BAY LAKE, Fla. – “Whew boy, hottest Fourth of July we’ve had in years!”
That famous line — delivered by animatronic patriarch John in Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress’s 1920s scene — takes on new meaning this summer as the Magic Kingdom attraction will welcome guests for the last time in its current form on July 4, before closing July 6 for its most ambitious makeover in more than 30 years.
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The upcoming refurbishment marks the fourth major update to the attraction since Walt Disney first unveiled it at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. The attraction is expected to reopen in 2027.
New decades, same family
As announced last year, Walt himself will be making an appearance — brought to life through Audio-Animatronics technology in the opening scene inspired by the 1964 special “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” where he first introduced the Carousel of Progress and his enduring belief in the power of progress.
The refreshed show will reimagine all four acts, anchoring each scene to a specific era that spans from the optimism of the 1960s to a far-flung vision of the future.
The first act, and one of the most poignant additions to the updated Carousel of Progress, transports guests to the summer of 1969, when the family gathers around the television to witness the historic Apollo moon landing.
From there, the story leaps roughly 15 years to the 1980s. On Halloween night in 1985, Sarah will be center stage amid big hair, neon, and shoulder pads.
The third act lands at the dawn of the new millennium, where the internet age has taken the world by storm and an impressive collection of single-use kitchen appliances — think bread makers and popcorn poppers — crowd the countertops. Grandma and Grandpa make an appearance, counting down to the new year, though Grandma insists on splitting the TV channel to catch her pro wrestling fix.
The final act ventures furthest of all — a sequence inspired by Legendary Disney Imagineer John Hench, who played a pivotal role in the creation and evolution of the attraction.
“The family is here in a world that may be a little bit off planet, thinking about what life is like in the very distant future. It’s got the heart, it’s got humor, it’s the dad jokes,” said a Disney spokesperson. “And it’s got a lot of just what makes our show so special."
Easter eggs and surprises
Imagineers are going all-in on hidden details throughout every scene.
The team has been scouring eBay for decade-appropriate memorabilia, and both pop culture nods and Disney references are woven throughout. Disney teased that the company’s Disney pin collection has made its way into the 1990s scene.
Fan-favorite Uncle Orville returns as well, with a scene nodding to his investment in a then-unknown company called Apple — and a clap-off moment to finally reclaim his privacy.
A new attraction poster was also unveiled, described as a nod to a prior version that looks both to the past and the future.
For devoted fans, Disney offered reassurance on the things that matter most. The animatronic family — John, Sarah, and the rest of the gang — will return in refreshed form. Rover the dog too.
The Sherman Brothers’ beloved anthem, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” will also remain a fixture of the show.
As for how the characters will sound in the new version, Disney declined to comment on voice casting. The late author and radio humorist Jean Shepherd provided the voice and opening narration for John — the Father character — in the current 1993 version of the attraction.
A Tomorrowland treasure
Originally created as part of General Electric Co.’s Progressland pavilion, the show followed multiple generations of one family through the technological evolution of the 20th century. Walt himself was deeply involved in shaping the characters, humor and heart of the original production.
The show later moved to Disneyland before landing permanently in Walt Disney World’s Tomorrowland, where it has run in its current form since 1993 — earning recognition as the longest-running stage show in the history of American theater.
“When we touch a classic like this, especially Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, our Imagineers take the utmost care in thinking how we approach that,” said the Disney spokesperson.