Disney World’s Newly Reimagined Rides Are Upgrades. Here’s Why That’s Great for Carousel of Progress.

Walt Disney World has been on a roll. Aside from one major misstep, every new attraction and reimagined ride in the last year-plus has been high-quality or an improvement over what it replaced. This offers rankings for the upgrades, plus our thoughts on WDW turning a corner and why this bodes well for Carousel of Progress.

It was supposed to be a slow year for the parks, which is precisely why we wrote Should You Skip Walt Disney World in 2026 & Wait for 2027? There hasn’t been a single brand-new ride that’s opened last year or this year, and the same will likely be true once again for the first three quarters of 2027.

Despite all of this, Walt Disney World has quietly put together a strong slate for Summer 2026. That culminated with the kickoff of Cool Kids’ Summer and the opening of several new experiences, attractions, and entertainment offerings. The parks debuted a half dozen-plus additions, and every single one is good.

Some fans will lament that these are all ride reimaginings, enhancements, or placemaking projects as opposed to brand-new lands or E-Ticket attractions. That the recent slate is still evidence of Walt Disney World being “cheap” or replacing as opposed to expanding.

We’d argue the opposite. That this was always going to be an in-between year, and although the blockbuster slate at the last D23 Expo was a couple of years overdue, there was no way those announced expansions would open by this year. Accordingly, it seemed like Walt Disney World would have a quiet couple of years before the major new projects came online.

WDW & WDI Collaborate

Instead of simply waiting for Villains Land and everything else, Walt Disney World embraced a ‘singles and doubles’ mentality and fixed some of the most glaring weaknesses in the parks. It’s our understanding that this was accomplished thanks to a greatly improved working relationship between Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney World leadership.

Even though the Lake Nona relocation of Imagineering was cancelled, it has happened organically over the last few years as projects have ramped up. Imagineering now has its largest-ever presence at Walt Disney World, and it shows.

Imagineering has an empowered local-level portfolio team that lives in the community, and a vested interest in the local parks where they take their kids. This team focuses exclusively on Walt Disney World, understands the unique needs and circumstances of this operational environment, and is able to foster fruitful working relationships with leadership on the parks side.

It might seem odd to focus on this as a source of success, but there has historically been tension between Imagineering and Walt Disney World leadership. (We touched on this in 11 Surprises Revealed About Walt Disney Imagineering’s Comeback, After Cutbacks & Costly Mistakes towards the end, under “Local-Level Delegation.”)

As mentioned in that article, it’s our understanding that this is something that’s finally being fixed in Florida. The dynamic is much better with aligned incentives and expectations, and this has facilitated smaller-scale projects coming to fruition. That’s precisely why we’ve seen more “Disneyland-esque” singles and doubles get greenlit for Walt Disney World in the last year-plus.

It’s also evident in the speed with which some of these projects have come to fruition. The turnaround time has been almost unprecedented. “Fast” is not a quality for which Imagineering has historically been known, and yet, several of the entries on the below list came together in the span of a few months and a year. The tighter timelines speaks to better project management, which alone bodes well for more improvements of this nature going forward.

Singles & Doubles Strategy Shift

We’re advocates of the ‘singles and doubles’ approach precisely because it’s focusing on the smaller things. Disney is all about the details, and it’s important to address the little things and not just fixate on the next blockbuster expansion.

Addressing underutilized capacity within the parks is important, as are placemaking projects in areas with dead mall vibes, or revisiting rides that just don’t quite hit the mark. Some of the attention being given to these areas and attractions is not “needed” in the strictest sense of the word.

Pretty much every enhancement or ride reimagining on the list below is being made to an attraction that was already performing just fine based on guest metrics. Many are minor projects that won’t influence any first-timers or infrequent visitors, which are historically Walt Disney World’s most-coveted demographic, to book trips.

To paraphrase the inimitable Rizzo the Rat impersonating Mickey Mouse, first-timers and casual tourists wouldn’t know any better. These improvements have been aimed squarely at us, the fans. And they’ve been undertaken with the understanding that ‘just fine’ isn’t good enough.

