Walt Disney World rocked the Disney community announcing a major update is coming to the Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom. The update, which Disney detailed here, will see the attraction close on July 6, 2026 to make way for brand new scenes and an updated timeline. The new sets will take guests into the 1960s, 1980s, 1999, and the distant future when it reopens in 2027.
To say online reactions were divided over this announcement is an understatement. We saw some pretty heated takes about Disney’s decision to bring the Carousel of Progress into a more modern era. At the same time, we saw plenty of comments viewing the change in a more optimistic light. Which side is right? The answer might be both.
Quick Carousel of Progress History
The Carousel of Progress holds a special place in a lot of hearts because of its rich history and direct connection to Walt Disney. The attraction was originally created by Walt Disney for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Walt Disney’s goal was to show a typical American family through the decades. Walt Disney’s influence set to the iconic Sherman Brothers song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” was a perfect match.
After the New York World’s Fair, the Carousel of Progress called Disneyland home until 1973. The attraction later moved to the Magic Kingdom in 1975 where it still resides today. The Carousel holds the record as the longest-running stage show in America and is one of the only attractions in Walt Disney World that was influenced by the man himself.
Before we offer our opinion on the update, it’s important to remember a few key facts. For starters, the Carousel of Progress as we know it today is not the original. Or even close to the original. The Carousel of Progress has been updated numerous times since its original design. Significant updates were made in 1967, 1975, 1981, and 1994. Smaller changes and adjustments have been made a few times since 1994.
It’s also important to remember what the goal of the Carousel of Progress was. Originally, General Electric wanted a pavilion that would show off the benefits of electricity and home appliances. Walt took that charge and created an attraction with his Imagineers that demonstrated GE’s messaging along with the ideas of optimism for the future. The keyword is right there in the attraction’s name – Progress.
Why Being Sad is OK
Disney’s lack of major updates to the Carousel of Progress over the years is a big reason why guests today are taking the news of the update so poorly. The attraction has stood mostly unchanged for almost 30 years. That’s a lot of time for guests to create memories, memorize the lines, and form connections with John’s family through the years.
Updating the attraction means we’ll lose the story many Disney guests grew up with. It’ll mean changes to the family and their very dated, yet very fun references. It’ll mean a new primary voice and narrator as Jean Shepherd unfortunately passed away in 1999.
It’s sad to see it all go. The cold sarsaparilla, Hupmobile, and Essex. The Rat Race and a burnt turkey. And, of course, John looking forward to a few rumpuses. These memorable lines and moments will be lost, though we’d bet Disney will figure out a way to reference some of the current version’s best moments.
We’re Choosing Optimism
Carousel of Progress fans have nostalgia for the attraction’s themes and lines rather than the time periods they depict. The turn of the century and the 1920s aren’t speaking to anyone’s real life nostalgia. Even the ’40s are a longshot. Some of the scenes feel like history books. Even the final “future” scene feels like it’s full of dated references.
This isn’t the Carousel of History. Or the Carousel of a Time Capsule. This is the Carousel of Progress. If the goal is to still make guests feel nostalgic for eras they experienced and new hope for the future, then the current attraction isn’t accomplishing those goals. An update is overdue. We’ll miss the lines and references as much as anyone else, but Disney shouldn’t have let it get to this point in the first place.
Finally, it’s important to remember that the future of the Carousel of Progress wasn’t always so certain. There was a very real chance that the attraction could have been removed entirely as Disney evaluated Tomorrowland. It doesn’t attract large crowds and it doesn’t generate Lightning Lane revenue. Those can be kisses of death when Disney evaluates replacements.
We’re not just excited because Disney isn’t demolishing the Carousel of Progress – though that is a reason to celebrate. We actually think the details released about the update are encouraging. It’ll be nice to see scenes that resonate more with new guests. It’ll also be fun to see what relics of the past Walt Disney Imagineering digs up. And, it’ll be fascinating to see what Disney dreams up for a look into the future.
Remember, there’s a great big beautiful tomorrow!
