Troubling Report Suggests Permanent Shutdown for Disney World’s Carousel of Progress

From the Rivers of America to Muppet*Vision 3D, Walt Disney World has quietly retired a string of beloved attractions in recent months. Now, a new report suggests another longtime favorite could be next.

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress may not be an opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom, but it holds a cherished place in the hearts of the park’s most devoted fans. Debuting in 1975, four years after the park opened, the rotating theater follows the average American family as they navigate the milestones of the 20th century – from the dawn of electricity to the promise of a high-tech future – to the soundtrack of the Sherman Brothers’ “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.”

Packed with Audio-Animatronics, the show has undergone several updates over the years. The most recent of these major changes occurred all the way back in 1994 when the final scene was updated to “Christmas in the House of 2000” to more accurately reflect the theme of the New Tomorrowland. Since then, the ride has seen some minor tweaks (such as new outfits for the Audio-Animatronics in the final scene) but has remained relatively unchanged.

Considering the fact that it’s been over 30 years since its last major updates, fans have grown increasingly concerned over the years that time may be limited for the Carousel of Progress. The attraction may be relatively outdated today, but it’s well-regarded by nostalgic fans due to its connection to Walt Disney himself (who developed the original show for the 1964 New York World’s Fair) and the fact that the Disneyland version has already been gone for decades.

As Disney itself explains, “Walt Disney originally conceived the show as part of a new area at Disneyland Park called Edison Square. When the concept was abandoned, the idea was reimagined, eventually opening under the name “Progressland” at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.”

Concerns previously rose in the early 2000s that the show was destined for closure. After a drop in attendance following the September 11 attacks, the show briefly closed in late 2001 and went on to operate on a seasonal basis until roughly 2003. Since then, traffic hasn’t exactly been overwhelming for the show. It seems like rumors have come and gone that the show is on its last legs, with a recent report suggesting that that is very much the case.

Is Carousel of Progress Heading for Closure?

As per a recent rumor on social media, the Carousel of Progress is facing mechanical issues that could potentially lead to its closure.

“I was just informed by someone who works at [Magic Kingdom] that 6 of the 9 motors on [Carousel of Progress] are running, with one of them breaking last week,” said one X, formerly known as Twitter, user. “These motors allow the ride to spin and according to my source, they are on the last one they can run before the ride stops spinning entirely.”

The X user went on to claim that if Disney wanted to fix this issue, this would involve redoing the entire carousel, which may not be worth the expense in the company’s eyes. “The catch is though, not enough people ride it per hour and management is looking to either replace it or remove it entirely,” they wrote.

“Talkings of this are fairly new after the motor blew,” the X user added. “After Buzz goes down next month, PeopleMover will be next to receive a major refurbishment. If COP goes down during PeopleMover’s refurbishment, there will be a problem.”

I was just informed by someone who works at MK that 6 of the 9 motors on COP are running, with one of them breaking last week. These motors allow the ride to spin and according to my source, they are on the last one they can run before the ride stops spinning entirely.

— Cynical Disney (@cynical_disney) July 10, 2025

While this is very much just a rumor for now – and the X user in question also stressed that “nothing is set in stone” – it doesn’t sound totally out of the realm of possibility that these conversations are occurring. Disney is on a spending spree for its theme parks right now, tearing out attractions based on outdated IP (in Disney’s eyes, at least), or no IP at all, to incorporate new features inspired by the likes of Cars, Monsters, Inc., and Encanto.

Fans haven’t exactly reacted positively to the rumors of the show’s closure. Many have, however, accepted that it seems inevitable. “There is 0% chance [Carousel of Progress] is running at [Magic Kingdom] in ten years,” wrote one fan. “We all know that’s true in our hearts.”

Another said, “At this point, nothing is safe and everything is disposable.”

Some have also noted that it isn’t the only attraction in the land that’s stretched past its expiry date. Tomorrowland Speedway has long been criticized by Disney World fans, with many pointing out that it’s both hot and generally quite unpopular with a large portion of parkgoers.

Tomorrowland has long struggled to live up to its futuristic promise. Despite its name, the land feels increasingly out of sync with the times – and Carousel of Progress is no exception. As charming and nostalgic as it is, the attraction no longer fits the vision of a forward-looking Tomorrowland. Even so, for many fans, its closure would still feel like the loss of something uniquely Disney.

Do you think Disney should close Carousel of Progress?