Examples like this abound. The restoration of Cinderella Castle and repainting to more classic and understated colors was not undertaken for casual guests. Frozen Ever After was doing great numbers even with the antiquated rear projection faces on the Audio Animatronics. They didn’t need to invest tens of million of dollars into Big Thunder to make the track smoother.

Almost every entry on the below list fits the bill as something that will not move the needle on first-timers or infrequent visitors booking trips. That used to be the bar for Walt Disney World when evaluating investments. That we’ve gotten so many of these projects in quick succession should alone speak volumes about there being a new direction for the Florida parks. It should also reinforce what we wrote recently in Disney’s Promising Pivot to “Lifetime” Fans.

Country Bear Blueprint

It’s worth recontextualizing recent projects in this light. Although it’s over a year old, one that sticks out to me is Country Bear Musical Jamboree. As a CBJ diehard who felt that deserved to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site or protected landmark, I didn’t want to see the attraction change and lose its classic charm. At the same time, I wanted the Bear Band to continue to exist, so I was on board with a reimagining that secured their future for decades to come.

If Walt Disney World wanted a marketable change, they could’ve better achieved that with a Toy Story marionette show. Brother Bear is starting to become nostalgia-bait for younger generations, so that would’ve been another easy switch. Instead, the company invested just as much money to preserve the original theme park characters.

Although diehard fans may scoff at the end result, I’d take it any day over a Toy Story or Brother Bear show. Guest satisfaction metrics for Country Bear Musical Jamboree have skyrocketed since, vindicating Imagineering’s approach to stick with the beloved bears but add recognizable songs. It’s been a win-win!

Carousel of Progress Reimagining

The Carousel of Progress reimagining should be viewed similarly. In case you missed the news, the circa 1994 version of Carousel of Progress will close on July 6, 2026 for a massive overhaul that shifts its timeline forward by 60 years before reopening sometime in 2027.

The iconic core family, classic gags like Uncle Orville in the bathtub, and the beloved theme song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” will all remain part of the new show. (See New Decades for Carousel of Progress for more details, concept art, and our comprehensive commentary.)

Carousel of Progress has been badly in need of a refresh since at least Y2K (one of the new scenes!). While we can quibble about the decades chosen or the decision to replace every scene with a newer one, the fact that we’re getting an overhaul that maintains the spirit of the attraction is a small miracle. There have been multiple, credible rumors over the years that the attraction would be retired and replaced completely.

Carousel of Progress Counterfactual

Consider the counterfactual not where your personal wish list is satisfied for Carousel of Progress, but one that’s actually consistent with how Walt Disney World has historically done things. That, of course, would’ve been a synergistic show infused with character intellectual property.

A show featuring The Incredibles as the host family might’ve been the realistic best-case scenario back in 2018, with closing it completely and gutting it for operational cost-savings being the worst-case outcome. Shows featuring Stitch or other sci-fi or futuristic-adjacent IPs would’ve occupied the middle ground.

Replacing Carousel of Progress with The Incredibles would’ve been a marketable change, and about as costly of a project as the one they’re actually doing. Some fans might’ve even been on board, accepting the “bargain” to retain some aspects of Carousel of Progress much in the same way that I did with Country Bear Musical Jamboree.

Instead, Walt Disney World fans are getting a respectful and loving update to Carousel of Progress, and one that won’t be cheap. It’s IP-free, aimed at maintaining its heart and soul as a show that revolves around the American family and optimism as it navigates new wonders.

Again, it’s perfectly fine to have reservations about the changes or wish different decades were chosen. But it’s also worth acknowledging the reality that the announcement itself could’ve been far worse, and almost certainly would have been if made even 3-6 years earlier.

Carousel of Progress is clearly a project that is building on the foundation of the ‘singles and doubles’ successes of the last year, and demonstrates Imagineering being given a longer “leash” and more creative autonomy as a result of those wins. There’s ample reason for optimism about the outcome of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress given these other recent projects.

