Ride / Carousel of Progress

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Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is an attraction located at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and formerly at Disneyland. Starting life as an exhibition at the 1964 New York World's Fair sponsored by General Electric, the Carousel of Progress is an audio-animatronic show built into a rotating theatre. Steeped in nostalgia and the excitement of future technologies, the Carousel revolves around an American family living through four different eras while experiencing the wonders of how Technology Marches On.

Generally considered one of Walt Disney's finest and most beloved achievements, the Carousel has run for fifty years and is the longest-running show in the history of American theatre. The attraction's original concept was set in the never realized Edison Square area in Disneyland and would show how G.E. appliances have benefitted American families. The actual attraction opened at the 1964 World's Fair as Progressland, featuring Rex Allen as the voice of the host, the father of the family later named John, and a theme song written by Richard and Robert Sherman named "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow", which has become a popular song among Disney fans.

The attraction opened in Disneyland in 1967, lasting until 1973 when it was replaced by America Sings. The Magic Kingdom edition was sponsored by G.E. for ten years and went through numerous changes, particularly in the final modern setting to keep up with the times and changing technologies (the attraction is about progress after all). The Sherman Brothers were asked to write a new song to match G.E.'s desire for audiences to buy appliances now rather than in the future, the song being "The Best Time of Your Life". After G.E.'s sponsorship ended, the Carousel underwent major refurbishments and became a tribute to the original attraction and Walt Disney's vision, featuring a new cast headed by Jean Shepherd and a return of the original theme song.

As said, the attraction shifts through four different eras, featuring the same family of father John, his wife Sarah, their kids Patricia and Jimmy, the family dog Rover, Grandma and Grandpa, and "perennial house guest" Uncle Orville, as they experience the development of technology and electricity. The first act is in the turn-of-the-century on Valentine's Day and features innovations of the era and nods to early films, Thomas Edison, and the Wright Brothers. The 1920s act takes place on Independence Day, featuring the new electrical marvels that cause a blackout. The third act is set in the 1940s on Halloween, introducing television and Sarah's attempt to handle a makeshift paint mixer. The final act is set on Christmas in the modern era (early 21st century) that features hi-def television, virtual reality games, and voice-activated appliances (all of which have became more affordable and technologically practical as the century has progressed). An early version had the last act set in Progress City, better known as Walt's original concept of Epcot.

Since its opening in 1967, the final act of the ride has been updated four times to keep it current with trends in consumer product technology. The most recent update was in 1993.

In August 2025, it was announced that the ride would be given a refresh, including a new opening scene with an Audio-Animatronic Walt, the second one after the one added to the Opera House in Disneyland.

Carousel of Progress provides examples of:

