Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom is getting a major update that will refresh its timeline, add new scenes, and introduce a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure. The attraction will close in July 2026 and is expected to reopen in 2027.
Closing Timeline for Carousel of Progress
Closes
July 6, 2026
Reopens
TBD in 2027
The current version of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress will have its final day of operation on July 5, 2026.
The attraction will close beginning July 6, 2026, so work can begin on the updated version. Disney expects the attraction to reopen sometime in 2027.
Guests who want to see the current show one more time should plan to visit before the July 6 closure.
Walt Disney Will Be Added to the Attraction
One of the biggest changes is a new introductory scene featuring a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure.
The scene is inspired by Walt’s connection to the 1964 New York World’s Fair, where Carousel of Progress first debuted. It will help set up the story before guests follow the family through different eras of technology and daily life.
This addition gives the attraction a clearer link to Walt Disney himself, while keeping the focus on innovation and progress.
The Timeline Is Being Updated
One of our main goals for this update was to keep the attraction relatable for today’s audiences by featuring eras in which our guests have personal connections. Lots of our team grew up during these decades themselves, so it’s been a real trip down memory lane to revisit the music, fashion, technology and experiences that helped shape our history all reflected in this family’s story.
Chris Beatty, ImagineerThe current version of Carousel of Progress moves from the early 1900s to a future-focused finale that has not been significantly updated in decades.
The new version will shift the timeline forward. Instead of starting at the turn of the 20th century, the updated show will begin in 1969 and move through later decades before ending in a future setting.
Disney says the goal is to make the attraction feel more relatable to modern guests. Many visitors have personal or family connections to the decades being featured, which may help the show feel more familiar while still keeping its original message.
Act 1 Will Be Set in 1969
The first act will take place in 1969, during the era of the moon landing.
This scene will focus on the family watching a major moment in history on television. It fits the attraction’s long-running theme of technology changing how people experience the world around them.
Starting in the 1960s also reflects the attraction’s own history, since Carousel of Progress was first introduced to audiences during that decade.
Act 2 Will Move to 1985
The second act will be set on Halloween night in 1985.
This scene will show the family using household technology from the 1980s, including appliances and gadgets that shaped daily life at the time. Sarah will have a larger role in this act, giving the scene a different focus than past versions of the show.
The 1980s setting should give Disney room to highlight changes in home entertainment, communication, and convenience.
Act 3 Will Take Place in 1999
The third act will be set on New Year’s Eve in 1999 as the family prepares for the year 2000.
This scene will focus on the rise of the internet and the way technology began connecting people in new ways. It will also reflect the excitement and uncertainty many people felt at the end of the 20th century.
The 1999 setting gives the attraction a chance to explore a period that many adult guests remember firsthand.
Act 4 Will Look Toward an Off-Planet Future
The final act will move beyond the present day into a future home located off planet.
This scene will include a robot assistant, space travel themes, and a view of how future technology could become part of everyday life. Disney has said the scene takes inspiration from earlier ideas about the future, including concept work connected to Disney history.
The finale will continue the attraction’s core idea: progress is always moving forward, even when the details change over time.
Conclusion
The upcoming Carousel of Progress update will bring new scenes, a revised timeline, and a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure to one of Magic Kingdom’s historic attractions. With the current version closing after July 5, 2026, guests have a limited time to see the show before its 2027 return.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