Recent Cause for Concern

One reason to color that optimism with a dash of pessimism is that Imagineering doesn’t have a flawless record. When it comes to major new additions, there’s only been one notable swing and miss: Zootopia Better Zoogether, which replaced It’s Tough to Be a Bug late last year. See our Zootopia Better Zoogether Review: Walt Disney World’s Zoorst New Attraction of 2020s. The title of that should say it all, but in case not, this was a massive disappointment.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t also mention the closures that have occurred in the last year, the most notable of which are MuppetVision 3D, DINOSAUR, Rivers of America, and Tom Sawyer Island. While various fans lament these losses and debate their long-term logic, they do not qualify as creative misfires.

Two things can be true at once: that Imagineering is empowered and on a roll at Walt Disney World (minus Zoogether), and also that some dubious decisions have been made by corporate strategic planners. In other words, invoking MV3D or Rivers of America when lamenting the changes to Carousel of Progress is misguided, as the two projects are at exact opposite ends of the spectrum. The outcome with Carousel of Progress hinges entirely on Imagineering’s creative execution.

Since the Imagineering side of the equation is make-or-break for Carousel of Progress, let’s turn to a look at everything that’s newly reimagined, along with ‘power rankings’ for each change…

7. Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!

This dance party features Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse embarking on a road trip to find Goofy, Daisy and Pluto, who are nowhere to be found. The show is a search to find each of them and (spoiler alert) is successful. It replaces the Disney Junior Dance Party.

As someone who has experienced “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” dozens of times, I can say with authority that it’s shockingly good. The only downside is that it ends (spoiler alert) with an abridged version of the Hot Dog Song, when really that should be played on loop.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live is good to the point that adults without children could almost enjoy it as a standalone show if it were one. The songs are catchy and well-choreographed, with “Where’s Daisy” being so good that it belongs in an all-ages production.

This isn’t going to matter to the Childless Disney Adults out there. “A dance party is a dance party.” That was once my perspective, but as someone who is subjected to these things regularly now, it is a breath of fresh air that this one doesn’t talk down to its audience and is enjoyable.

Kids are more discerning than some adults believe, and for parents, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live is nice not just as a vehicle for watching our kids have fun, but for the entertainment component itself.

6. Soarin’ Across America > Over the World

Soarin’ has an all-new airborne adventure as part of the Semiquincentennial, taking flight over the United States. Along the journey, guests glide above iconic urban and natural wonders, from the welcome of New York Harbor to the expanse of Grand Canyon West to Alaska, Hawaii, Los Angeles, and several destinations in between, before returning to EPCOT.

Soarin’ Across America retains the core elements that made its predecessors successes with guests while minimizing most of frequent fan complaints about Soarin’ Around the World. The only real step backwards as compared to the second Soarin’ is pacing and less dynamism. Maybe the score to a lesser extent, or at least how it matches the action.

On balance, Soarin’ Across America is an upgrade over Soarin’ Around the World, and is firmly the second-best Soarin’. It’s closer to Soarin’ Over California in terms of my overall enjoyment than it is to Soarin’ Around the World. Sometimes the original incarnation of an attraction is so good that it’s almost impossible to top, and that’s still true with Soarin’.

Regardless, Walt Disney Imagineering is headed in the right direction with Soarin’ Across America, and clearly learned from past mistakes. It’s also noteworthy that both previous versions of Soarin’ were developed for brand-new theme parks (DCA and Shanghai Disneyland) with budgets and timelines to match.

Soarin’ Across America was created in 12 months and, I assume, with a smaller team and budget since it’s for a limited time celebration and 2 parks as opposed to 4. Once again, this speaks to Imagineering being leaner and more nimble, able to deliver cost-effective projects on tighter timelines. (Read our Review: Soarin’ Across America is a Distinctly Patriotic Salute to One Nation. Here’s the Good, Bad & Ugly.)

5. Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run feat. Mando & Baby Yoda

The new premise is that Hondo Ohnaka has gotten wind of a deal going down on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and a band of pirates. You’ll borrow the iconic Millennium Falcon and team up with Mando and Grogu to track them down and collect the bounty.

