For fans of Walt Disney World, the “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” is starting to feel like a very distant memory. As we move into the first week of January 2026, a glaring hole remains in the Magic Kingdom’s roadmap: the promised “major update” to the Carousel of Progress.
It has been five months since Disney first teased a transformation for the rotating theater at the 2025 D23 event. Since then, we have seen ground broken on the Cars expansion, a massive overhaul started at Big Thunder Mountain, and the completion of Test Track 3.0. Yet, the Carousel of Progress remains in a state of “stalled” animation.
Why is Disney staying so silent, and what does this mean for the future of Tomorrowland?
The August 2025 Tease: A Promise Without a Plan
In August 2025, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro sent shockwaves through the fan community by confirming that a “major update” was finally coming to the Carousel of Progress. It was the news fans had waited decades for—the attraction, which Walt Disney personally oversaw for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, was finally getting the 21st-century polish it desperately needed.
However, since that initial announcement, Disney has not released a single concept art image, a closure date, or a scope of work. In the world of Disney Imagineering, “no news” usually means one of two things: the project is being significantly expanded, or it has hit a budgetary roadblock.
The “Final Scene” Problem
The most popular theory for the delay is the complexity of the attraction’s final scene. Currently, the “future” scene depicts a family utilizing virtual reality and voice-activated ovens—technologies that are already commonplace or even outdated in 2026.
Speculation suggests Disney may be debating between two paths:
- A Modern Refresh: Simply updating the final scene to reflect “near-future” tech like AI, smart glass, and sustainable energy.
- A “Century of Progress” Overhaul: A more ambitious project that shifts the timeline of every scene to keep the “future” scene perpetually ahead of the curve.
If Disney is leaning toward the latter, the refurbishment would likely require a year-long closure, making the announcement a logistical nightmare for 2026 vacation planners.
Tomorrowland 2026: A Land in Transition
The silence on the Carousel of Progress is even more curious when you look at the rest of Tomorrowland. With TRON Lightcycle / Run now a staple and the Tomorrowland Speedway rumored for an electric vehicle conversion, the land is slowly shedding its “outdated” reputation.
By not providing a start date for the Carousel update, Disney is leaving a primary “anchor” attraction in a state of limbo. Fans are increasingly worried that the project could be “Blue Skyed”—Disney-speak for an idea that is teased but never actually funded.
When Will We Hear More?
History tells us that Disney prefers to bundle Tomorrowland news together. With a major shareholder meeting and the Spring “Disney Parks Blog” update window approaching in March 2026, many insiders expect the silence to break finally.
Until then, the attraction remains open for guests to enjoy in its current state. But with every passing month of silence, the “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” feels less like a promise and more like a question mark.
What do you think is causing the delay? Should Disney completely overhaul the attraction, or just fix the final scene? Let us know in the comments below!
