We recently returned from another incredible trip to Walt Disney World, and as always, one of our absolute must-do stops was Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
We love this ride for so many reasons. There is the fun of looking back at past technology, the whimsical story of an American family through the decades, the perfect place to escape from the rain during those notorious Florida afternoon storms, and, of course, the glorious air conditioning.
And I won’t lie to you—on occasion, during our second or third journey through the rotating theater on our vacation, it provides the most awesome 10-minute power nap you can possibly grab right in the middle of the Magic Kingdom. I know I am not alone in that!
We have sat through the most recent iteration of this story many times over the years, as it has remained largely unchanged for a long time. However, on this trip, we happened to be at the Magic Kingdom for a few final rides, catching the Carousel just three days before it officially closed its doors for a major refurbishment.
From what we have read, it appears the classic scenes spanning from the turn of the 20th century straight through the 1950s are slated to be replaced. That represents a massive chunk of time—and a monumental change to a historic ride. I admit I would have loved to see at least the 1950s scene survive, but alas, the choice was not mine!
As much as we have loved this specific version of the ride over the years, we would be kidding ourselves if we believed it would (or should) never change.
The very name of the attraction calls for it. Having a Carousel of Progress that never actually progresses would almost be hypocritical! Walt Disney himself famously said that the parks would never be completed as long as there was imagination left in the world, and this ride is the literal embodiment of that philosophy.
It will certainly be interesting to see what direction Disney takes the storyline in next. For now, we will sit and wait for the reopening. We are hoping this major update leads to another Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow full of more enjoyable rides, plenty of essential AC breaks on hot Florida days, and yes—even a couple of those mid-park power naps!
As for the old ride? On the days when we are sitting at home feeling nostalgic for the way things used to be, there is always YouTube, where the classic version will continue to live on.
One final thought – as I was looking through our photos, my eye zeroed in on the Mickey Mouse nutcracker sitting on the mantle in the final Christmas scene. We look for it every time we’re on the carousel, and it leaves me with one burning question: What will become of it? Will it make a triumphant return for the grand reopening, or will it forever be hidden away deep in the Disney archives? Let me know your predictions in the comments below!
Long overdue but it still makes me a little sad!😔