Walt Disney World's Carousel of Progress - one of the last remaining attractions with direct ties to Walt Disney himself - is undergoing a significant refurbishment. The Tomorrowland classic closed on 6th July 2026, with the reopening now narrowed down to late spring 2027, and the voice cast behind two of its most familiar characters has been announced.
Article Summary
- Closure date: Carousel of Progress closed 6th July 2026.
- Reopening window: now confirmed for late spring 2027, though no exact date has been given.
- Voice cast: Sarah will be voiced by Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis, and John by Emmy Award-winning Bryan Cranston.
- New scenes: four updated acts covering the 1960s, 1980s, 1999 and an imagined future.
- Walt joins the show: a new opening scene features the first-ever Florida-based Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure.
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Read on for the full breakdown including the new scenes, the voice cast reveal, and what the closure means if you're planning a Walt Disney World trip.
What Is Carousel of Progress?
If you didn't know, Carousel of Progress is a classic Audio-Animatronic theatre show in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. You sit in a rotating theatre that moves between scenes, following an animatronic family through different eras of American life and the technology that shaped them. It was originally created by Walt Disney himself for the 1964 New York World's Fair, before moving permanently to Walt Disney World in 1975.
It's slow-paced, it's nostalgic, and it has one of the most persistent earworms in all of Disney - "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow." The queue is often non-existent, which makes it a reliable air-conditioned break mid-park day if nothing else.
Walt Disney Joins the Show
The headline addition is Walt Disney himself appearing in the attraction via a new opening scene. The sequence is inspired by the 1964 television special Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair, in which Walt introduced the original Carousel of Progress concept and made the case for progress as a force for good.
Disney's Imagineers are replicating props seen in that special - including a prototype Tiki bird, a model of the Tower of the Four Winds, and a doll from it's a small world. The Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt will serve as the introduction to the updated show.
Recreating Walt in animatronic form isn't something Disney has done often. This won't be the first Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure in a Disney park overall, but Disney has confirmed it will be the first one based in Florida.
New Decades, New Scenes
The existing scenes - which have been largely unchanged for decades - are being replaced with new time periods. The goal, according to Disney, was to feature eras guests have a personal connection to. The four updated acts are as follows:
Act 1 - The 1960s
The show's story previously started around the turn of the 20th century, roughly 60 years before the original opening. The new version mirrors that logic, starting 60 years back from today - landing in the 1960s. The scene centres on the family watching the Apollo 11 moon landing in the summer of 1969.
Act 2 - The 1980s
The family is back on Halloween night 1985. Disney notes that for the first time, Sarah takes centre stage in this act - showing how new appliances and gadgets are changing daily life. John is on the porch handing out sweets to trick-or-treaters, and Uncle Orville has apparently retreated to the bathroom complaining about a lack of privacy. Some things are timeless.
Act 3 - New Year's Eve 1999
The family is ringing in the millennium - and dealing with the particular anxiety of the year 2000, the internet arriving in the living room, and the fact that Grandpa has already fallen asleep before midnight. Grandma, meanwhile, has apparently switched the telly over to wrestling. A relatable tableau for many households.
Act 4 - The Future
The finale remains set in an imagined future, updated to include a helpful household robot and references to space travel. Imagineers referenced original concept sketches by Disney Legend John Hench in redesigning this scene.
"There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" will continue to play between scenes throughout the updated show.
Who Is Voicing Sarah and John?
Disney has confirmed the voice cast for the family's two central characters. Sarah will be voiced by Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis, and John will be voiced by Emmy Award-winning Bryan Cranston. Given that Sarah has been given a bigger role in the new 1980s scene, it's a fair bet her voice work carries more weight in the finished attraction than it has done previously.
When Does Carousel of Progress Close and Reopen?
Carousel of Progress closed on 6th July 2026. Disney has now confirmed the reopening is expected in late spring 2027. Based on that window, the closure looks to run somewhere in the region of ten to eleven months.
What This Means for UK Visitors
If you're travelling from the UK and have Carousel of Progress on your Magic Kingdom itinerary, the window to catch the current version has gone. Flights from the UK to Orlando run year-round, with direct options from several major UK airports - but anyone booking a trip for the second half of 2026 through to spring 2027 won't be able to see the existing show at all.
On the flip side, if late spring 2027 does end up being the reopening window, that's worth keeping an eye on if you're already looking at a May half term trip, since half term dates can land close to that timeframe depending on the year.
For help planning a Walt Disney World holiday from the UK - including current offers and how to get the most out of your budget - the Walt Disney World deals and discounts guide for UK guests is a useful starting point. You can also book direct with Disney to check what packages are available for your travel window.
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Carousel of Progress: Your Questions Answered
When does Carousel of Progress close?
Carousel of Progress closes on 6th July 2026 for refurbishment.
When does Carousel of Progress reopen?
Disney has confirmed a reopening window of late spring 2027, though an exact date hasn't been given.
Who is voicing Sarah in the new Carousel of Progress?
Sarah is being voiced by Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis.
Who is voicing John in the new Carousel of Progress?
John is being voiced by Emmy Award-winning Bryan Cranston.
Is Walt Disney appearing in the updated Carousel of Progress?
Yes. A new opening scene features an Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney, based on the 1964 television special Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair.
Is this the first Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure in a Disney park?
No. It's the first Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure based in Florida, but not the first one to appear in a Disney park overall.
What new time periods are being added to Carousel of Progress?
The updated show features four acts set in 1969, 1985, 1999 and an imagined future.
Will the Carousel of Progress theme song stay the same?
Yes. "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" continues to play between scenes throughout the updated show.
