Overview
- The Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom will run through July 5 and close on July 6, 2026 for a top‑to‑bottom teardown that Disney says will keep the theater dark until a planned 2027 reopening.
- The immediate trigger for the accelerated work was a viral early‑2026 incident in which a ruptured seal sent dark hydraulic fluid down the lead animatronic, exposing the park to safety and reliability risks.
- Disney plans to remove the attraction's original high‑pressure hydraulic lines and fit state‑of‑the‑art electric A‑1000 series actuators to eliminate leak‑prone mechanics and deliver smoother motion.
- The creative overhaul reported by industry outlets will add a prologue featuring an Audio‑Animatronic Walt and four new era scenes set in the 1960s, the 1980s, the 1999/early‑2000s period, and a retro‑futuristic off‑planet future.
- Permit filings name specialty contractors and show one‑year work windows that align with the 2027 target but could require extensions if structural or systems upgrades expand, and many original face molds and scenic elements will remain visible elsewhere across Walt Disney World.