Disney Announces Major Carousel of Progress Changes Following a Wave of Strong Walt Disney World Updates

by Brooke McDonald
Last updated: 9:25 AM ET, Thu May 28, 2026

Rendering of the Carousel of Progress at Walt Disney World.

2026 at Walt Disney World initially looked like it would be defined mostly by closures, construction walls, and waiting for projects still years away from opening. But the gradual rollout of attraction refreshes, upgraded tech, and thoughtful reimaginings has sneakily turned this into one of Disney’s most interesting transition periods in years, giving even the most skeptical longtime fans reason for cautious optimism about what comes next.

This shift feels especially relevant today as Disney announces a major overhaul of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, the deeply nostalgic Tomorrowland attraction closely tied to Walt Disney himself, alongside new details about the reimagined Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Whether this latest wave of rapid updates was intentionally aimed at reassuring longtime guests like me that our memories are in good hands is unclear. Either way, it’s working.

Before we dig into the Carousel of Progress overhaul, here's a surprisingly strong list of attractions that have been recently refreshed or reimagined.

What’s New and Notable Across Walt Disney World

At Magic Kingdom, I was thrilled to see Cinderella Castle restored to its classic blue-and-grey-hued glory.

In Tomorrowland, major tech upgrades to recently reopened Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — redesigned star cruisers, handheld blasters, responsive targets, and on-board screens that track scores in real time — transformed the experience so significantly that what was once a skip for my family might now rank alongside Toy Story Mania as a must-do.

In Frontierland, there's no hiding the massive Piston Peak construction zone that has replaced the Rivers of America, so you might as well get a closer look at it from the newly reopened Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The refreshed ride now welcomes more guests thanks to a lowered 38-inch minimum height requirement, while a smooth new track and enhanced show scenes add to the classic without taking much away that longtime riders will miss — except for the former view.

At Disney's Hollywood Studios, despite a remarkably fast turnaround, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets feels like so much more than a reskin. A five-song Electric Mayhem setlist, variable pre-shows, countless Easter eggs, and rotating celebrity cameos in the queue provide repeat ride appeal. Out in the courtyard, a vibrant new color scheme, an updated music loop, an excellent gift shop, and a FØØD kiosk from the Swedish Chef energize the whole area.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge received a much more substantial overhaul that’s been a long time coming. A new Mandalorian and Grogu-themed mission upgrades both the software and gameplay systems in ways that finally make the attraction truly variable and replayable.

At EPCOT, upgraded Audio-Animatronics on Frozen Ever After, a shift to a less motion-sickness-inducing 2D version of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and a new 250th anniversary Soarin’ Across America add three more ride updates for the park, following last year’s well-received Test Track reimagining.

And at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Bluey and Bingo have finally made their debut at Conservation Station.

This flurry of positive changes has created surprising momentum during a transition period, making the next wave of plans feel more tangible, and perhaps less nerve-wracking to change-averse fans, than they might have even a year ago.

Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress to Temporarily Close Starting July 6, 2026, for a Major Update

Disney has announced that Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress will close July 6, 2026, for its most significant overhaul in decades, ahead of a planned 2027 reopening.

Given the attraction’s near-sacred status among Disney fans, Disney has emphasized that Imagineers are approaching the project with care, transparency, and historical awareness.

That starts with acknowledging something fans might not be aware of: Carousel of Progress has a long history of change. Created for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair before moving to Disneyland and eventually Walt Disney World, the attraction has undergone multiple iterations over the decades, including new scenes, scripts, voice actors, finales, and songs.

But don’t panic — Disney was quick to confirm the Sherman Brothers’ theme song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” isn’t going anywhere. Neither are John, Sarah, Uncle Orville, or Rover. Disney said that the updated attraction will retain the original family, but will advance their story to new time periods.

Disney said that a major focus of the redesign was shifting the attraction into decades that feel more recognizable to modern audiences, allowing guests to connect more directly to the Carousel family’s story.

But first, as previously announced at Destination D23, the show will begin with an Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney in a new introductory scene. Inspired by the 1964 special “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” where the Carousel of Progress concept was first introduced, the scene will feature Easter eggs from the special, including the Tower of the Four Winds, the Tiki bird prototype, and the plans for EPCOT.

Act 1 picks up where Walt left off — in the 1960s, with the family gathering in the summer of 1969 to watch the moon landing on TV.

Disney briefly showed additional concept art during a media panel last week and emphasized the attention being paid to details such as pop culture and Disney memorabilia, background props, and era-appropriate music choices in the attraction.

