The Carousel of Progress is one of those attractions that is almost like a comfort attraction for a lot of guests. It’s something they do every trip and they look forward to it every time. However, those visiting July 6, 2026 and after will have to wait until 2027 to see the show again.
This is definitely one of the attractions I see every time I am in Magic Kingdom, and it has been in need of some TLC for a bit. This refurbishment, though, is more than just the regular freshening up of the ride. Instead of just refreshing the ride, Disney Imagineers are going all out and changing all the scenes to new decades. Plus, guests will now see Walt Disney as part of this attraction. Walt will be in a scene inspired by the 1964 special “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” which is where the idea of the Carousel of Progress was first introduced.
New Scenes for Carousel of Progress
Act 1 – The 1960s
In this scene the year is 1969 and the family is gathered around the television to see the historic moon landing. This moment is what the attraction is about, which is capturing the spirit of innovation and possibility.
Act 2 – The 1980s
Here guests are visiting the year 1985 on Halloween night. In this scene Sarah will be sharing all the new appliances and gadgets the family has that makes their lives easier. Don’t worry though, John will still be there on the porch handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. And it wouldn’t be The Carousel of Progress without Uncle Orville and his issue of “no privacy around here!”
Act 3 – The New Millennium
In this scene guests are visiting the year 1999, right before the year 2000. In this New Year’s Eve scene John, Sarah, Jimmy, and Patty are checking out something new, the internet. Also in this scene, Grandma has changed the TV to wrestling while Grandpa sleeps.
Act 4 – The Possible Future
The end scene will visit the distant future. Guests will see things from a robot assisting with everyday tasks to space travel. This scene is imagining what life could be like with new and extraordinary innovation being a part of life.
Disney is also unveiling a new attraction poster for Carousel of Progress. The design of the poster pays homage to the original poster created when the attraction debuted at Disneyland. The poster shows where we have been with technology and where we are going.
While big changes are happening to the decades represented, there are some things that are not changing. First is the family, this is the same family we’ve seen for years in the attraction. John, Sarah, Patty, and Jimmy aren’t going anywhere. Another thing remaining the same is the fan favorite song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” which will remain as the song guests hear between scenes.
The Carousel of Progress in its current form will be missed, we’ve all gotten used to seeing the family in those decades. However, it’s good to see this classic attraction getting the attention it deserves. Guests can see the current version of the attraction through July 5, 2026. After July 5 it will be closed and will reopen sometime in 2027.
Are you looking forward to the refresh of The Carousel of Progress or will you miss it in its current form?
Thanks for reading!
Liz
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Liz
I love all things Disney, but my main love is for Disney World and I'm always planning for the next trip. Before becoming a Disney blogger, I was a radio DJ, so I guess I'm just continuing in the communication industry, just in a different form. I love talking Disney and I could talk about Disney all day. That's why I started blogging and created the Facebook group. The Disney community is full of friendly, helpful, and happy people...and I love being a part of it! If there is any Disney subject you would like to see covered just let me know! Need help planning your Disney vacation. Feel free to contact myself or Melissa at Never Stop Dreaming Travel Co. We love helping people plan their trips! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! Don't forget to check out our Countdown to Disney app! Feel free to email me with suggestions of things you would like to see in the app :-)