The mission departs Batuu bound for Tatooine, and the crew chooses from one of three destinations: Bespin, Endor, or Coruscant. The much-reviled engineer role also gets new responsibilities, that include babysitting Baby Yoda. Engineer is now a mission-critical position, that is deeply impactful on the ride experience. It’s still the weakest position, but it’s no longer a pointless one and is actually fun.

Arguably, the already superior pilot and gunner positions have gotten even better by virtue of more engaging gameplay and visuals. Speaking of which, the new mission offers a major upgrade to the interactivity and the scenery. The new destinations are stunning, to the point that you could sit back and enjoy the ride as a passive experience if you’re not into gameplay. Interactivity still isn’t perfect, but it’s likewise an upgrade.

The new destinations, branching paths, and better gameplay are major improvements that make Smugglers Run an attraction I want to repeat again and again. The on-ride experience no longer falls flat–it’s actually fun! The complete package of the attraction is fantastic, and this is no longer the Star Wars story of squandered potential. (Read our Review: New Baby Yoda & Mandalorian Mission Makes Major Upgrade to Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run for more.)

4. Refreshed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

After 16 months of refurbishment, the wildest ride in the wilderness returned last month. It was the longest project on this list, as it underwent a top-to-bottom refurbishment, which also entailed “new magic” being added.

The focal point of the project was a complete re-tracking, thereby extending the classic coaster’s life. Big Thunder also received all-new trains, refreshed sets and figures, new effects and lighting. There’s an enhanced Rainbow Caverns scene as well as a Gold Rush finale.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is the trickiest entry on this list. I enjoy the shimmering and glimmering ‘Mother Lode of Gold’ finale, and it’s good to have variations among attraction clones. The lighting in the Rainbow Caverns is likewise a nice touch.

At the same time, I was hoping for more ambitious enhancements. For as lengthy as this project was, there weren’t many show upgrades. It’s hard not to compare this project to the one at Disneyland over a decade ago, which yielded bigger improvements.

On the other hand, re-tracking the entire roller coaster was a herculean endeavor that cost a tremendous amount of time and money. It’s the kind of project that, historically, Walt Disney World has been averse to undertake, instead opting for cheaper and faster duct tape fixes.

From a symbolic and sea change perspective, Big Thunder is among the most meaningful entries on this list. However, that’s not something our Rankings of All Attractions at Walt Disney World measure, so Big Thunder Mountain Railroad doesn’t move up or down much on that list by virtue of the changes.

3. Walt Disney Studios Lot > Animation Courtyard

Walt Disney Studios Lot replaces the former Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios. Drawing from the architecture and atmosphere of the legendary campus in Burbank, the area features familiar details all set within a relaxed, park‑like setting designed for families to relax and decompress.

The redone area is warm and welcoming, inviting guests to simply hang around and enjoy the space. Animation Courtyard was an ugly sea of concrete with ‘dead mall’ vibes, and it was often devoid of people even on days when DHS was packed.

Walt Disney Studios Lot is almost the exact opposite. It’s wild what a difference grass, trees, and distinctly Disney details make. It’s nice to see Disney putting the theme and park back into this space, revitalizing this corner of the park and giving guests an escape from the chaos and crowds of DHS.

This is a placemaking project done right. It shows that Imagineering can transform the most blighted spaces in the parks to give them personality and charm, while also demonstrating that guest comfort is a priority. That’s also nice to see after Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, two blockbuster lands in the same park, opened without reprieve from rain or sun.

2. Recharged Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

This one opens with Buddy, a new Audio Animatronics figure. This new support-bot is a theme park original, and her scene doubles as a quick gameplay tutorial before the real mission begins.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has never been the pinnacle of dark ride staging, but there are enhanced scenes throughout the ‘recharged’ ride. One notable example is the Escape Hatch transition, which features new dimensional set pieces. The Zurg wind tunnel before the climactic battle sequence in the grand finale, previously felt straight out of the 1990s (because it was), and that’s been totally redone.