Act 2 jumps 15 years to Halloween in 1985, with Sarah in the kitchen, showcasing appliances and gadgets that make life easier. John hands out candy to trick-or-treaters, and Uncle Orville seeks privacy in the bathroom. Orville references investing his life savings in a company called Apple, to which John says it will never work, giving Orville the last laugh.

Disney described 1980s scenes as leaning heavily into the era's oversized style, referencing big hair, neon colors, and shoulder pads, all of which will be represented in the attraction.

Act 3 advances to New Year’s Eve 1999, the dawn of the millennium, the rise of the internet, and the proliferation of single-purpose appliances like a popcorn maker and bread maker.

Grandpa dozes off ahead of the countdown to midnight, and Grandma changes the channel to sneak a peek at pro wrestling.

Act 4 jumps to the distant future, drawing inspiration from John Hench’s artwork for the original attraction, and imagining what life might be like on another planet.

Disney stressed that preserving the attraction’s warmth, humor, optimism, and handcrafted feel remained central to the redesign (the dad jokes stay!).

After reflecting on new concept art from years I’ve lived through and remember well (Patty’s music-filled ‘80s bedroom in particular caught my attention with its instantly recognizable posters, which Disney said were very deliberately chosen), I have some food for thought for my fellow change-averse Disney fans if you’re nervous about this one.

Disney parks have long excelled at romanticizing the recent past. When guests like me grew up visiting Walt Disney World in the ‘80s and ‘90s, places like 50’s Prime Time Cafe and attractions like Carousel of Progress mostly reflected the nostalgia of our parents’ generation, recreating their kitchens, living rooms, and diners.

Until now, much of that nostalgia from our childhoods has survived in Disney parks more often by accident through aging attractions than by design. For those of us who grew up in the era of Mall Madness, Electric Youth, Oregon Trail, and those first dial-up internet connections, shifting Carousel of Progress into the decades we remember starts to mythologize our childhoods, too — and think that's pretty cool (even if it also makes us feel older than we care to admit)!

What’s New and Coming Soon to Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The changes continue at Hollywood Studios, where guests can now experience the next phase of Animation Courtyard’s reimagining, ahead of the upcoming “Magic of Disney Animation” experience opening later this summer.

Inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios campus in Burbank and the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon a Studio, the redesigned area combines interactive play spaces, drawing experiences, character encounters, and animation-themed environments that make guests feel as though they've stepped onto the lot and even into the animation studio itself.

Now open in the area theaters, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure continues, and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! has recently debuted, replicating the show by the same name at Disney California Adventure Park.

The newly revealed courtyard features a relaxed, park-like space and colorful character statues hiding in plain sight. At the center of the expansion is an updated building (formerly Star Wars: Launch Bay) inspired by the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, topped by Mickey's Sorcerer Hat. Inside, "The Magic of Disney Animation," a collection of interconnected experiences, opens later this summer.

Among them is “Drawn to Wonderland,” a whimsical indoor playground inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair’s original concept art for Alice in Wonderland. Designed primarily for younger children, the space recreates environments like the Mad Tea Party, Tulgey Wood, and the Queen of Hearts' rose garden through oversized, colorful sets offering an air-conditioned space to climb and play.

"Off the Page!" turns the Disney animation process itself into a series of character encounters, each themed to a stage of the process. Here, guests can meet:

Mulan in Story
Rapunzel in Layout
Chip n’ Dale in Hand-Drawn Animation
Donald and Daisy in Computer Animation
Goofy in Lighting
Stitch in Effects

“Olaf Draws!” introduces a new Olaf Audio-Animatronics figure inspired by his appearance in Once Upon a Studio. Olaf leads guided drawing classes with the help of recorded instruction from Disney animators and artists, including:

Mickey Mouse, with Dan Abraham, director (Once Upon A Studio, Baymax!)
Minnie Mouse, with Hyun Min Lee, animator (Frozen 2, The Princess and the Frog)
Donald Duck, with Austin Traylor, animator (Once Upon A Studio, Moana 2)
Genie, with Eric Goldberg, animator (Aladdin, Hercules)
Moana, with Samantha Vilfort, story artist (Encanto, Zootopia 2)
Stitch, with Fawn Veerasunthorn, director and head of story (Wish, Raya and the Last Dragon)
Olaf, with Trent Correy, director (Once Upon A Studio, Frozen 3)
Ursula, with Michael Woodside, animator (Big Hero 6, Encanto)
Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde, with Byron Howard, director (Zootopia, Zootopia 2)

The experience lineup also includes Once Upon a Studio Theater, which screens the short film that inspired the area, with added effects and animated character surprises throughout the room. Nearby, Disney is also adding an enchanted art gallery where framed artwork can unexpectedly come to life through new animation effects created specifically for the experience.

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.