MAJOR changes are coming to the Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom — and it sounds like there will be a great, big, beautiful tomorrow on the way!
Carousel of Progress
While we already knew that a Walt Disney Animatronic would be coming to the ride, even more changes will be made to the iconic attraction—including an overhaul of the scenes to reflect new decades. To make way for these changes, the Carousel of Progress will close on July 6th, with July 5th as the last day to ride before the refurbishment.
Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress will be closing on July 6th to make way for MASSIVE changes — each scene is being redone to feature NEW decades! Disney shared that 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.
©Disney
One of Disney’s main goals for this update is to keep the attraction relatable for audiences of today by featuring eras that people have personal connections to. Imagineering has been revisiting the music, fashion, technology, and experiences that helped shape history as it’s reflected in this family’s story.
Carousel of Progress
Act 1 will feature the 1960s, which is when the Carousel of Progress first opened at the 1964 World’s Fair. The story looked back about 60 years, and now this new scene will mirror that idea — starting 60 years back from today, in the 1960s.
In the summer of 1969, the Carousel family gathers around the television to witness the historic moon landing. The moment captures the “spirit of innovation and possibility that has always been — and always will be — at the heart of Carousel of Progress.”
Carousel of Progress
Act 2 takes us to the 1980s, where bigger is better. On Halloween night in 1985, Sarah will take center stage as she shares all about how the new appliances and gadgets are making life easier for the whole family. John is out on the porch handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and poor Uncle Orville will still be in the bathroom with “no privacy at all around here!”
Current Carousel of Progress Halloween scene
In Act 3, we’ll travel to the new millennium as the 1990s draw to a close. The family is getting ready to ring in the new year on New Year’s Eve 1999. The Internet is bringing John, Sarah, Jimmy, and Patty closer together than ever before. Of course, Grandpa has already nodded off, so Grandma changes the TV over to wrestling when no one is looking.
Carousel of Progress
And finally, Act 4 features the possible future. The family is seen one last time in the distant future, in a home that’s out of this world. The off-planet scene features a helpful robot assisting with everyday tasks, along with space travel, and imagines a future where extraordinary innovation has become part of life.
To help bring the 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.
What will the future bring?
Carousel of Progress is expected to reopen sometime in 2027, and we can’t wait! These are some MAJOR changes, and we’re hopeful that the ride will still reflect everything we loved about the original.
If you’re looking for a way to show off your love of the Carousel of Progress, make sure you check out DFB’s Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow shirt! It comes in multiple colors, styles, and sizes, and will hopefully make being without this ride for so long slightly less painful. Grab it here!
©DFB
We’ll be on the lookout for even more Carousel of Progress updates you need to know about. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!
Check out more Magic Kingdom news at the links below!
- The Single BIGGEST Announcement Disney Made This Month
- SEVEN Attractions Opened in Disney World Last Week…But Dozens Are Still Closed
- “Stop Ruining The Old Stuff” Disney Fans React To Latest Carousel of Progress News
- BREAKING: CLOSING DATE Revealed for Carousel of Progress in Magic Kingdom
- If You Hate That Disney World Is CHANGING Carousel of Progress, This Might Make You Feel Better
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I agree with others. Stop ruining the old stuff. And it looks like Disney remains completely lost on the plot. COP was designed to show how the then technology made improvements to everyday life. COP was educational and entertaining. Besides, the great visionary himself, Walter Elias Disney, the Chief Engineer in Perpetuity, assisted with the design of COP. Nothing Disney has tried in the past 20 years has improved upon Walt’s vision. Nothing.