Fans Discuss Pointless Change to Iconic Disney World Attraction

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carousel of progress

Credit: Disney

Few experiences at Disney World can outmatch the legacy and importance of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.

carousel of progress
Credit: Disney

Related: Disney Animatronic Missing Its Head on Classic Attraction

Located in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is as entertaining as it is air-conditioned. Taking Guests on a tour through the progress of electricity, travel, cooking, cleaning, and general American life, this attraction will be sure to please those looking for a fun time as well as something that is educational.

However, there is one aspect of this attraction that some Guests tend to loathe.

Carousel-of-Progress-scene
Credit: Tomorrow Society

Each scene of the attraction takes Guests through different decades of American history, specifically in the average household. However, the final scene takes place in the future. Several issues arise from this choice, primarily with how it depicts what “the future” will actually look like.

Sure, back when it first opened, the thought of a voice-activated oven or virtual reality gaming system blew our minds, but today, these inventions are second-nature to most. That means that the final scene of the attraction can be off-putting to some and come off as incredibly dated. Tomorrowland, in general, faces this problem, as the “ideas of tomorrow” always arrive at some point or another.

However, one change got fans talking quite a bit, and it had nothing to do with the future.

carousel of progress
Credit: Disney

Back in the Summer of 2022, this ride underwent a change, with Disney updating this final scene. The update brought life back to the house, as the television sometimes wouldn’t work. This was fixed, along with some other smaller issues. However, one of the changes was to John’s hair.

This change was discussed on social media, with dozens of fans commenting on their thoughts. You can see the full post below:

They dyed his hair black ?!

They dyed his hair black ?! from WaltDisneyWorld

Related: Disney’s Ambitious ‘Star Wars’ Ride Missing Several Key Elements

As you can see, John’s hair is now jet black when it used to have grey throughout. This change is certainly a minor one, but that won’t stop hardcore Disney fans from noticing. In the comments, one user simply said:

“Of all the updates needed, this was not one of them.”

Another user theorized why exactly Disney made this change:

“I wonder if there was a strange reason behind it, like the fake oven smoke was discoloring the other hair in weird ways.”

One user made a sponsorship joke:

“They’re trying to get a “touch of gray” sponsorship as he fades back to his original color.”

Tomorrowland sign
Credit: Inside the Magic Kelly C.
Walt Disney and WED Enterprises teamed up and created what is now the longest-running stage show in American theater history. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress was originally created as the prime feature of the General Electric Pavilion for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, but is now located in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

For those who may not have had the chance to experience it, Disney describes The Carousel of Progress as follows:

Travel through the 20th century and marvel at the evolution of technology during this classic Audio-Animatronics show.

Follow an American family over 4 generations of progress and watch technology transform their lives.

During each era, learn how the technological marvels of the day made life more comfortable—and paved the way for unimaginable innovations.

Discover how gas lamps, the hand-cranked washing machine and gramophone made the pre-electric era a breeze.

Watch the advent of electricity give rise to modern conveniences like the electric iron, the radio—and the simple, revolutionary light bulb.

See how the automatic dishwasher and television set transformed the American household.

Today’s high-tech marvels include virtual-reality games, high-definition televisions and voice-activated household appliances. Imagine the wonders the next hundred years may bring!

What are your thoughts on this change?

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