HUGE changes are coming to the Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom, and we’re here on the last day of the current iteration of the ride as we know it.

Carousel of Progress

We already knew that a Walt Disney Animatronic would be coming to the ride, but Disney shared that even more updates are on the way for this iconic attraction. Each scene will be completely overhauled to feature new decades — and we’ll even get a glimpse into the future! The ride is set to close on July 6th so Disney can make way for these changes, and we’re celebrating the last day of the original Carousel of Progress.

Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress closes on July 6th and is expected to reopen sometime in 2027, as Disney works to completely overhaul the ride. We stopped by on the last day of the current version of the ride’s operation, and we weren’t the only ones!

©Disney

While this ride normally has a low wait time, around five minutes, since the theater can hold so many people in each of the four sections of seating, we were curious to see if today would be the same. Right around 9:30 AM, just half an hour after the park opened, the ride was indeed sitting at just a five-minute wait.

©Disney

Looking at crowds near the ride, there was a small crowd that had headed straight to the attraction at rope drop, but otherwise, there hasn’t been enough of a crowd yet to completely fill each theater. Now, it’s very possible people are rope dropping other attractions that often get higher waits, since even on its final day, Carousel of Progress’ larger capacity will likely keep it from getting too large of a wait throughout the day. We’ll be keeping an eye on it all day to see how the crowds ebb and flow.

Carousel of Progress crowds

One of Disney’s main goals for this update is to keep the attraction relatable for audiences of today by featuring eras that people have personal connections to. Imagineering has been revisiting the music, fashion, technology, and experiences that helped shape history as it’s reflected in this family’s story.

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Act 1 will feature the 1960s, which is when the Carousel of Progress first opened at the 1964 World’s Fair. The story looks back about 60 years, and now this new scene will mirror that idea — starting 60 years back from today, in the 1960s.

©Disney

Act 2 takes us to the 1980s, where bigger is better. On Halloween night in 1985, Sarah will take center stage as she shares all about how the new appliances and gadgets are making life easier for the whole family. John is out on the porch handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and poor Uncle Orville will still be in the bathroom with “no privacy at all around here!”

Carousel of Progress

In Act 3, we’ll travel to the new millennium as the 1990s draw to a close. The family is getting ready to ring in the new year on New Year’s Eve 1999. The Internet is bringing John, Sarah, Jimmy, and Patty closer together than ever before. Of course, Grandpa has already nodded off, so Grandma changes the TV over to wrestling when no one is looking.

The Carousel!

And finally, Act 4 features the possible future. The family is seen one last time in the distant future, in a home that’s out of this world. The off-planet scene features a helpful robot assisting with everyday tasks, along with space travel, and imagines a future where extraordinary innovation has become part of life.

What will the future bring?

Disney shared that Carousel of Progress is expected to reopen sometime in 2027, and we can’t wait! These are some MAJOR changes, and we’re hopeful that the ride will still reflect everything we loved about the original.

Carousel of Progress

We’ll be on the lookout for more Carousel of Progress updates you need to know about at Magic Kingdom and beyond. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!

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What do you think of the Carousel of Progress changes at Magic Kingdom? Tell us in the comments below!