Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is getting a major reimagining, and one iconic line from the beloved attraction feels more fitting than ever: “Whew boy, hottest Fourth of July we’ve had in years!”
Hey there, In the Loop followers, it’s Haley.
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There’s something bittersweet about taking one last spin on the Carousel of Progress — especially when you know the curtain is about to come down for good on the current version.
The beloved Magic Kingdom Audio-Animatronic show captures the featured eras of American life with charm, and the attraction has a lengthy history of its own.
Here’s the thing — change was always kind of the point. The attraction has been updated four times over the years, and looking toward the future has always been its beating heart. Walt Disney himself was a man who never stopped dreaming about what’s next.
For me, I’ll miss Jean Shepherd’s voice the most. When Imagineers shared details about the upcoming changes a few months ago, voice casting was one detail they were tight-lipped on.
Magic Kingdom guests will have one more weekend and one more Fourth of July with patriotic Uncle Orville before the upgrade begins next week.
Carousel of Progress was included in my lineup of patriotic events and attractions in this year’s theme park Independence Day guide.
Universal Orlando Resort
Pinhead checks in 😨
Pinhead is finally making his way to Halloween Horror Nights.
The “Hellraiser” franchise is nearly 40 years old, so it’s somehow both surprising and overdue that the iconic Cenobite will get his moment to terrorize Universal Orlando guests.
Hellraiser joins Stranger Things 5 and Sinners in the IP lineup this year. I think we’re now due for a house announcement that lands in a less intense category.
Sand, sips, summer 😎
Universal Orlando Resort is giving hotel guests a seriously cool reason to hang out in the lobby this summer — all 11 hotels are debuting massive sand sculptures inspired by fan favorites like Jaws, Ghostbusters and E.T.
Beyond the lobbies, hotel guests can enjoy exclusive experiences like summer cocktails, poolside parties with live DJs and exclusive character meet-and-greets at Universal Studios Florida.
Click here for all the sculptures and locations.
Legoland Florida
Gotta brick ‘em all 🧱
Legoland Florida Resort has already lined up an impressive slate of events this summer, and it keeps getting better.
The resort’s LEGO Festival returns later this month featuring five immersive zones — including two brand-new additions, a Play Zone headlined by LEGO Pokémon and a Thrill Zone centered on LEGO F1 — all included with regular park admission.
As always, keep me in the loop through my email or reach out to me on X or Instagram.
I’ll be checking in with new things next week.
- Haley