Disney has officially confirmed that Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress will undergo the most significant transformation in the attraction’s history, marking a major new chapter for one of the most beloved and historic experiences in Tomorrowland.

The iconic rotating theatre attraction at Magic Kingdom will temporarily close on 6th July 2026 as Walt Disney Imagineering begins a sweeping reimagining that will introduce entirely new scenes, updated storytelling, and a brand-new Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney himself. The refreshed attraction is expected to reopen sometime in 2027.

Originally created by Walt Disney for the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair, Carousel of Progress has long been celebrated for its optimistic look at innovation and the future. The attraction later moved to Disneyland before opening at Magic Kingdom in 1975, where it remains one of the few attractions personally connected to Walt Disney still operating today.

Disney says the upcoming refurbishment will preserve the spirit of the attraction while dramatically modernising its presentation. According to Imagineering, all four main show scenes will be replaced with entirely new time periods that follow the familiar family through changing decades of American life and technology.

The updated scenes are expected to include:

• A 1960s sequence centred around the moon landing era
• An 1980s-inspired scene focused on the rise of modern home technology
• A 1999 New Year’s Eve celebration exploring the early internet age
• A newly imagined future sequence inspired by original Disney concept art

Disney has also confirmed that the attraction’s signature Sherman Brothers song, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” will remain part of the experience.

Perhaps the biggest addition will be the inclusion of Walt Disney himself in Audio-Animatronic form. The new opening scene will recreate moments inspired by Walt’s 1964 television special “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” where he first introduced the concept behind Carousel of Progress. Imagineers are reportedly recreating props and details from that era, including references to classic Disney attractions and historic World’s Fair exhibits.

Disney has described the overhaul as an effort to honour the attraction’s legacy while ensuring it continues to resonate with new generations of guests. While fans have long debated whether Carousel of Progress should remain untouched as a nostalgic time capsule, others have argued that constant evolution is central to the attraction’s original purpose.

The current version of the attraction largely dates back to a major 1994 refurbishment, making this the first large-scale creative update in more than three decades.

Concept art released alongside the announcement hints at refreshed costumes, redesigned sets, and a cleaner visual style that blends retro-futurism with modern Imagineering techniques.

For Disney Parks fans, the closure marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of what could become the definitive modern version of one of Disney’s most historically important attractions.