The Carousel of Progress Is Changing — And I Have Feelings About It
I want to start by saying something clearly: I understand why Disney is doing this.
I do. I really do.
The Carousel of Progress has been running in its current form since 1993. The final scene — the Christmas future scene that was always meant to represent the ever-evolving present — has not meaningfully changed in over thirty years. A refresh makes sense. Bringing new generations into the story makes sense. Progress, as the song reminds us, is kind of the whole point.
And yet.
When I heard the full details of what's changing I had to sit with it for a minute. Because this attraction is not just a theme park show or place to escape the heat or rain for a nap break. This is one of the last true pieces of Walt Disney himself — his fingerprints, his voice, his optimism, his belief in the power of the future to be better than the present. And changing it feels significant in a way that is hard to put into words without sounding dramatic.
I'll try anyway.
What is actually changing
Let me give you the full picture of what's been announced because there is a lot to take in.
The timeline of the attraction is shifting significantly. While the current Carousel starts around the turn of the 20th century, the first family scene will now take place in 1969.
Act 1 will follow the family in the summer of 1969, gathering together to watch the moon landing of Apollo 11. This is genuinely beautiful — the moon landing as the opening chapter of the new show, capturing that same spirit of wonder and possibility that Walt built into the original.
Act 2 picks up with the family on Halloween Night of 1985, where for the first time ever Sarah takes center stage — sharing how all the new appliances and gadgets of the era are making life easier for the whole family.
And the future scene — Act 4 — gets a fully reimagined vision of tomorrow including a new robot assistant.
Walt Disney himself will appear in a new introductory scene — dressed in a blue cardigan and slacks just as he did on his weekly television series during a 1964 episode titled Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair — where he first introduced the idea of the Carousel of Progress. This will mark Walt's first Audio-Animatronics likeness in Florida, following the debut of a similar figure at Disneyland in California in 2025.
The attraction closes July 6, 2026 — meaning the final day to experience the current version is July 5 — and is expected to reopen in 2027.
My honest feelings
Here is where I land — and I want to be fair to Disney because I think they deserve that.
The things I was most worried about losing — the original scenes, Walt's fingerprints on every detail, the nostalgic warmth of those early 20th century moments — are being replaced rather than preserved. And that is the part that stings.
The Carousel of Progress has been recognized as the longest-running stage show in the history of American theater. That is not a small thing. Those early scenes — the turn-of-the-century kitchen, the 1920s bathroom with the newfangled electric fan — were Walt's love letter to American ingenuity and optimism. Losing them means losing something irreplaceable.
But I also believe this — and I mean it sincerely… the addition of a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic welcoming guests into the show he created is genuinely meaningful. Imagineers working on this set are sourcing and replicating props seen in the original World's Fair television special. That level of care tells me they are not taking this lightly. They know what this attraction means. They know whose fingerprints are on it.
The heart of what Walt built — the optimism, the family, the belief that tomorrow will be better than today — is staying. And that matters most.
What I want you to do before July 5th
Go ride it.
If you have a Disney trip planned this summer — make time for the Carousel of Progress before July 5th. Sit in that rotating theater. Listen to "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow." Let the early 20th century scenes wash over you and feel grateful that this attraction has been there for guests for over sixty years.
If you have never ridden the Carousel of Progress — please go before it changes. There is something about experiencing Walt's vision in the form he shaped it that is worth every minute. Believe me, I am over here trying to figure out how I can fly down for one last ride.
The new version will have its own magic. I genuinely believe that. The moon landing as Act 1 gives me chills just thinking about it.
But this version — Walt's version — deserves one more visit.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow. But let's honor today first. 🤍
xoxo,
Katie
Real life. Real magic. Real dreams. ✨Planning a summer Disney trip before July 5th? DM me or visit thatkatiefath.com/travel. My services are always free.