Oh, now this is going to be fun.
Disney has finally given us a look inside the new version of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress—and we’re going back to the 1980s.
Specifically, Halloween night in 1985.
Which means big hair, questionable technology, Halloween candy and a family that is apparently about to discover that the future is going to involve a whole lot of gadgets.
Honestly, as someone who remembers the 1980s, I’m already feeling personally attacked.
Welcome to 1985
The new 1980s scene will take place on Halloween night in 1985.
And for the first time, Sarah takes center stage.
Disney says she’ll be showing off how new appliances and gadgets are making life easier for the family.
That’s a pretty perfect setup for the Carousel of Progress.
After all, the entire attraction has always been about watching technology change everyday life.
And if there’s one thing the 1980s gave us, it was a whole lot of technology that seemed incredibly futuristic at the time.
Sarah Gets Her Moment
One of the more interesting changes to the new scene is the increased focus on Sarah.
Instead of simply having the family patriarch narrate the latest technological breakthrough, Sarah will be showing how those innovations are affecting the household.
And that gives the scene a different perspective on the family’s relationship with technology.
It’s also a nice reminder that the Carousel of Progress isn’t supposed to be about one person predicting the future.
It’s about how families experience progress.
Meanwhile, Dad Is Handing Out Candy
While Sarah is busy inside, John will be outside on the porch handing out candy to Halloween trick-or-treaters.
Because apparently even the future can’t save Dad from Halloween duty.
And honestly?
That’s probably one of the most relatable things the Carousel of Progress has ever done.
And Uncle Orville Is Still Uncle Orville
Don’t worry.
Uncle Orville hasn’t been forgotten.
Disney says he’ll still be making an appearance—and, naturally, he’ll be in the bathroom.
Because some traditions simply cannot be improved upon.
There’s also a joke about him having “no privacy around here!”
So yes, after all these years, Uncle Orville remains the poor guy who just wants five minutes alone.
Some things really are timeless.
The 1980s Are Going to Look Very Different
The new scene is more than simply changing the calendar on the wall.
The 1980s were a fascinating period for technology.
Home computers were becoming increasingly common.
Electronic gadgets were becoming smaller and more accessible.
Entertainment technology was changing rapidly.
And suddenly, things that would have sounded like science fiction a few decades earlier were sitting in people’s homes.
That’s exactly the kind of technological shift the Carousel of Progress was designed to showcase.
And Then There’s the Nostalgia Factor
Here’s where this scene could be particularly fun for Disney fans who actually remember the 1980s.
The new scene isn’t just depicting some generic version of the decade.
It’s specifically set in 1985.
That gives Imagineering a very specific moment in time to play with.
And if the concept art is any indication, we’re going to see plenty of little details that help establish exactly when we are.
That’s one of the things that has always made Carousel of Progress so much fun.
You can watch the big story about technological progress while simultaneously looking around for all the tiny details.
New Voices Are Joining the Family
The updated Carousel of Progress will also feature two very recognizable voices.
Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis will voice Mom, while Bryan Cranston will voice Dad.
Yes.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston are joining the Carousel of Progress.
That was definitely not on our D23 bingo card.
But we’re not complaining.
The Carousel Is Getting Four New Decades
The 1980s scene is only one part of the larger update.
Disney says the refreshed attraction will follow the family through four new decades of progress, bringing the story forward while keeping the attraction’s basic premise intact.
That means we’ll be watching this family experience the technological changes of the 1980s, 1990s, the new millennium and beyond.
It’s a pretty ambitious update for an attraction that has been telling essentially the same story for generations.
Carousel of Progress Returns in 2027
Disney has announced that Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is expected to reopen in late spring 2027.
That gives Imagineering plenty of time to finish the new scenes, update the attraction’s technology and get the new cast recordings into place.
And when it returns, guests will get something that is both familiar and new.
The same rotating theater.
The same family.
The same optimistic message.
But a whole lot more progress.
I’m Ready for the 1980s
I’ll admit it.
Of all the new scenes Disney could have shown us, the 1980s one has me particularly curious.
Maybe it’s because I remember the decade.
Maybe it’s because the idea of watching Imagineering recreate 1985 through the lens of a family experiencing new technology sounds like exactly what Carousel of Progress should be doing.
Or maybe I just want to see how many 1980s gadgets Disney can cram into one scene.
Either way, I’m ready.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my neon shirt and a VCR.
