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Jamie Lee Curtis and Brian Cranston to star in the reimagined Carousel of Progress, opening Late Spring 2027

Alastair Mac
Aug 16
5 min read

Disney Imagineers are currently reimagining the classic Disney attraction, Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom, and have revealed exciting new details on what we can expect.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Brian Cranston to star in the reimagined Carousel of Progress, opening Late Spring 2027

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is Disney’s largest fan convention, bringing together fans from around the world for major announcements, immersive exhibits, exclusive merchandise, special performances, and more. Taking place August 14 – 16, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center, and nearby Honda Center.

The highlight of the weekend is always the Disney Experiences Showcase, which features exciting announcements from the Disney Parks around the world, and the Disney Cruise Line. This year's Disney Experiences Showcase, Horizons: A Carousel of Progress was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, and took place on Saturday, August 15 at the Honda Center.

Inspired by the Carousel of Progress, the event featured behind-the-scenes looks, special performances, exciting announcements, and a few surprises along the way, and yes, there was lots of news and updates from Walt Disney World!

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

There’s a great big, beautiful tomorrow on the way for Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at Walt Disney World! The classic attraction located in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom is currently closed while imagineers reimagine the attraction which originally debuted on April 22, 1964, at the New York World’s Fair.

Kicking off the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress (perfect name for a show!), host Neil Patrick Harris told the crowd at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event that two new voice additions would be joining the show, stepping into the iconic roles of mom and dad. Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston pick up the mantle as the attraction is updated for a new generation of fans.

Neil also shared a look at one of the new scenes, set in the 1980s, showing us exactly where this iconic family is headed next.

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New Decades coming to Carousel of Progress

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’ll get to see what John, Sarah, and the rest of the family are up to as they navigate ever-changing technology in new decades.

One of Disney's main goals for this update was to keep the attraction relatable for today’s audiences by featuring eras in which our guests have personal connections. That includes the iconic “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” which will continue to play as guests transition between scenes.

Act 1 – the 1960s

When the show first opened at the World’s 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.

In the summer of 1969, our Carousel family, along with millions around the world, gather around the television to witness one of humanity’s greatest achievements: the historic moon landing. Filled with awe, the moment captures the spirit of innovation and possibility that has always been — and always will be — at the heart of Carousel of Progress.

Act 2 – the 1980s

It’s the ‘80s, 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’ll share how all the new appliances and gadgets are making life easier for the whole family.

Speaking of John, we’ll find him out on the porch handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and poor Uncle Orville can be found in the bathroom with “no privacy around here!”

Act 3 – The New Millennium

With the ‘90s drawing to a close, our Carousel family is preparing to ring in the new millennium on New Year’s Eve 1999. Amid the excitement of the countdown to 2000, a new thing called the Internet is bringing John, Sarah, Jimmy and Patty – and the world – closer together than ever before.

And if you’re anything like my family, not everyone is making it to midnight. Grandpa has already nodded off before the big countdown, while Grandma sneaks the TV over to wrestling when no one’s looking.

Act 4 – The Possible Future

As we reach the end of our show, we see the family one last time in the distant future, in an out-of-this-world home. From a helpful robot assisting with everyday tasks to space travel, the scene imagines a future where extraordinary innovation has become part of life and proves that a beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.

To help bring this new finale to life, Imagineers looked back at original concept sketches by Disney Legend John Hench, drawing inspiration from his imaginative vision of the future.

First Look at New Attraction Poster

Disney have also shared a first look at our new attraction poster that pays homage to the original Carousel of Progress poster created for its Disneyland debut. Just like the attraction itself, the design reflects both where we’ve been and where we’re going.

When Will These Changes Happen?

Carousel of Progress is temporarily unavailable and this new take on this classic attraction will debut in late spring 2027. 

Keeping Walt’s Vision Alive

Last year Disney announced that guests will soon be able to see Walt Disney himself in the attraction, made possible through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology. Walt is in a scene inspired by the 1964 special “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” which is where he first introduced the idea of Carousel of Progress and shared his enduring belief in the power of progress to shape a better tomorrow.

This once unimaginable opening moment will set the stage for the next era of storytelling for our American family and their lovable dog.

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