Walt Disney World has unveiled sweeping plans for a complete reimagining of the Carousel of Progress attraction at Magic Kingdom, marking the most ambitious overhaul of the classic show in decades. Every act of the attraction will be reworked into new time periods, while a brand-new opening sequence will introduce the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure at a Walt Disney World attraction.
Disney confirmed the current version of Carousel of Progress will welcome guests for the final time on July 5, 2026, before closing the following day for the extensive transformation. The updated attraction is set to open in 2027.
The project represents a significant new chapter for one of Disney’s most historic attractions. Originally created for the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair, Carousel of Progress has long celebrated the evolution of technology and its impact on everyday life. Walt Disney himself played a hands-on role in developing the original show, which introduced the rotating theater system still used today.
The attraction later moved to Disneyland in 1967 before arriving at Magic Kingdom in 1975, where it continued evolving, with its last major refurbishment in 1994.
Now, Disney Imagineering is preparing to once again move the show forward.
Walt Disney to Appear in New Opening Scene
The updated attraction will begin with a new scene featuring Walt Disney himself through Audio-Animatronics technology. Disney announced this addition last year. Inspired by the 1964 television special “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” the scene will place guests in a stylized recreation of the era when Walt first introduced the concept behind Carousel of Progress.
Imagineers have been recreating props seen in the special, including the prototype Tiki bird, the Tower of the Four Winds model, a doll from “it’s a small world,” and more.
Every Scene Moving to New Eras
As part of the update, all existing scenes, which currently focus on the late 19th and early 20th century, will shift to entirely new decades.
While the story’s time periods are changing, Disney confirmed that John, Sarah, and the rest of the family will remain, with refreshed Audio-Animatronics bringing the characters into this new era of storytelling. The Sherman Brothers classic “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” will also continue to play throughout the experience.
According to Disney, one of the primary goals of the update is to make the attraction feel more relatable for today’s audiences by highlighting time periods that guests have personal connections to.
Act 1: The 1960s
The reimagined story will begin in the late 1960s, mirroring how the original attraction looked backward roughly sixty years from its debut. Set during the summer of 1969, the family gathers around the television to witness the historic moon landing, capturing 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
The second act jumps to Halloween night in 1985. Disney says Sarah will take on a larger role in this scene, highlighting the explosion of household gadgets and conveniences that defined the era. Meanwhile, John will be outside greeting trick-or-treaters while Uncle Orville once again struggles to find privacy in the bathroom.
Act 3: The New Millennium
The third scene moves to New Year’s Eve 1999. As the family prepares to celebrate the arrival of the year 2000, the rapidly growing Internet becomes the centerpiece of the story.
The sequence will also include smaller comedic moments, including Grandpa falling asleep before midnight and Grandma secretly switching the television to wrestling.
Act 4: The Future
The finale will once again offer a glimpse into the future, taking inspiration from original concept artwork created by Disney Legend John Hench. Set inside the family’s “out-of-this-world” home, the scene will feature everything from helpful household robots to space travel. Disney says the scene “imagines a future where extraordinary innovation has become part of life and proves that a beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.”
New Poster Revealed
Disney also shared a first look at the attraction’s new poster design, which pays tribute to the original Carousel of Progress artwork created for the attraction’s Disneyland debut.
Like the original design, the new poster includes the phrase “from the good old days,” though it replaces “to the possible present” with “to the possible future.” The new artwork also introduces a monorail, rocket, and other updated details.
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