The news is official, I heard it from Disney Executives themselves, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is getting a major update. I have some details to share. And, the iteration we have right now is closing after July 5th, so you do not have a ton of time to get one last show in. Before the “Walt would roll in his grave” comments begin, there are some things to discuss. Keep an open mind, the idea of change and progress is quite literally what this attraction is based on. And, while I cannot yet share everything I saw and heard, I can assure you that there is a strong concept going into this change.
There are a few things to note about this change to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress:
- This not the first time the attraction has been updated
- The animatronics and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” song will return
- Disney is aiming for this to be a relatively quick update, much like we saw with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring The Muppets and the Walt Disney Studios Courtyard
- Carousel of Progress is joining other classic attraction updates like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Imagineers spoke on keeping practical effects and dad jokes at the heart of the experience
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress has had numerous changes throughout the years
Whenever a change is announced for Disney Parks, the same online argument seems to happen. Some people stand for change because Walt Disney himself changed many things at Disneyland and was a fan of progress. Others prefer to stick to the classics and why potentially ruin something that already has fans. I think both parties are right depending on the situation. It is easy to just say, “yeah, Walt changed stuff so we can do whatever,” but that is how experiences can be ruined. It is also easy to say, “everything is working, just fix cracks in the concrete and clean the vehicles,” but that is how experiences can become stale.
Walt Disney himself changed the Carousel of Progress, altering the fourth act to be more aligned with his vision of Progress City. And in 1975 the attraction was moved from Disneyland to Magic Kingdom Park where it got a new song, “The Best Time of Your Life,” (listen to it in the embedded player above) which is still one of my favorite, classic Disney Parks songs. You can hear an instrumental version of it now in Tomorrowland, but that song was replaced in the Carousel of Progress with the original, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” returning in 1993.
I sat down with Disney Executives who stressed how important this project was to them. This isn’t just an update, it is adjusting the look of an attraction that has the name “Walt Disney” attached to it. One of my favorite parts of the meeting was when Smokey the Bear was mentioned. The team spoke on how this character, not even one in the Disney IP umbrella, had a strong message of “leaving things better than how you found them.” That is the goal with this project and something the team emphasized. This is to keep the Carousel of Project alive, relevant and continuing the message of progress for decades to come.
The Carousel of Progress we have today
Take a viewing at the iteration of the attraction that we know today. Since 1975, visitors to Tomorrowland have seen the spinning exterior of this attraction as it brings group after group into a showplace of ideals, innovations and the somewhat chaotic life of being in a family. The “futuristic” finale has occurred at this point. I remember a time when VR was becoming somewhat possible and the idea of a talking oven sounded like a neat idea. Now we can throw on a VR headset to virtually step into the Star Wars galaxy or tell Alexa to dispense an exact amount of water out of our Wifi controlled kitchen sink.
There will be timeline shift and a new Walt Disney animatronic
Alongside a new storyline, Walt Disney will be joining in animatronic form, a way to start the attraction showcasing the very show you will be sitting in. Seen above, Disneyland Park already has a version of Walt and he is pretty stunning to see in person. His expressions are spot on, adding to the emotional weight of his story. Last year it was revealed that Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress would too soon have a Walt animatronic (this was before we knew all this extra info about the ride storyline update).
I am not one for updating a ride solely to update it. But I do think that this attraction, which was built on progress, could use some love when it comes to an audience that no longer fully relates to the generations showcased during the show. Disney has revealed that this upcoming version of the ride will focus on iconic times in American and World history:
Act 1: 1960s
“When the show first opened at the World’s Fair, its story began by looking back about 60 years to the dawn of the new century. Now more than six decades later, this new iteration mirrors that idea, starting 60 years back from today in the 1960s,” shares the Disney Parks Blog. This scene is based in 1969, as the space race has taken man to the moon. One goal with this update is to bring the entire timeline forward to be once again relevant to today’s viewers.
This scene will be based just 5 years after the Carousel of Progress itself debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair. The United States of America was in another boom of technology and progress. While Disney did not share exact details on what John and his family will be talking about, I can only assume this scene will start or end with a rocket launch moment as the ride literally propels itself into the future of progress.
