Latest News About Carousel Of Progress

Here’s the latest on Disney’s Carousel of Progress:

• What’s changing: Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress is undergoing a major refresh, including a complete overhaul of the scenes to reflect new decades beyond the original storyline, and the addition of a Walt Disney audio-animatronic figure in the opening sequence. This was announced as part of a broader update to the ride, with opening of the refreshed version targeted for sometime in 2027.[3][4][9]

• Timeline and closures: The current version’s final day of operation was announced as July 5, 2026, with the park closing the ride for refurbishment starting July 6, 2026; the project is planned to wrap up in 2027, resulting in a reopened Carousel of Progress in a new form. A separate update notes the attraction will close for the overhaul in mid-2026 and reopen in 2027 with new decades and an updated intro.[2][3]

• What to expect in the new version: In addition to new decades and updated scenes, the attraction will include an animatronic figure of Walt Disney in the opening sequence, and the overall experience will be expanded and modernized while preserving the rotating theater concept. Reports from park-news outlets also indicate that every scene is being replaced as part of the overhaul, not just incremental updates.[4][9][2]

• Context and sources: The announcements have been covered by multiple Disney- and theme-park news outlets, including WDW News Today, Disney Parks Blog, and related outlets, with details about a Walt Disney animatronic being added and a 2027 reopening target.[1][9][3][4]

Illustration (conceptual): Imagine the traditional Carousel of Progress as a time-traveling living room that now features a newly introduced opening scene with Walt Disney as an animatronic narrator, followed by entirely refreshed vignettes spanning updated decades and technology themes, all rotating through the same stage with a new finale that reflects contemporary visions.

Would you like a short timeline summary you can share with friends, or a quick bullet list of what’s changing in each planned new scene once official details are finalized? I can assemble that with exact dates and milestones as they are announced.

Citations:

• Carousel of Progress overhaul and Walt animatronic plan[4]
• Final day and closure timing for refurbishment[3]
• Overhaul scope with all-new scenes and 2027 reopen plan[9][2]
• Additional coverage and official announcements[1]