10 Fun Facts About Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress

10 Fun Facts Disney Parks


The Carousel of Progress is one of the most iconic Disney attractions, taking you on a journey of the American family through the various technological developments of the first half of the 20th century.


In tribute to the attraction, we are sharing 10 fun facts about this classic attraction currently operating in Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland.

1. Missing Daughter

There is an extra daughter in the family in the first scene that never appears in any of the subsequent scenes.

2. 1964 World's Fair

This attraction started its life at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City.

3. Holidays

Each scene not only features a different decade, but also a different holiday that the family is celebrating, from Valentines Day, to July 4th, to Christmas.

4. The Other Carousel of Progress Song

Carousel of Progress Preshow Screens Magic Kingdom Disney World

When the show opened at the Magic Kingdom, it didn't feature the iconic There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow. Instead, sponsor General Electric insisted on a new song so people would buy their products today, which led to the song Now Is The Time being a part of the attraction for the early years of the Walt Disney World version.

5. Disneyland

This attraction operated at Disneyland after the 1964 World's Fair before moving to the Magic Kingdom.

6. Marty Called

In the final scene of Carousel of Progress, you can see a bulletin board. On it is a sticky note that reads "Marty Called Wants Changes" in tribute to early Disney Imagineer Marty Sklar.

7. Name

Carousel of Progress Curtain Magic Kingdom Disney World

The current version of the show is the only one that named the characters, including naming father, John.

8. Original Father

The original voice of Father is still a part of the show, voicing the grandfather in the 21st-century scene of the attraction.

9. Uncle Orville

One of the characters in this attraction, Uncle Orville, is voiced by one of the most famous voice actors of all time Mel Blanc. Some other characters he voiced included Bugs Bunny and many other Looney Tunes characters.

10. Original Version

Carousel of Progress Building From Peoplemover Walt Disney World

This attraction was originally proposed as a part of a never-built Edison Square expansion of Disneyland. In this version, it would have been a walk through attraction.


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