Last year, Walt Disney World announced that a new Walt Disney animatronic was going to be added to the classic Carousel of Progress attraction in Magic Kingdom. Turns out, that wasn’t all they’re adding to the ride! The attraction will be receiving a full update with new scenes, new decades and a different character front and center for one section. In this post, we’ll share the changes before adding our commentary.

Carousel of Progress is one of those Disney attractions that has a fervor behind it that might be hard to understand from the outside. Plenty of these attractions exist throughout Walt Disney World but few have made the long-term emotional impact that this Magic Kingdom ride has. Along with that, Disney Parks fans (including me) love a bit of history! Here’s some of that history along with the changes coming. Our commentary is below that.

The Evolution of Carousel of Progress

To understand the full history of Carousel of Progress, you have to go all the way back to the 1950s. As Walt Disney set his sights on expanding Disneyland, he envisioned an extension of Main Street, U.S.A. called Edison Square.

The square would be anchored by Harnessing the Lightning, a walkthrough drama exploring how electricity and technology transformed the lifestyle of the American family. While Edison Square was never built, the groundwork was laid for a show centered on a powerful idea: technology would continue to evolve, but people would stay the same.

When work began on the Disney shows for the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair, Walt and his team of Imagineers reworked the Harnessing the Lightning concept into the smash hit of the Progressland pavilion — Carousel of Progress.

The fair marked the debut of the attraction’s iconic rotating theater system, as well as its equally iconic anthem by songwriters and Disney Legends Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman. It was an enormous success and a project deeply personal to Walt. It captured his overarching spirit of optimism while reflecting his hands-on creative direction, down to details as specific as how Uncle Orville’s toes should wiggle in the bathtub.

Following its run at the fair, Walt brought the show to Disneyland, where it opened in 1967 with several updates, including a refreshed finale scene (now set in Progress City, a community of tomorrow based on Walt’s vision for EPCOT). At the time, no one could have known that this finale would become a sign of things to come, as Carousel of Progress made its way to Walt Disney World in 1975.

In its time at Magic Kingdom, the attraction has continued to evolve, through new scripts, voice actors, time periods, and even full scene updates. The attraction even featured a new theme song, “The Best Time of Your Life,” which stood in for “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” for the attraction’s first two decades of operation in Florida. You can still hear the tune playing as background music throughout Tomorrowland today. The attraction’s last major update was back in 1994, which included an updated finale scene and the return of the original Sherman Brothers’ song.

Keeping Walt’s Vision Alive

Carousel of Progress was designed to celebrate change, not to stand still. Imagineers have the great responsibility of keeping Walt’s ideas of innovation and forward-looking spirit alive as we continue building the attraction’s future together. Where is that future heading?

Last year, Disney announced that guests will soon be able to see Walt Disney himself in the attraction, made possible through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology. Walt will be in a scene inspired by the 1964 special “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” which is where he first introduced the idea of Carousel of Progress and shared his enduring belief in the power of progress to shape a better tomorrow.

The team is having a lot of fun sourcing and replicating many of the props seen in that special, like the prototype Tiki bird, the Tower of the Four Winds model, a doll from “it’s a small world,” and so much more.

This once unimaginable opening moment will set the stage for the next era of storytelling for our American family and their lovable dog.

New Decades Coming to Carousel of Progress

In addition to adding Walt Disney to the very attraction that bears his name, Imagineers will also be updating all the scenes to new time periods, where we’ll get to see what John, Sarah, and the rest of the family are up to as they navigate ever-changing technology in new decades.

One of the main goals for this update was to keep the attraction relatable for today’s audiences by featuring eras in which our guests have personal connections. That includes the iconic “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” which will continue to play as guests transition between scenes.

The Imagineers working on this refresh grew up during these decades, so it’s been a real trip down memory lane to revisit the music, fashion, technology, and experiences that helped shape our history all reflected in this family’s story.

One thing that makes the Carousel of Progress so special are the physical props, painted backdrops, and practical effects. Imagineers are working tirelessly to make sure things like appliances and artwork are true to that decade.

Act 1 – the 1960s

When the show first opened at the World’s Fair, its story began by looking back about 60 years to the dawn of the new century. Now more than six decades later, this new iteration mirrors that idea, starting 60 years back from today in the 1960s.

In the summer of 1969, our Carousel family, along with millions around the world, gather around the television to witness one of humanity’s greatest achievements: the historic moon landing. Filled with awe, the moment captures the spirit of innovation and possibility that has always been — and always will be — at the heart of Carousel of Progress.

Act 2 – the 1980s

It’s the ‘80s, where everything bigger is better, and things keep on getting bigger! We pick up with the family on Halloween Night of 1985, and for the first time ever, Sarah is taking center stage. She’ll share how all the new appliances and gadgets are making life easier for the whole family.

Speaking of John, we’ll find him out on the porch handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and poor Uncle Orville can be found in the bathroom with “no privacy around here!”