Act 2: 1980s
“We pick up with the family on Halloween Night of 1985, and for the first time ever, Sarah is taking center stage. She’ll share how all the new appliances and gadgets are making life easier for the whole family,” as seen in the Disney Parks Blog reveal. But, don’t worry, John is still in this scene and will be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. I was happy to learn that holidays will be still be a cornerstone of the storytelling going forward.
While Disney is not sharing this concept art today, they did allow me a sneak peek. The scenes are totally eighties, leaning directly into what you expect when you think of an 1980’s coming-of-age film. Posters are on the wall, hair is big and yes there will be some records lying around. The team is checking eBay, antique stores and wherever they can find to make sure authentic items from that era make it into this act.
Act 3: The New Millennium
The Disney Parks Blog states, “with the ‘90s drawing to a close, our Carousel family is preparing to ring in the new millennium on New Year’s Eve 1999. Amid the excitement of the countdown to 2000, a new thing called the Internet is bringing John, Sarah, Jimmy and Patty – and the world – closer together than ever before” The idea of John attempting to understand and accept Y2K in his gadget filled home should make for some really funny interactions.
Alongside sharing some story details, Disney also gave us a first look at the practical effects going into this attraction. Real props, physical items and old-school gags are still a part of this experience. We were able to see a short clip of how a washing machine could overflow and break down with bubbles before resetting itself for the next group of guests. That type of focus is one of the biggest pushes I have towards being ready for this change. I expect that Disney reveals more of what we saw during D23: The Ultimate Fan Event in August of this year.
“The only problem with anything of tomorrow is that at the pace we’re going right now, tomorrow would catch up with us before we got it built.”
– Walt Disney
Finale scene, a major jump into the future on Carousel of Progress
Act 4: The Possible Future
The finale’s layout is very similar to what we see now. A wide-open room uses all the space the stage has to offer, instead of utilizing the turntables to reveal the family in separate rooms. “As we reach the end of our show, we see the family one last time in the distant future, in a home off planet. From a helpful robot assisting with everyday tasks to space travel, the scene imagines a future where extraordinary innovation has become part of life and proves that a beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away,” shares the Disney Parks Blog.
Walt Disney Imagineers used original concept sketches by Disney Legend John Hench to design this scene. It is no surprise that Disney has had to work and rework portions of Tomorrowland time and time again. Futuristic is hard to sustain for decades and Walt Disney World doesn’t fully update their theme park lands every five years. This version of the future is so far out that if we achieve it (living on another planet, that is) within a few years and the attraction is outdated, then we have other major life moments more important than a scene on the Carousel of Progress. At that point we will be writing articles about Disney’s Moonbase Resort and how Lighting Lane doesn’t apply to interplanetary travel.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress continues on…
Everyone has a favorite ride, show and restaurant, and we all choose our favorites for different reasons. This specific show, as it currently is, may be your favorite reason to visit. I have seen this show well over 50 times as our family has gone to Walt Disney World throughout the years. My sisters quote the attraction and its iconic music. To be upset or nervous about this change is to be expected and I believe that is why Disney’s higher-ups brought us in to see what is coming.
I didn’t learn every details nor read the script. But I did listen and hear a group of people who spoke highly of the colossal impact that is Walt Disney World Resort. Alongside speaking about Carousel of Progress they talked about how the hotels are consistently updated, how a new ferryboat is coming to the Seven Seas Lagoon and how maintaining a theme park resort twice the size of Manhattan takes a very dedicated team working around the clock.
I also think it was smart to delay announcing this change until after the opening of all that is involved with Disney Cool Kids’ Summer. If this next iteration of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress has the passion of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring The Muppets, the encapsulation of Disney Magic we see at the Walt Disney Studios Courtyard and the tech-updates involved in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, then in 2027 we could be looking at one fantastic new story of progress to enjoy.
Happy, sad, scared, excited, nervous or anything inbetween? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
This has Long been one of my absolute favorite. Excited to see the updates. Hope it still has the same nostalgia.