[mickey]

Carousel of Progress and The Timekeeper will be opening for spring break. They will remain open from March 23 through April 6, though only open limited hours. The Carousel of Progress will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and The Timekeeper will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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[PacMan2002]

Why did these two close in the first place??

[mickey]

Originally posted by PacMan2002
Why did these two close in the first place??

Timekeeper closed because of lack of attendance. I have been inside when we were the only people there. I think they have a long term plan for this space, but no short term plan. I wouldn't be surprised to see it become a character greeting area for a couple of years. Timekeeper was imported from one of Disneyland Paris' first rides, and it just happened to fit perfectly the 360 degree theater that was already in place. I don' think it ever caught on here.

Carousel of Progress was closed because it lacked a sponsor for years. It is a very expensive ride to maintain, and although loved by many, is often running at half capacity. The CoP type ride in Disneyland was changed a couple of years ago into an Innoventions. It still goes around in a circle, but you can walk through everything, even while it is turning. It's interesting how small the audience area is and how large time stage area is. It may stay open in it's current spot, but only if a sponsor is found. I wouldn't be surprised if it was removed and rebuilt somewhere else on property. It would fit well in MGM with a re-vamped theme, or EPCOT as is. Many rumors have suggested that CoP will be removed, along with the old skyway station and restrooms to make way for a new e-ride attraction.

For now, if the rides are open, catch them while you can, you never know what will happen to them.

[PacMan2002]

Thanks Mickey.

What are "e-rides?"

[lvbug]

Mickey,
In your opinion, why do you think the timekeeper doesn't have much of a following. Its really not a bad ride. Atleast as far as I remember.

[mickey]

e-rides, or e ticket rides are rides such as Tower or Terror, Space Mountain or Splash Mountain. Originally, you didn't buy an all day pass to Disneyland, you purchased a ticket book. All the rides were classified into categories. Many of the fantasyland rides were either a-ticket or b-ticket rides. The Matterhorn was an e-ticket ride. You were limited to the number of each type of ride you could go on. So, e-ticket rides are the big time rides, and the name just stuck.

As far as timekeeper goes, I don't really know why. It is an ok ride, and we go on it once per trip, but it is nothing spectacular. The one in Paris is identical, other than the voices. Most of the movies throughout WDW are poorly attended. The movie in China usually only has twenty people in it. The same goes with Canada. The Impression of France is a bit different in that it is more like a movie theater. You can sit down and relax. Personally, the surround movies make me sick. I try to avoid them if I can. Timekeeper is not as bad as Canada, but still...

I don't know, maybe someone else would like to chime in with why they don't go to Timekeeper.

[PacMan2002]

I may have been on Timekeeper years ago, but I'm really not entirely sure.

Is this a ride where your host/guide is a robot who has Robin Williams' voice? Is there a screen all around you, at every angle? If so, what happens in this ride?

[mickey]

Well, it is basically a movie. You just stand there while nine eyes adventures through time. Nine eyes is the robot that Robin Williams sends through time. What he sees from his nine eyes is projected on the screen. That is basically it. It is funny in parts, and interesting, but nothing great.