Daughter Patricia’s Voice Actor Returning to Reimagined Carousel of Progress in New Role
Imagineering and the Archives announced a familiar voice actor returning to Carousel of Progress as part of this weekend’s Walt Disney World 55th Anniversary, and it’s a big win for longtime fans. Here are full details, plus everything we know about the reimagined ride, including other celebrities appearing in the attraction, concept art, and more.
In case you missed it, Carousel of Progress is currently closed for a major refurbishment that shifts its timeline forward by 60 years before reopening in 2027. Recent construction permits suggest a top-to-bottom overhaul, which comports with previous rumors about the aging turntable mechanism. It stands to reason that Disney will take the opportunity to breathe new life into the attraction and extend its useful life as opposed to just installing some new show scenes.
As for the substance of the overhaul, the reimagined Carousel of Progress will begin with a brand-new introduction scene featuring an advanced Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney himself, inspired by his 1964 television special. The 1900s, 1920s, and 1940s eras are being completely replaced by the 1960s, 1980s, and 1999.
The redone Carousel of Progress will finish with a retro-futuristic finale that feels equal parts middle of the last and next centuries. The iconic core family, classic gags like Uncle Orville in the bathtub, and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” will all remain part of the new show.
During the 2026 D23 Parks Panel, host Neil Patrick Harris revealed that the beloved matriarch and patriarch of the Carousel of Progress family, Sarah and John, will be voiced by Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy Award-winning Bryan Cranston.
Beyond that, there are still a lot of unknowns about the updates coming to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, but we’re expecting Imagineering to pull back the curtain more in the coming months. They started to do that a bit over the weekend of Walt Disney World’s 55th Anniversary.
Here’s the latest announcement via Walt Disney Imagineering, followed by a deeper dive into what we already know:
Daughter Patricia Returns to Voice Grandma!
As part of this weekend’s D23 event “55 Magical Years of Storytelling” hosted by the Walt Disney Archives and Imagineering, in honor of Walt Disney: 125 Years of Inspiration and the 55th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, a presentation revolved around Carousel of Progress.
During that, the Archives and Imagineers took D23 guests on a journey through the history and storytelling evolution of one of Walt’s most beloved and personal attractions, Carousel of Progress. Archivists and Imagineers shared stories and discoveries, as well as newly acquired treasures added to the Archives’ collection during the ongoing Carousel of Progress refurbishment.
Imagineers working on the newest additions to the Carousel of Progress also joined to reveal their own storytelling inspirations and share a bit of what’s to come to the attraction. This was the emphasis of the presentation–items being added to the Archives from 1993 Carousel of Progress, along with a few props that’ll live on in the 2027 incarnation, along with what Imagineering has separately sourced for the reimagining.
As far as news and announcements go, the big reveal was that Debi Derryberry, who previously voiced Daughter Patricia, is taking on a new role as Grandmother in the timeline shift that’ll debut in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom next year.
Imagineering has not yet revealed which decades Derryberry will voice Progress Grandma in, but we know from concept art that the character appears in at least the finale. During a media event at Walt Disney World earlier this summer, we also saw unreleased concept art depicting Progress Grandma ringing in Y2K by watching pro wrestling, as Progress Grandpa falls asleep.
Debi Derryberry going from the voice of the Progress Daughter in the 1993 version of the attraction to Progress Grandma in the 2027 Carousel of Progress brings things full, well, circle. It also underscores: 1) just how long it’s been since Carousel of Progress received a major refurbishment, and 2) how old we’re all getting. (And if you’re old enough to have nostalgia for the 1993 CoP, this includes you!)
C’mon, I cannot possibly be the only one to do a double-take when learning that Derryberry is voicing the grandmother as opposed to mother or aunt or whatever other younger role might be available. While the daughter in the previous finale was older than I was in 1993, it is still a reminder that life moves pretty fast. Well, that’s progress for you!
This is awesome news, and another reason to feel reassured by how this Carousel of Progress reimagining is taking shape. Is any further commentary really necessary here?
Whatever misgivings fans might otherwise have about the Carousel of Progress timeline shift, I cannot imagine they extend to this casting decision. To the contrary, this is another signal that the project team understands the stakes of this overhaul, and is putting great care and attention into getting it right.
We’ve already heard a lot from the Imagineers on the project, and everything they’ve shared thus far further reinforces that the Carousel of Progress overhaul is, first and foremost, a love letter to Walt Disney and the classic attraction.
I had the chance to attend a few small panel presentations on the show floor at the D23 Expo by the Imagineering team helming the reimagining, and I still plan on recapping those at some point (hopefully soon!). Suffice to say, everything I’ve heard solidifies that the WDI project team cares and “gets it.” This casting choice is yet another little detail that drives home that point.
Carousel of Progress Opening Timeline
Walt Disney World also revealed that Carousel of Progress will reopen from its reimagining in late Spring 2027. As you might be aware, Carousel of Progress closed on July 6, 2026 for this timeline shift and new show scenes.
That is an absurdly fast turnaround time given the scope of work and the construction permits that have been filed thus far. Our original expectation was that the attraction would reopen in about a year as the best-case scenario, and we wouldn’t have been surprised if it reopened around October 1, 2027 for Magic Kingdom’s anniversary.
