Bryan Cranston and Jamie Lee Curtis Will Star in New Version of Disney’s Carousel of Progress

The Carousel of Progress, an audio-animatronic stage show that has been a part of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom since 1975, is set to undergo a reimagining and reopen in late spring 2027. Star power will join the attraction with Bryan Cranston taking on the role of the father, while Jamie Lee Curtis will voice his wife. The show, which chronicles American progress from the 1960s to today, will begin in the 1960s.

The announcement of Cranston and Curtis as the stars of the new version of the attraction was made at the Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion during the D23 show floor presentation. Concept art from the new show was also displayed, including a scene set in the 1980s that coincided with the Halloween season.

Interestingly, the Carousel of Progress has undergone five updates since its original creation for the 1964-65 World's Fair. These updates occurred in 1967, 1975, 1981, 1985, and 1993. The theme song, "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow," has become quite beloved in Disney popular culture, even surpassing the show itself in terms of recognition.

In addition to the new cast, the reimagined Carousel of Progress will feature a pre-show starring an animatronic version of Walt Disney. This is reminiscent of a similar figure that recently debuted at Disneyland, expanding the theater that houses Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, another World's Fair show. The reimagined Carousel of Progress is set to debut at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in late spring 2027.