One of Walt Disney World's most historic attractions has gone dark. Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress ran its final show in its current form on July 5, 2026, and closed for refurbishment the next day. Disney expects it to reopen in 2027.
The biggest change in 50 years
According to WDW News Today and WDWMagic, this is the attraction's largest overhaul since 1975. All four of the show's scenes will be replaced, shifting the ride's timeline forward so its eras reflect ones today's guests actually lived through.
Walt opens the show
Per WDW News Today's report on Disney's announcement, the reimagined attraction will open with a Walt Disney audio-animatronic figure introducing the show — in a scene inspired by the 1964 television special “Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair.” The reimagined attraction poster likewise draws on the original New York World's Fair design.
That new poster features the show's familiar family — John, Sarah, and Rover the dog — alongside a new robot assistant character.
Why it matters
Imagineers have said their main goal is to keep the show relatable for today's audiences by featuring eras guests have personal connections to, according to WDW News Today. A full replacement of all four scenes makes this one of the most significant updates in the attraction's long history.
Cover photo: Matt H. Wade — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.