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Carousel of Progress Closes as Construction Walls Go Up for 2027 Reimagining

Replacing all four show scenes, adding a lifelike Walt Audio‑Animatronic and modernizing the theater’s hydraulic drive to electric actuators, the project aims to ready the ride for a 2027 return.

Overview

  • The 1994 version of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress ran its final public performances on July 5, 2026 and closed afterward for a multi‑year reimagining.
  • Overnight on July 6 crews erected construction walls around the attraction’s entrance and exit and initial on‑site work has begun to prepare the building for heavy renovation.
  • Disney has confirmed every show scene will be replaced and a new prologue with a lifelike Walt Audio‑Animatronic will be added as part of the creative rewrite.
  • Public permit filings and reporting show the work will include removing long‑standing hydraulic drive systems and installing modern electric actuators plus structural steel and theming work, a scope that could stretch the schedule if more approvals are needed.
  • The closure already affected guest-facing operations with the PeopleMover narration removing references to the attraction and staff running extra final-night theater cycles to handle large crowds, and the update preserves the ride’s legacy while aiming to make its mechanics reliable for future audiences.