There\u2019s a great big, beautiful tomorrow on the way for Walt Disney\u2019s Carousel of Progress. For the last 60 years, this passion project of Walt himself has served as a powerful reflection of optimism, innovation, and family over time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Yet while the themes have always stayed the same, the most performed stage show in the history of American theater has taken several forms over the years. So, before we talk about what\u2019s next for this beloved attraction, let\u2019s take a look back at its evolution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To understand the full history of Carousel of Progress, you have to go all the way back to the 1950s. As Walt Disney set his sights on expanding Disneyland, he envisioned an extension of Main Street, U.S.A. called Edison Square.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The square would be anchored by Harnessing the Lightning, a walkthrough drama exploring how electricity and technology transformed the lifestyle of the American family. While Edison Square was never built, the groundwork was laid for a show centered on a powerful idea: technology would continue to evolve, but people would stay the same.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When work began on the Disney shows for the 1964\u20131965 New York World\u2019s Fair, Walt and his team of Imagineers reworked the Harnessing the Lightning concept into the smash hit of the Progressland pavilion \u2014 Carousel of Progress.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The fair marked the debut of the attraction\u2019s iconic rotating theater system, as well as its equally iconic anthem by songwriters and Disney Legends Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman. It was an enormous success and a project deeply personal to Walt. It captured his overarching spirit of optimism while reflecting his hands-on creative direction, down to details as specific as how Uncle Orville\u2019s toes should wiggle in the bathtub.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Following its run at the fair, Walt brought the show to Disneyland, where it opened in 1967 with several updates, including a refreshed finale scene (now set in Progress City, a community of tomorrow based on Walt\u2019s vision for EPCOT). At the time, no one could have known that this finale would become a sign of things to come, as Carousel of Progress made its way to Walt Disney World in 1975.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In its time at Magic Kingdom, the attraction has continued to evolve, through new scripts, voice actors, time periods, and even full scene updates. The attraction even featured a new theme song, \u201cThe Best Time of Your Life,\u201d which stood in for \u201cThere\u2019s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow\u201d for the attraction\u2019s first two decades of operation in Florida. You can still hear the tune playing as background music throughout Tomorrowland today. The attraction\u2019s last major update was back in 1994, which included an updated finale scene and the return of the original Sherman Brothers\u2019 song.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n As you can see, Carousel of Progress was designed to celebrate change, not to stand still. As Imagineers, we now have the great responsibility of keeping Walt\u2019s ideas of innovation and forward-looking spirit alive as we continue building the attraction\u2019s future together. So where are we heading?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The team is having a lot of fun sourcing and replicating many of the props seen in that special, like the prototype Tiki bird, the Tower of the Four Winds model, a doll from \u201cit\u2019s a small world,\u201d and so much more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n This once unimaginable opening moment will set the stage for the next era of storytelling for our American family and their lovable dog.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In addition to adding Walt Disney to the very attraction that bears his name, Imagineers will also be updating all the scenes to new time periods, where we\u2019ll get to see what John, Sarah, and the rest of the family are up to as they navigate ever-changing technology in new decades.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n One of our main goals for this update was to keep the attraction relatable for today\u2019s audiences by featuring eras in which our guests have personal connections. That includes the iconic \u201cThere\u2019s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,\u201d which will continue to play as guests transition between scenes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Imagineers working on this refresh grew up during these decades, so it\u2019s been a real trip down memory lane to revisit the music, fashion, technology, and experiences that helped shape our history all reflected in this family\u2019s story.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n One thing that I think makes the Carousel of Progress so special is that physical props, painted backdrops, and practical effects everywhere. And the team is working tirelessly to make sure things like appliances and artwork are true to that decade<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When the show first opened at the World\u2019s Fair, its story began by looking back about 60 years to the dawn of the new century. Now more than six decades later, this new iteration mirrors that idea, starting 60 years back from today in the 1960s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the summer of 1969, our Carousel family, along with millions around the world, gather around the television to witness one of humanity\u2019s greatest achievements: the historic moon landing. Filled with awe, the moment captures the spirit of innovation and possibility that has always been \u2014 and always will be \u2014 at the heart of Carousel of Progress.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s the \u201880s, where everything bigger is better, and things keep on getting bigger! We pick up with the family on Halloween Night of 1985, and for the first time ever, Sarah is taking center stage. She\u2019ll share how all the new appliances and gadgets are making life easier for the whole family.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe Evolution of Carousel of Progress<\/h2>\n
![\"Carousel](\"https:\/\/disneyparksblog.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-WDW-Carousel-of-Progress-5-1918x1080.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Carousel](\"https:\/\/disneyparksblog.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-WDW-Carousel-of-Progress-4.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nKeeping Walt\u2019s Vision Alive<\/h2>\n
![\"Carousel](\"https:\/\/disneyparksblog.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-WDW-Carousel-of-Progress-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nNew Decades Coming to Carousel of Progress<\/h2>\n
Act 1 \u2013 the 1960s<\/h3>\n
Act 2 \u2013 the 1980s<\/h3>\n