Act 3 – The New Millennium

With the ‘90s drawing to a close, our Carousel family is preparing to ring in the new millennium on New Year’s Eve 1999. Amid the excitement of the countdown to 2000, a new thing called the Internet is bringing John, Sarah, Jimmy and Patty – and the world – closer together than ever before.

Not everyone is making it to midnight though. Grandpa has already nodded off before the big countdown, while Grandma sneaks the TV over to wrestling when no one’s looking.

Act 4 – The Possible Future

As we reach the end of our show, we see the family one last time in the distant future, in an out-of-this-world home. From a helpful robot assisting with everyday tasks to space travel, the scene imagines a future where extraordinary innovation has become part of life and proves that a beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.

To help bring this new finale to life, Imagineers looked back at original concept sketches by Disney Legend John Hench, drawing inspiration from his imaginative vision of the future.

Closing & Opening Timeframes

To prepare for the next version of this ever-progressing attraction, the Carousel of Progress will be temporarily unavailable beginning July 6, 2026.That means the last day to experience the current version of the attraction will be July 5th. We expect the attraction to reopen in 2027.

Before we get to our commentary, here’s a look at the new attraction poster that pays homage to the original Carousel of Progress poster created for its Disneyland debut. Just like the attraction itself, the design reflects both where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Imagineering is excited to share more of the incredible work the team is doing in the coming months as they work to carry on Walt’s vision, introducing the show to an entirely new generation of fans while honoring its history and heart.

Commentary

While this project had been quiet since the Walt Disney animatronic Destination D23 announcement last year, there had started to be some rumblings in the background that work was being done. Today’s update is proof of that. Not only was work being done but this project is much bigger than expected.

I mentioned in the intro that Carousel of Progress stirs up feelings for people. The history of it debuting at the 1964 World’s Fair along with it being part of the Disney Parks practically ever since means that multiple generations of people have memories on this ride. Whenever you get into that territory, there’s going to be sentimental attachment at play.

I have to admit that my first memory of Carousel of Progress didn’t come until I was an adult. Being on the west coast, my family didn’t travel to Florida all that often. The first time I remember being at WDW was just before my 13th birthday and, as you might imagine, the older attraction didn’t leave a huge impression on a preteen, if we went on it at all.

As our trips became more frequent in adulthood, the attraction has found a soft spot in my heart. Along with the excellent air-conditioning, the ride features a slower pace, story, and great animatronics. That’s up my alley! There’s optimism, heart and camp featured in Carousel of Progress, a mix that only age can typically blend together well.

There’s no doubting that Magic Kingdom’s current iteration of the ride feels old. While it’s charming, the age shows in different ways and it’s not always good. The attraction isn’t drawing many new fans in and the love of it has to be a little confusing for random park goers. Even coming to it as an adult has me less attached to it as other classic Disney attractions like the (old version of the) Country Bears or Tiki Room.

While I sympathize with those that are saddened by the change, I’m feeling mostly optimistic about it. The updated timeline is promising, staying away from overly contentious times and choosing moments of hope and excitement. That is especially evidenced by the moon landing featured in the 60’s. It’s a brilliant way to start the ride and one that still echoes with guests nearly 60 years later.

Even with the scene changes, the target audience will lean older. 1999 was quite a while ago! There will still be a parents dragging their kids into Carousel of Progress to tell them about “back in my day…” quality to the ride. I’m happy with that choice, along with staying away with the complicated 2000’s life.

My biggest worry with the new iteration of the attraction is that it won’t be able to blend the joy and cheesiness like what it’s replacing. I don’t mean this in a Debbie Downer way, but the chances of hitting the perfect notes in this regard are next to zero. How Imagineering is going to make the update have a distinct voice while still feeling like Carousel of Progress is the toughest task of the reimagining.

Like the Country Bears, this change will probably substitute some cheesiness and personality for more universality. I don’t love the changes to Country Bear Musical Jamboree but I do know that more people are seeing Henry, Big Al and the rest of my favorite characters. That’s a tradeoff that I’m willing to live with and one that might happen here.

Speaking of characters, the part of the announcement that made me smile the widest was seeing Sarah take center stage for a scene. That’s a beautiful change and one that’s needed if they’re going to update the iconic ride. Much of my optimism comes from that decision. I’m sure some people won’t like it but, well, that’s progress for you!

We just returned from Walt Disney World and, while I didn’t know it at the time, I just took my last ride on this version of Carousel of Progress. I rode it with my mom, as we escaped the Florida heat and were trying to fit in some Magic Kingdom classics. I might not remember going on this during my childhood but I’ll remember that final ride and it feels like a perfect sendoff.

What are your thoughts on the Carousel of Progress update and addition of the Walt Disney animatronic? Let us know, along with any questions you might have, in the comments below! Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Check out our Disney World Trip Planning Guide to help you out. Looking for discount tickets? Check out this site! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it