• Adapted Out: General Electric was the sponsor of the attraction and because of this there was a lot of references to the company and how they helped progress. By the recent refurbishment they stopped being the sponsor and mention of the company has been removed except for the products having their logo as a small reference.
• Actor Allusion: A Red Ryder BB Gun is amongst the gifts in the Christmas scene in the 1994 version, a nod to Jean Shepherd's role as the writer and narrator of A Christmas Story.
• The All-American Boy: Jimmy has traits of this.
• Anachronism Stew: A minor example. The 21st-century final act originally featured an analog TV, but it broke and was replaced by a very modern-looking flatscreen.
• The Artifact: Not the attraction itself but rather the modern day act which hasn’t been updated in a few years, featuring technology like Laser Discs, etc.
• Big Blackout: John causes a blackout in the neighbourhood for the third time in the week whilst showing off the kitchen’s electrical appliances.
• Big Friendly Dog: The family dog Rover.
• Bumbling Dad: The current version has the father more susceptible to mistakes. The blackout, the paint stirrer idea (though it's the mother who is on the receiving end of the mess), and the turkey are all his fault. This replaces the casual sexism of earlier versions of the attractions.
• The Cameo: Mel Blanc voices the parrot and Uncle Orville, making it among only a handful of projects he worked on for Disney.
• Christmas Episode: The final act is set at Christmas.
• Cool Old Lady: Grandma watches a boxing match on TV whilst her husband snoozes. The modern Grandma kicks Jimmy’s ass on his video game.
• Costume Porn: Sarah has a hand at making pretty detailed costumes for the 1920s Fourth of July Parade.
• Crapola Tech: In the 1940s act, John constructed a paint mixing gizmo for Sarah to use, sacrificing her food mixer to build it. The mixer malfunctions and splashes Sarah with paint. She isn’t happy.
• Company Cross-References: In the fourth act of the 1975-1993 incarnation, the family watches some footage of New Year's celebrations, culminating in the celebration at the Magic Kingdom.
• Cue the Rain: In the first act, John claims it won’t rain since his lumbago isn't acting up. Guess what happens next.
  John: Aw, well. The cistern was low on rain water anyway.
• Deadpan Snarker: John does this occasionally, though Grandpa steals the spotlight in the modern setting.
• Double Entendre: John’s comment on the rumpus room – “And we're looking forward to a few rumpuses I'll tell you, as long as they don't get out of hand.”
• Fully-Clothed Nudity: Patricia in the 1994 version worries over her appearance in the first act, describing herself as “indecent” even though her period undergarments cover her head to toe.
• Fun with Flushing: In the fourth act, Grandpa notes how practically everything is automated, and we hear the sound of a toilet flushing, and he says, "Including that."
  Uncle Orville: (offstage) No privacy at all around this place!
  Grandpa: Sorry, Orville!
• The Future: The original 1960s version featured this, set in Walt Disney’s planned concept of Epcot, with Progress City visible in the back window.
• The Ghost: Subverted for Uncle Orville. We see him having a bath in the second act, but he becomes this trope in the fourth act when the family disturb him when he is in the bathroom.
• Halloween Episode: The 1940s act.
• Henpecked Husband: John is often interrupted by Sarah and often hushes up when she nags.
  John: Rover, don't interrupt while Sarah's interrupting.
• Holiday Episode: In the original attraction, the 1890s act took place in spring, the 1920s act took place in summer, the 1940s act took place in fall, and only the final act was holiday themed. In the World's Fair version, it took place on Christmas, while the 1975 version placed it in New Year's Eve, and the 1993 went back to Christmas. The 1993 version also rethemed the first three acts around different holidays, Valentine's Day, Independence Day, and Halloween, respectively.
• In Case You Forgot Who Wrote It: This has become one of a very few theme park attractions attributed to Walt in its official name.
• I Take Offense to That Last One: Rover barks angrily to some comments or jokes made by John.
• It Will Never Catch On: Serves as a Running Gag throughout the Carousel, with the characters believing the latest tech will never become a common thing. The next act shows said technology has.
• Last Resort Takeout: After John burns the turkey in a voice-controlled oven, Trish asks, "Anyone for pizza?"
• Lethal Chef: John nuked the turkey two Christmases in a row.
• Mythology Gag: In the late 2010s, the animatronics in the final act were given costume changes with plenty of Easter Eggs.
  • Both Trish and James are wearing slippers with reindeer that resemble the ones that had their tongues sticking out.
  • Trish is wearing a "Progress City Tech" sweater, in reference to the name of the model that was used for the original version of EPCOT as envisioned by Walt that was initially seen at the end of the ride at Disneyland.
  • James is wearing a shirt with a logo for the never-built Mineral King Ski Lodge in California.
  • John's apron says "My Food Rocks" in reference to the defunct Epcot attraction, "Food Rocks".
• No Fourth Wall: John directly addresses the audience for the first three acts and other characters acknowledge their presence.
• Our Acts Are Different: The show consists of four acts, an introduction, and an ending speech.
• Oven Logic: The voice-activated oven in the modern day act follows John’s voice commands, increasing the temperature every time a number is spoken til it chars the Christmas turkey.
• The Patriarch: John fills this role as head of the family.
• Polly Wants a Microphone: Grandma’s parrot (voiced by Mel Blanc) complains about her constantly playing the radio.
  Parrot: Rawk! She keeps that thing going all night long. Rawk! The tenor's driving me nuts. Rawk! Progress.
• Product Placement: The original attraction was sponsored by General Electric so naturally a lot of their products were on display, and were mentioned by name at the end of each act. After the sponsorship ended, all mentions of the company were deleted and the giant GE logo at the start was replaced by a logo representing the blueprint of the Carousel Theater, and most of their logos were removed, though some remain.
• Rapid-Fire Interrupting: John gets repeatedly interrupted by Sarah in the 1920s act when he tries to express his opinions on her costumes for the Fourth of July Parade. Lampshaded by John when Rover barks during Sarah’s chatter. This was also a Running Gag in the original World's Fair and Disneyland versions of the final act where Sarah kept talking over John, who could barely get a word in edgewise, even when they start singing the song again.
• Remake Cameo: Rex Allen, the original voice actor of John, appears as Grandpa in the current version of the attraction. Allen also provides the narration for the preshow video outside the attraction.
• Replaced the Theme Tune: The original theme song was replaced with "The Best Time of Your Life" to suit G.E.'s desire for audiences to buy appliances then and there rather than wait for the future. The original song returned in the 1993 refurbishment.
• Running Gag:
  • Patricia has a new boyfriend in each act, though the time skipping might be an explanation.
  • Uncle Orville being disturbed whilst in the bathroom.
    "No privacy at all around this place!"
• Shout-Out: The music playing on the television in Act 3 before Grandma changes it to boxing is "Two Silhouettes" from Make Mine Music.
• Standard Snippet: In the original version, until 1993, Uncle Orville hummed "The World Owes Me a Livin'" from the Silly Symphony The Grasshopper and the Ants and also associated with Goofy, to emphasize his mooching off the family.^note This would've been anachronistic as the song came out in 1934, after the Roaring 20s ended. This was replaced by "You're a Grand Old Flag" to keep the Fourth of July theme.
• Stay in the Kitchen: Older versions of the attraction gave the husband this mindset. In the most recent version, some of the wife's previous chores are now the husband's responsibility.
• Suddenly Voiced: In the original World's Fair version, the son didn't have any dialogue. When the show was updated in 1975 and 1993, he was given lines.
• Thematic Theme Tune: The attraction’s theme song “There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” reflects the show’s themes of the excitement of the future and innovations that come from it.
• Time Skip: The four acts transition twenty or so years into the future – 1900s, 1920s, 1940s, and the modern era. The characters mostly stay the same age until the modern day where Jimmy and Patricia are now adults and John is looking somewhat older.
• Valentine's Day Episode: The first act in the 1994 version is set on Valentine’s Day.
• Virtual Assistant Blunder: John in the final act has some issues with his voice activated oven, which raised the temperature every time John spoke a different number in an unrelated conversation, burning the turkey.
• What Happened to the Mouse?: There was a little girl in the first act helping out Sarah with her ironing. But in the following acts, they only have a son and a daughter, with no trace of the little girl, whoever she was.
• When I Was Your Age...: Grandpa is implied to do this a lot.