was
"The Best Time of Your Life (Now Is the Time)"

Today, the song is "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow."

But, many may not know the reason for the change.

Both of the songs used in CoP are by the Sherman Brothers (Richard and Robert) who wrote lots of the great Disney songs in the 60's (It's a Small World, Mary Poppins... just SO many!)

When Walt Disney himself commissioned the music for CoP he wanted to accentuate the story that "progress" means that even though "today seems great, tomorrow is going to be better." The Shermans responded with "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" (the song that you currently hear in the CoP at WDW.)
Walt LOVED it, it was a huge hit at the 1964 World's Fair in NYC and my family and I got to see/hear it at Disneyland after it was finally set-up there after the fair.
WE loved it and rode that carousel over and over.
When CoP was moved to WDW, the Shermans were asked to write a new song (the CoP was sponsored by GE) that stated that "NOW is the Best Time" ostensibly because it meant to "go ahead and buy appliances TODAY," don't wait until "tomorrow" (or you'll never do it.)
As a kid who had grown up with the ORIGINAL SONG, I was a bit disappointed with the NEW one.
So, years later, when I discovered that the CoP had re-opened with the ORIGINAL song back IN, I was SO HAPPY! (I couldn't believe that the present-day Imagineers had taken the time to nearly RESTORE the new CoP to its earlier Walt Disney-supervised glory!)
I can understand that it those of you who were FIRST-initiated to the CoP with the SECOND song, would have nostalgia for THAT one... but Walt himself chose the FIRST one (that's there now) and I love it!
--------------------------------------------------
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of ev'ry day
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
And tomorrow's just a dream away

Man has a dream and that's the start
He follows his dream with mind and heart
And when it becomes a reality
It's a dream come true for you and me

So there's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shinin' at the end of ev'ry day
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Just a dream away

--------------------------------------------------
The Best Time of Your Life (Now Is the Time)

Chorus:
Now is the time.
Now is the best time.
Now is the best time of your life.

Life is a prize.
Live every minute.
Open your eyes,
And watch how you win it.

Yesterday's mem'ries may sparkle and gleam,
Tomorrow is still but a dream

Right here and now,
you've got it made.
The world's forward marching,
and you're in the parade.

Now is the time.
Now is the best time.
Be it a time of
joy or strife.

There's so much to cheer for.
Be glad you're here for,
It's the best time of your life.

[Altair]

Here a few more fun facts:

The dad was voiced by Jean Shepherd who also did the narration for "A Christmas Story".

Cousin Orville was voiced by Mel Blanc who was Bugs Bunny and a cast of thousands.
:mickey:

[BigThunderFan]

Do you know when the song changed? I remember seeing it in Disneyland and in MK growing up, but don't remember the "Best Time of Your Life" version in the parks. I assumed that was the original because I have heard it on Disney radio stations, but never while actually seeing the CoP. I figured it was before my time :/

Maybe my memory just isn't so good, or else I mentally blocked the other :mickey:

[Main Street Jim]

Do you know when the song changed? I remember seeing it in Disneyland and in MK growing up, but don't remember the "Best Time of Your Life" version in the parks. I assumed that was the original because I have heard it on Disney radio stations, but never while actually seeing the CoP. I figured it was before my time :/

Maybe my memory just isn't so good, or else I mentally blocked the other :mickey:The original song, "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow", was the original CoP song (1964-1973<?>). When CoP opened in Florida in '75, the song was changed to "Now is the Time". In 1993, the "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" song was restored.

Rex Allen was the original voice of the Father (in the World's Fair and Disneyland versions). He is now the voice of the grandfather in Act IV (Christmas). he also narrates the pre-show film you see while waiting outside in the queue.

[DisneyDawgette]

There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow [/B]

There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of ev'ry day
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
And tomorrow's just a dream away

Man has a dream and that's the start
He follows his dream with mind and heart
And when it becomes a reality
It's a dream come true for you and me

So there's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shinin' at the end of ev'ry day
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Just a dream away

--------------------------------------------------


I love this song! I actually did it for one of my Elementary Music Instruction classes as my final performance! It made even the worst assignment enjoyable! :D

Doesn't have anything to do with anything... Just excited to see a positive thread on this ride. It's my favorite, much to my friends' chagrin every time we go. :)

[Giggy]

I figured it was the same dog, similarly the same family, just Disney magic was clearly very good for staying healthy and young. It's worked for Mickey and Donald all these decades. :mickey:

[DisneyGiant]

I always thought that it was descendants of the original family, including descendants of the dog...... used to illustrate how technology & process changed over the years!

That's why they always have to change out the last scene.

It is quite dated now.

[wdwfansince75]

And now, for a return to yesteryear...Why is the little girl (3rd child?) only in the first scene? She is never addressed by name...she just quietly pumps the handle of the wash tub.

[Main Street Jim]

And now, for a return to yesteryear...Why is the little girl (3rd child?) only in the first scene? She is never addressed by name...she just quietly pumps the handle of the wash tub.I worked at CoP for two years. We never figured it out, either...LOL

There's a pretty good page over at "Widen Your World" about CoP and its WDW history.

[Buttercup]

And now, for a return to yesteryear...Why is the little girl (3rd child?) only in the first scene? She is never addressed by name...she just quietly pumps the handle of the wash tub.
I always figured Sarah was babysitting that little girl and she was just helping do the wash. :thumbsup:
Ever notice that the son (James, Jim, Jimmy) ages throughout the show? He's a little boy during most of it, and then BAM, in the last scene he's a teenager, but nobody else has aged. Weeeird. :secret: