Walt Disney World shared an update on the Carousel of Progress project as part of the 2026 D23 Expo Parks Panel, revealing the celebrities voicing the mom & dad, opening season for the redone ride, and concept art for the 1980s scene. Here are official details about the changes, concept art, and more.
In case you missed it, Carousel of Progress is currently closed for a major refurbishment that shifts its timeline forward by 60 years before reopening sometime in 2027. Recent construction permits suggest a top-to-bottom overhaul, which comports with previous rumors about the aging turntable mechanism.
Given the rumors, filings, and just the general age of the ride system and building, it stands to reason that Disney will take the opportunity to breathe new life into the attraction and extend its useful life as opposed to just installing some new show scenes.
As for the substance of the overhaul, the reimagined Carousel of Progress will begin with a brand-new introduction scene featuring an advanced Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney himself, inspired by his 1964 television special. The 1900s, 1920s, and 1940s eras are being completely replaced by the 1960s, 1980s, and 1999.
The redone Carousel of Progress will finish with a retro-futuristic finale that feels equal parts middle of the last and next centuries. The iconic core family, classic gags like Uncle Orville in the bathtub, and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” will all remain part of the new show. Otherwise, there are a lot of unknowns, but we’re expecting answers in the coming months.
Against that backdrop, host Neil Patrick Harris shared updates on Carousel of Progress during the Parks Panel at D23 Expo.. Here’s the announcement via Walt Disney World, followed by a deeper dive into what we already know:
New Mom & Dad Voice Actors Revealed!
Kicking off the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress, host Neil Patrick Harris revealed to the crowd at the 2026 D23 Expo that two new voice actors be joining the show, stepping into the iconic roles of mom and dad. Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston pick up the mantle as the attraction is updated for a new generation of fans.
I really like these choices. I know that a lot of fans wanted America’s dad, Tom Hanks, but…is he actually America’s dad? Really?! Who can lay better claim to a wider range of fathers than both Malcom’s dad and Walter White, two truly all-American fathers?!
Joking aside, I really do like the choices. Both actors have a lot of range, and can quickly shift from serious to comedic. Perhaps most importantly, they have great voices. I wouldn’t have been averse to Tom Hanks as the Progress Dad, but I admittedly was concerned that I would hear Tom Hanks as Progress Dad as opposed to just Progress Dad (if that makes sense).
NPH also shared a first look at concept art for one of the new show scenes, set in the 1980s, showing us exactly where this iconic family is headed next. Take a look:
Carousel of Progress Opening Timeline
Neil also revealed that Carousel of Progress will reopen from its reimagining in late Spring 2027.
As you might be aware, Carousel of Progress closed on July 6, 2026 for this timeline shift and new show scenes. That’s a pretty fast turnaround time given the ambition level of the project!
What follows is additional detail that was previously announced about the Carousel of Progress overhaul, covering each of the new decades…
New Decades Coming to Carousel of Progress
In addition to adding Walt Disney to the very attraction that bears his name, Imagineers will also be updating all the scenes to new periods. With this timeline shift, we’ll get to see what John, Sarah, and the rest of the family are up to as they navigate ever-changing technology in new decades.
One of Imagineering’s main goals for this update was to keep the attraction relatable for today’s audiences by featuring eras to which guests have personal connections. That includes the iconic “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” which will continue to play as guests transition between scenes in the reimagined ride.
The Imagineers working on the Carousel of Progress updates grew up during these decades, so it’s been a real trip down memory lane to revisit the music, fashion, technology, and experiences that helped shape the history reflected in this family’s story.
One thing that makes the Carousel of Progress so special is that physical props, painted backdrops, and practical effects everywhere. The team is working tirelessly to make sure things like appliances and artwork are true to that decade. During the presentation, Imagineers shared that they’ve been scouring eBay endlessly for authentic period pieces and have been excited with many of their finds.
With that, let’s turn to the new century aboard Carousel of Progress!
Act 1: The 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.
In the summer of 1969, our Carousel family, along with millions around the world, gather around the television to witness one of humanity’s greatest achievements: the historic moon landing. Filled with awe, the moment captures the spirit of innovation and possibility that has always been—and always will be—at the heart of Carousel of Progress.
Act 2: The 1980s
It’s the ‘80s, where everything bigger is better, and things keep on getting bigger. 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.
Speaking of John, we’ll find him out on the porch handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and poor Uncle Orville can be found in the bathroom with “no privacy around here!”
During the media presentation, Imagineers shared that Orville has invested in a small fruit stand that’s starting to sell personal computers, as John quips that “it’ll never work.” Orville gets the last laugh and his privacy with a clap-on (or is it clap-off?) moment at the end of the scene as we and the Progress family shift once again.
Act 3: The New Millennium
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 newfangled thing called the Internet is bringing John, Sarah, Jimmy and Patty – and the world – closer together than ever before.
And of course, not everyone is making it to midnight. Grandpa has already nodded off before the big countdown, while Grandma switches the TV over to professional wrestling when no one’s looking.
Act 4: The Possible Future
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.
To help bring this 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. Concept art released by Walt Disney Imagineering for the new scene is pictured above.
The Evolution of Carousel of Progress
To understand the full history of Carousel of Progress, you have to go all the way back to the 1950s. As Walt Disney set his sights on expanding Disneyland, he envisioned an extension of Main Street, U.S.A. called Edison Square.
The square would be anchored by Harnessing the Lightning, a walkthrough drama exploring how electricity and technology transformed the lifestyle of the American family. While Edison Square was never built, the groundwork was laid for a show centered on a powerful idea: technology would continue to evolve, but people would stay the same.
When work began on the Disney shows for the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair, Walt and his team of Imagineers reworked the Harnessing the Lightning concept into the smash hit of the Progressland pavilion — Carousel of Progress.
The fair marked the debut of the attraction’s iconic rotating theater system, as well as its equally iconic anthem by songwriters and Disney Legends Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman (the latter pictured below performing the song at D23 several years ago). It was an enormous success and a project deeply personal to Walt. It captured his overarching spirit of optimism while reflecting his hands-on creative direction, down to details as specific as how Uncle Orville’s toes should wiggle in the bathtub.
Following its run at the fair, Walt brought the show to Disneyland, where it opened in 1967 with several updates, including a refreshed Act Four (now set in Progress City, a community of tomorrow based on Walt’s vision for EPCOT). At the time, no one could have known that this finale would become a sign of things to come, as Carousel of Progress made its way to Walt Disney World in 1975.
In its time at Magic Kingdom, the attraction has continued to evolve, through new scripts, voice actors, time periods, and even full scene updates. The attraction even featured a new theme song, “The Best Time of Your Life,” which stood in for “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” for the attraction’s first two decades of operation in Florida.
You can still hear the “Now is the Time” tune playing as background music throughout Tomorrowland today. The attraction’s last major update was back in 1994, which included an updated finale scene and the return of the original Sherman Brothers’ song.
Keeping Walt’s Vision Alive
Last year, Imagineering announced that guests will soon be able to see Walt Disney himself in the attraction, made possible through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology. Walt is in an introductory scene inspired by the 1964 special “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” which is where he first introduced the idea of Carousel of Progress and shared his enduring belief in the power of progress to shape a better tomorrow.
The team is having a lot of fun sourcing and replicating many of the props seen in that special, like the prototype Tiki bird, the Tower of the Four Winds model, a doll from “it’s a small world,” and more. This once unimaginable opening moment will set the stage for the next era of storytelling for our American family and their lovable dog.
Our Commentary
We’re increasingly optimistic about the Carousel of Progress timeline shift. There’s the very real possibility that the Carousel of Progress timeline shift turns out brilliantly. It could be a big win for Walt Disney World diehards if Imagineers can stick the landing with a memorable show that brings to life its ensemble cast with a sharp script.
It has the potential to modernize Carousel of Progress and make it more relatable, which should attract new audiences to the attraction. Not only that, but this timeline shift is an ambitious undertaking and one that has a healthy budget attached. It’s yet another sign of paradigm shift at the Walt Disney Company, within Imagineering, and signals the continuation of a new chapter.
Walt Disney World fans are getting a respectful and loving update to Carousel of Progress, and one that won’t be cheap. It’s IP-free, aimed at maintaining its heart and soul as a show that revolves around the American family and optimism as it navigates new wonders.
It’s perfectly fine to have reservations about the changes or wish different decades were chosen. But it’s also worth acknowledging the reality that this overhaul would’ve been far worse if made even a few years earlier.
Instead, Carousel of Progress is a project that builds on the foundation of the ‘singles and doubles’ successes of the last year. This big-budget, non-IP reimagining demonstrates Imagineering being given more autonomy as a result of those wins.
After a couple of months to digest the news and come to terms with losing the version of Carousel of Progress for which we have tremendous personal nostalgia, I’m cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the Carousel of Progress overhaul.
The scope and scale of this reimagining is a win for the classic attraction, diehard fans, and the legacy of the man behind the magic. The Imagineers working to bring the attraction into a whole new century have a tough task ahead of them, and I truly hope that there’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for Carousel of Progress and in fact, that Now is Not the Best Time.
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Your Thoughts
What do you think about the new decades coming to the Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom? Thoughts on Sarah taking center stage? What about the shift to 1969, 1985, Y2K, and the distant future? Do you agree or disagree with my assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
