Latest News About Walt Disney's Carousel Of Progress

Here’s what’s latest on Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, based on recent public reports.

What’s new

• Major refurbishment announced: The Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom is slated for its biggest update since its opening, including the addition of a Walt Disney audio-animatronic figure and a refresh of the show’s scenes and decades it covers. This news circulated in late 2024–2025 coverage and was carried by multiple outlets confirming the plan for a significant overhaul [Parade article on the Walt Disney figure][WDW News sources discussing Destination D23 reveal][DSNY Newscast coverage].
• Timeline and scope: Reports indicate a multi-year refurbishment with the attraction closing for an extended period, during which all the current scenes could be reimagined or replaced with updated vignettes, alongside the new Walt Disney figure introduction. Several outlets stated reopening would occur after the refurbishment, with some suggesting it could align with milestone anniversaries, though exact dates have varied in public chatter [DSNY Newscast recap][WDWNT coverage][Main Street Mouse summary].
• Public reception and context: Disney has framed this as a meaningful celebration of Walt Disney’s legacy and the “great big, beautiful tomorrow” ethos, pairing the new figure with refreshed storytelling to appeal to new generations while retaining the ride’s core rotating-theater concept [Disney-focused coverage and quotes from related museum commentary].

What to expect when it returns

• New Walt Disney figure: An audio-animatronic portrayal of Walt Disney is expected to be featured prominently, introducing the decades-spanning story of the family in the attraction [Parade coverage][WDWNT coverage].
• Updated decades and scenes: The attraction’s in-show segments are described as being reimagined or updated, potentially introducing new scenes or refreshed takes on existing decades to align with modern storytelling while preserving the ride’s classic format [Main Street Mouse summary][DSNY Newscast transcript excerpts].
• Thematic focus: The refurbishment is described as reinforcing the “great big, beautiful tomorrow” motif, connecting Walt’s vision with contemporary design and technology in Imagineering’s craft [WDWNT and related coverage].

Quick context for readers

• The Carousel of Progress debuted in its current format at Disney parks in the 1960s (with earlier iterations dating to the 1964 World’s Fair concept) and has long been a staple of Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom; the planned upgrade marks a notable shift for a venerable classic [Disney Wiki background][Parade coverage].
• As with any large refurbishment of a themed attraction, specifics such as exact reopening dates, final scene content, and any temporary changes to nearby attractions are typically shared by Disney or park-specific news outlets closer to completion.

Would you like a concise timeline of reported milestones and the likely reopening window, or a quick compare of pre- and post-renovation expectations as summarized by major Disney news outlets? I can also pull in direct quotes from the sources and provide links if you want to dive deeper.

Citations

• Multiple outlets reported the refurbishment and the introduction of a Walt Disney animatronic figure, including Parade Magazine and Disney-focused outlets [Parade article; DSNY Newscast coverage; WDWNT coverage].
• Coverage discusses timelines, potential scene updates, and the overarching aim to honor Walt Disney’s legacy in the refreshed show [WDWNT article; Main Street Mouse summary; DSNY Newscast transcript].