We are not kidding when we say EVERYTHING is changing in Disney World because it seriously is! We’re talking new lands, new rides, new areas….EVERYTHING. Even Disney World hotels are making big changes (and yes, we’re still a little sad about the Grand Floridian gingerbread house situation).

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Rides are also getting updated. We recently saw big updates made to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, but ANOTHER Magic Kingdom ride is getting a massive update soon, and it’s a classic one: Carousel of Progress. Now, BIG changes are coming to this attraction, but will those changes include something a little…extra?

Carousel of Progress is getting a massive overhaul, which will include entirely new scenes as well as a Walt Disney animatronic at the beginning of the ride. Act 1 of the ride will start in the 1960s, while the second act will take us to the 1980s. Act 3 will go to the 1990s, while the final act will take the family into the future. The ride will close on July 6th and reopen in 2027 with these new updates. This is the first massive update the ride has received since it opened in Tomorrowland in 1975.

©Disney

So what else might change with this ride? Carousel of Progress is basically a rotating theater, and as it is moving, Disney has certain safety precautions in place. If someone gets up to leave the ride, the show and the ride stop, interrupting it for others. It’s likely that after this happens, Cast Members also have to walk around the entire building to make sure it’s safe to restart the ride’s motion. Now, there are emergency exits…for emergencies, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

Seating inside Carousel of Progress

Recently, social media has been discussing an increase in the number of people getting up and leaving the ride in the middle of the show, forcing others to sit through the same scene over and over while the ride is stopped. This is a very unique problem because this ride is different from other attractions in that you can just easily get up and walk out the exit that takes you back into the park. But this new trend is why there’s been some discourse online about possibly adding seat belts to the Carousel of Progress.

Should this ride have seatbelts?

Now, this is just something that’s more or less a rumor at this point, although it would solve the problem of people getting up in the middle of the ride to leave. We must stress that this is NOT something Disney has confirmed. But it does fall under “this is why we can’t have nice things.” People are going to, well, PEOPLE, and that means ignoring Cast Member requests and ride rules, and, unfortunately, there seems to be a rise in that kind of behavior in the parks.

Carousel of Progress

Now, we’re not big fans of adding seatbelts to a ride that is often a favorite chill and relax (and nap) spot, but at the same time, if this is a continuing problem, Disney may have to address it. Carousel of Progress is in for a long closure, so there will be time to add some kind of restraints to the seats inside the theater. Perhaps, though, there’s a better way, and if there is, we’re sure Disney will think of it.

Until then, though, we’ll just have to see what happens. We’ll keep an eye out for updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

“Stop Ruining The Old Stuff” Disney Fans React To Latest Carousel of Progress News

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What do you think? Should Carousel of Progress have seatbelts? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!