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Carousel of Progress to Close for Major Overhaul

The project will replace every scene, add a life-size Audio-Animatronic Walt, upgrade aging mechanical systems, aiming for a 2027 reopening.

Overview

  • The attraction will run for the last time on Sunday, July 5, 2026, and Walt Disney Imagineering will begin onsite work the next day on Monday, July 6.
  • Disney confirmed all four current scenes will be replaced and a new opening scene will introduce a life-size Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney.
  • The new scenes will portray the 1960s (Apollo moon landing), the 1980s (Halloween 1985 with Sarah), New Year’s Eve 1999 (internet era), and a retro-futuristic future with a helpful robot.
  • Permit filings and contractor details indicate the overhaul will remove old high-pressure hydraulic systems and install electric actuators and other technical or structural upgrades, which could extend work beyond the target date.
  • The show has been largely unchanged since 1994, recent mechanical failures and audio desynchronization accelerated the rebuild, and guests have a final weekend to see the current version before the multi-act renovation begins.