Disney Reveals Massive Overhaul for Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World and Disney Imagineering have officially released new details regarding the upcoming update to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress — and the changes are drastic.

Every scene inside the classic attraction will be updated to represent a newer era in order to better connect with today’s generation. Using the original attraction’s “60 years of progress” concept, Disney is resetting the attraction timeline to begin in the 1960s following the introduction featuring the new Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic.

Guests will still move forward approximately 20 years with each scene transition. The first act will now take place in 1969 during the moon landing era, followed by a 1985 Halloween night scene complete with period appliances, trick-or-treaters, and the return of Uncle Orville. The next act moves into New Year’s Eve 1999 at the turn of the millennium before concluding with “the possible future,” featuring advanced robotics and space travel concepts.

Disney has confirmed the attraction will continue to follow the beloved Carousel of Progress family, including John, Sarah, Jimmy, Patty, Grandma, and Grandpa. Imagineers also stated the redesign is heavily inspired by original concept sketches from legendary Disney artist John Hench, who worked on both the 1964 New York World’s Fair version and the Disneyland iteration of the attraction. The creative team is reportedly paying close attention to historical accuracy, ensuring the appliances, décor, and overall designs authentically represent each decade showcased.

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is scheduled to close for refurbishment beginning July 6, 2026, following the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and is currently expected to reopen sometime in 2027.