An absolutely quintessential Tomorrowland attraction in Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is an original ride conceived by Walt Disney himself. It made its debut at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, and later opened in Disneyland in 1967 (where it has since closed). It opened at Magic Kingdom in 1975, where it has remained a classic and iconic attraction nearly synonymous with Magic Kingdom itself.

For many parkgoers, a visit to Magic Kingdom isn’t complete without a spin on the ol’ Carousel of Progress, which takes riders through different decades and (as the name implies) the progress made in each. Earlier this year, Disney announced that the Carousel of Progress would undergo a complete transformation, updating the ride to reflect more recent history and advances. Carousel of Progress closed on July 6th, 2026, for the updates, which will debut in late Spring 2027, and Disney just shared details about one of the new (well, sort of) voice actors!

A familiar voice is returning to Carousel of Progress! Debi Derryberry originally voiced Patricia, the daughter in the ride’s focus family, but she’s taking on a new role in the rethemed version.

That’s right, Debi Derryberry is back, and she’ll be taking on a new role as Grandmother when Carousel of Progress reopens in 2027. Disney shared some behind-the-scenes footage of Derryberry in the studio recording her lines. We can’t wait to hear them!

So, what else is coming with these changes? Quite a bit! All four decade scenes will be changed, and a new opening scene with Disney World’s first Walt Disney animatronic will be added. And don’t worry, the iconic song, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” will be sticking around!

Act 1 will be about the 1960s and will open with the historic moon landing. The family will be gathered around the television to witness one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Act 2 will take us to the 1980s, where everything is bigger and better. It will be Halloween Night of 1985, and Sarah will be taking center stage, talking about her new appliances and gadgets. Don’t worry, Uncle Orville will still be covered regarding the lack of privacy.

Moving on, Act 3 will be the New Millennium with New Year’s Eve 1999. Not everyone might make it to midnight, but the whole family is here to celebrate. The final fourth act will push towards the possible future where a helpful robot might assist with everyday tasks, to even space travel, since a beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.

We’ll be on the lookout for even more Carousel of Progress updates you need to know about. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!

Are you looking forward to the reimagining of Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below.