Some rumors...

[FlyingMouse]

Taking the Speedway to electric cars is okay, I guess. But the ride would then be too quiet.

They'll have to add a little sound system to the car that plays the sound the Jetson's cars made.

[IMFearless]

My 1/50th of a buck:
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway: Needs fixing. I'm sorry, but it honestly is NOT worth the waits I typically see on it. Possibly partly because I can actually, I dunno, DRIVE A REAL CAR now probably doesn't help. But honestly - DL's Autopia far and away surpasses Orlando's. It definitely needs some kind of theming I think. Heh, maybe they should go the opposite direction for their source material ... Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, ne1?
Hall of Presidents: LOL I actually enjoy this more the older I get. Though, hearing people boo Bush's speaking part as early as 2004 isn't helping. Possibly needs to be fixed to some extent. Don't really know how though....
Enchanted Tiki Room: Adding Iago and Zazu to that show was one of the worst mistakes the Disney company ever made. I would be ecstatic if they returned it to the good ol' days.
Country Bear Jamboree: That was changed? I didn't realize it was ever changed.
Soarin': I vote that the WDW version is changed, DL isn't. DCA's Soarin' Over California should be, well ... California. But making Epcot's version Soarin' Over the World would be cool. Particularly if ... oh yeah ... they specifically use the World Showcase nations.
Illuminations: Not sure quite what to think ... Reflections of Earth is definitely dated, but still pretty cool. I think I'd want to see/hear this SkyDance thing before making a final statement.
And to meticulus9: I don't think Space Mountain counts as a wildmouse.... I'm pretty sure the primary attributes of a wildmouse are single cars (not hinged trains) and flat turns (not banked). Space Mountain doesn't count for either.

[packwingfn]

I would be upset if they changed Illumination:ROE but I also expected it to happen since we'll be a decade into the new millinenium already...I would fly down for the night when they announce that ROE is ending just to see the show one more time as it means so much to me.

I would love to bring back the Enchanted Tiki Room as the only reason I watch the current one is the ending when Iago says he would rather take a nap at the Hall of Presidents.

I'm sure the HoP change will just be a few minor changes to the movie, and a new speech for the new president.

When did Country Bears change? I thought it's been the same since 1971.

I wouldn't mind a change of the Soarin' film, but that music is so classic, they better make it just as good or a lot of guests will be very angry.

[horizons1]

According to Kevin Yee's latest "Rumor Rundown" there will be a new "global theme" for Soarin' on both coasts by the end of 2009.

http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky090408b.htm

[js3901]

I don't believe the CBJ has ever changed, outside of the holiday show back in the day.

[packwingfn]

Maybe they mean that they will bring the Christmas show back perhaps?

[js3901]

Maybe they mean that they will bring the Christmas show back perhaps?

we can only hope. I believe they're doing a much needed update to the sound system, and a "wardrobe" update to the AAs (the bear's fur).

[kcarts]

I think it's still two years or so away. Not really worth noting or discussing. Rumors about things two years down the road generally don't pan out.

[DisBeamer]

I'm with the 'wait and see' crowd, as far as these panning out. But to give the rumors the benefit of the doubt for the moment:

Regarding the Tomorrowland Speedway, "...the attraction will undergo a huge refurbishment to add electric cars and new scenery." To quote our source: 'The idea behind this refurbishment would be to make our speedway similar to the Autopia attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland, while also inclding scenery that tells the story of our Tomorrowland.' (ex. Stitch, Wall-E, Buzz Lightyear, and Monsters Inc. character and theming references).'

*insert sobbing noise here* Y'know, driving cars past Mike and Sully may actually be the straw that breaks my 'can't go back to the parks' back. That said, they're going to 'tell the story of their Tomorrowland'? It has a story still? Really?

Regarding the Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management, "In short, the original Tropical Serenade show may retrun to the Magic Kingdom as part of a huge marketing campaign for the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2011."

See now, as fast as the Great Monster Highway would drive me out, this would haul me back in. Maybe I could just avoid one side of the park...

Other rumors include returning Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, The Country Bear Jamboree, The Hall of Presidents, and others back to their original glory and doing some major refurishments to these and other attractions.

I can dig the original glory of CoP and the Bears... taking that to mean refurbs, which they sorely need. Provided we're talking refurbs/rehabs and not "The Bears Visit Andy's Room - now in 3D" and the like, big thumbs up from me. It'd kind of make sense, I guess, if they want to 'get back to their roots' for the 40th; refresh the attractions that are the oldest of the old school.
Though I'm not sure what HoP has to do with it. When was that glorious?

Also a new Soarin' film might debut within the next year or during the anniversary in Epcot and in Disney's California Adventure called Soarin' around the World. Also in Epcot: Illuminations: Reflections of Earth might havea new show in the future. Again it might happen soon or for the anniversary."

I'm all for a new Soarin' film. Most over-hyped/disappointing attraction evar, as far as I'm concerned. I think replacing it in Epcot makes more sense than in CA, though.

And I'll be really sad to see RoE go, but it doesn't surprise me that its time is almost up (if the rumor is true... seems to have the most outside evidence of these). As soon as the preshow music changed I figured it was on the endangered list. I love RoE. Buuut the original show was pretty good, too. I'm gonna trust TPTB at Epcot not to mess it up (fingers crossed).

[Cheshire Cat]

The CoP Rumor has made it sound like they're going to make it all retro and just give up on the last scene. The rumors I've heard said they're going to try and make it just like the 1964 version... which would explain the new posters outside the building

[DisBeamer]

I could support that. The problem of that increasing gap at the end was already unsightly (as we've discussed I dunno how many times here ). Jumping that last panel ahead to like .. 2025 or something would be really jarring. Fixing everything up really nice in its 'original' state would be a nice solution.

To be honest, I almost feel bad saying that since it's more or less giving up on the Tomorrow bit of Tomorrowland. Though perhaps it's time to jump off that sinking ship. Having one 'retro' attraction per land would be nice for the 40th.

[Len90]

I don't think I'm a fan of most of these changes. I think Illuminations, TLS, and Soarin are fine as is. Okay, so eco-friendly cars would be nice, but it would be great if they make those things a little easier to get in and out of.

[theBIGyowski]

The only problem with changing CoP back to the way it was in 1964 is that it was thick with General Electric stuff. Would they just re-record the original script...changing the GE references? Just wondering about that. I would love for it to be restored to it's original look and feel though...speaking of the last scene. I'm too young to have seen the original but man I have probably listened to the audio for it more than any other Disney attraction...by far!

[Esmeralda]

^Or maybe GE could sponsor it again! Though it would be a conflict of interest considering they own NBC and Universal....

"Quiet Buster! He could be a good customer of GE!"

[DisBeamer]

I would assume they'd have to re-record to eliminate the World's Fair GE shilling that went on in the original. It wouldn't be that hard to do, though I assume we'd end up with a family of new voices.