HUGE changes are coming to the Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom — and we know diehard fans might not be sure how they feel about it (it’s us, we’re the diehard fans).

Carousel of Progress is closing!

Disney had previously announced that a Walt Disney Animatronic would be coming to the ride, but they shared that even more updates are on the way for this iconic ride. Each scene will be completely overhauled to feature new decades, and if you’re worried about what this means for the original, we might be able to ease your mind!

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.

©Disney

We have some MAJOR feelings about these changes. While we do appreciate that the attraction is being updated, this complete overhaul will essentially erase everything we know and love about the iconic ride. When we spoke with Disney about the changes, they echoed much of the same sentiment. 

Carousel of Progress

The Imagineers in charge of this project also shared that they have mixed feelings about it — but that they really care about the ride and won’t let us down. They said, “Rest assured, know that when we talk about a classic like this…our Imagineers take the utmost care in how we approach that.”

Imagineers also talked about how, when making changes to an attraction like this, their goal is to “leave it better than they found it,” which gives us hope that these updates will be made with care and love.

Carousel of Progress

Oh, and don’t worry — “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” isn’t going ANYWHERE! Not only that, but 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.

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!”

Carousel of Progress

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.

Carousel of Progress

Disney shared that Carousel of Progress will close on July 6th and is expected to reopen sometime in 2027. 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!

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What do you think of these changes? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media panel on upcoming changes to the parks and beyond. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