Even more significant are the improvements to interactivity. The ride has new blasters, interactive targets, clearer aiming, and vehicles with new real-time displays. The new gameplay loop is both easier to pick up for first-timers, while also being deeper for skilled players. Scanning the scenes for the ‘activated’ targets is serious business, and once you understand what ‘unlocking’ these gameplay modes does for your total score, you want to ride again and again.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has always been an enjoyable ride, but now it’s a must-do. The refreshed show scenes and greatly improved gameplay mean there’s something for everyone here. The new blasters make shooting intuitive and satisfying for riders of all ages, the reactive targets add gameplay depth, and the bonus modes give competitive guests something to chase. It has become an addictive attraction.

On balance, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is now the #1 interactive dark ride in all of Walt Disney World (and arguably anywhere). Once the dust settles and it’s time to re-do our Walt Disney World ride rankings, I’m expecting Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin to land around #25, a spot or two ahead of Toy Story Mania.

This is a remarkable glow-up for an old underlying ride system (now on its fourth or fifth attraction incarnation), and an interactive attraction that was previously stuck in the 1990s. And all accomplished in only 7 months! (Read our Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Strategy Guide & Recharged Ride Review.)

1. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets features Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the Electric Mayhem, teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ ride. The premise is similar to its predecessor, complete with backstage chaos and high-speed thrills. Added to this is signature Muppets music, humor, and all-new Audio-Animatronics figures.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will obviously appeal most to Muppets fans and others who appreciate that distinct brand of humor. But it offers something for just about everyone thanks to its visual gags, celebrity cameos, music, and thrills. Imagineering managed to capture lightning in a bottle with this reimagining, which reminds me of a retrofit version of Cosmic Rewind. That coaster is likewise appealing for more than just Marvel fans for many of the same reasons.

The ride reimagining itself turned out better than expected, aided tremendously by the Imagineering who “get” the characters’ unique brand of humor. They fought for this passion project in the first place and worked tirelessly to ensure the reimagining was well-done, and somehow made this something special. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is clearly a love letter from Imagineering to Jim Henson and the Muppets, and they did superlative work given the constraints.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster went from being an attraction with zero (0) Audio Animatronics to having five (5) Audio Animatronics. After a shift to screens and away from Audio Animatronics, we’ve seen Imagineering reverse course and return to the more timeless animated figures (thankfully). This isn’t the first example of that, but it’s the biggest and best.

Equally notable is the turnaround time. While the pre-show is where the most consequential changes occurred, and that closed several months ahead of the full attraction, Imagineering only had 2.5 months to accomplish everything else. This is a very speedy project by Disney standards, and speaks to better project management, collaboration between WDI and park operations, and clever planning to minimize the guest impact.

After it took 5 years to transform the center of EPCOT into a bland office park, it’s great to see project teams move with a sense of urgency. This is another symbolic victory and step in the right direction, and bodes well for future projects of this nature getting greenlit by Walt Disney World leadership. (Read our Review: Muppets Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Is Better Than It Had Any Right to Be.)

Honorable Mentions

Suffice to say, Walt Disney World and Imagineering have been on a roll recently. And it’s not just the aforementioned additions that debuted this week around the kick-off of Cool Kids’ Summer. In the last year-plus, the following have also come online:

• Beak & Barrel
• GEO-82
• Starlight Night Parade
• Test Track 3.0
• Frozen Ever After Audio Animatronics
• Cinderella Castle Repainting
• “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure”
• “Villains Unfairly Ever After”

Not every project is perfect. In fact, all have their faults. But we would argue that every single one represents a course-correction and step in the right direction. Some are things we had given up hope in ever seeing, like a new night parade in Magic Kingdom, whereas others are the type of investment we never expected from Walt Disney World, such as the upgraded Frozen AAs. If Imagineering and Walt Disney World maintain this trajectory, there’s every reason to be optimistic about Carousel of Progress. It’s going to be a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow!

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YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think of the recent results from Walt Disney Imagineering at Walt Disney World? Do you agree that they’re on a roll, or do you think there were more misses? Does this make you optimistic or pessimistic for Carousel of Progress? Any questions? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!