05/29/2026
There’s a great big, beautiful tomorrow on the way for Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
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,”.
In addition to adding Walt Disney, 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.
Act 1 – 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, 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 a home off planet. From a helpful robot assisting with everyday tasks to space travel, the scene imagines a future where extraordinary innovation has become part of life.