Imagineering has already demonstrated an ability to deliver speedy reimaginings with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets and other attractions, so perhaps this is a continuation of that. Even so, we’d recommend interpreting ‘late Spring 2027’ as ‘by Memorial Day’ as opposed to sometime towards the tail end of Spring Break. This is almost assuredly going to be a race against the clock.
Honestly, I wouldn’t even be surprised if Carousel of Progress reopens after Memorial Day 2027. Remember, the astronomical spring ends on June 21, 2027! (Also keep in mind that for every Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, there have been other projects delayed past their original targets.)
What follows is additional detail that was previously announced about the Carousel of Progress overhaul, covering each of the new decades…
Introduction: Walt Disney
Last year, Imagineering announced that guests will soon be able to see Walt Disney himself in the attraction, made possible through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology. Walt is in an introductory scene inspired by the 1964 special “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” which is where he first introduced the idea of Carousel of Progress and shared his enduring belief in the power of progress to shape a better tomorrow.
The team is having a lot of fun sourcing and replicating many of the props seen in that special, like the prototype Tiki bird, the Tower of the Four Winds model, a doll from “it’s a small world,” and more. This once unimaginable opening moment will set the stage for the next era of storytelling for our American family and their lovable dog.
Act 1: The 1960s
When the show first opened at the World’s Fair, its story began by looking back about 60 years to the dawn of the new century. Now more than six decades later, this new iteration mirrors that idea, starting 60 years back from today in the 1960s.
In the summer of 1969, our Carousel family, along with millions around the world, gather around the television to witness one of humanity’s greatest achievements: the historic moon landing. Filled with awe, the moment captures the spirit of innovation and possibility that has always been—and always will be—at the heart of Carousel of Progress.
Act 2: The 1980s
It’s the ‘80s, where everything bigger is better, and things keep on getting bigger. We pick up with the family on Halloween Night of 1985, and for the first time ever, Sarah is taking center stage. She’ll share how all the new appliances and gadgets are making life easier for the whole family.
Speaking of John, we’ll find him out on the porch handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and poor Uncle Orville can be found in the bathroom with “no privacy around here!”
During the media presentation, Imagineers shared that Orville has invested in a small fruit stand that’s starting to sell personal computers, as John quips that “it’ll never work.” Orville gets the last laugh and his privacy with a clap-on (or is it clap-off?) moment at the end of the scene as we and the Progress family shift once again.
Act 3: The New Millennium
With the ‘90s drawing to a close, our Carousel family is preparing to ring in the new millennium on New Year’s Eve 1999. Amid the excitement of the countdown to 2000, a newfangled thing called the Internet is bringing John, Sarah, Jimmy and Patty – and the world – closer together than ever before.
And of course, not everyone is making it to midnight. Grandpa has already nodded off before the big countdown, while Grandma switches the TV over to professional wrestling when no one’s looking.
Act 4: The Possible Future
As we reach the end of our show, we see the family one last time in the distant future, in a home off planet. From a helpful robot assisting with everyday tasks to space travel, the scene imagines a future where extraordinary innovation has become part of life and proves that a beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.
To help bring this new finale to life, Imagineers looked back at original concept sketches by Disney Legend John Hench, drawing inspiration from his imaginative vision of the future. Concept art released by Walt Disney Imagineering for the new scene is pictured above.
Our Commentary
We’re increasingly optimistic about the Carousel of Progress timeline shift. There’s the very real possibility that the Carousel of Progress timeline shift turns out brilliantly. It could be a big win for Walt Disney World diehards if Imagineers can stick the landing with a memorable show that brings to life its ensemble cast with a sharp script.
It has the potential to modernize Carousel of Progress and make it more relatable, which should attract new audiences to the attraction. Not only that, but this timeline shift is an ambitious undertaking and one that has a healthy budget attached. It’s yet another sign of paradigm shift at the Walt Disney Company, within Imagineering, and signals the continuation of a new chapter.
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.
It’s perfectly fine to have reservations about the changes, wish different decades were chosen, or that the project were playing out differently. At the same time, it’s important to be clear-eyed about the realistic counterfactual, instead of Armchair Imagineering exactly what you would like to see.
The reality is that that this overhaul would’ve been far worse if made even a few years earlier. In that alternative timeline, perhaps the best case scenario is Carousel of Progress hosted by the Incredibles.
The worst case scenario is that Carousel of Progress becomes VIP tour parking. There’s no realistic outcome involving a project 5-10 years ago where Disney invests this kind of money in a faithful restoration or even anything like what we’re actually getting in 2027.
After a few months to digest the news and come to terms with losing the version of Carousel of Progress for which we have tremendous personal nostalgia, I’m cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the Carousel of Progress overhaul.
Walt Disney World and Imagineering are investing in a Carousel of Progress overhaul that builds on the foundation of the ‘singles and doubles’ successes of the last year. This big-budget, non-IP reimagining demonstrates Imagineering being given more autonomy as a result of those wins. It involves creative talent from recent successes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom that have been well received by fans.
The scope and scale of this reimagining are wins for the classic attraction, diehard fans, and the legacy of the man behind the magic. The Imagineers bringing the attraction into a whole new century have a challenge in front of them, and the casting of Debi Derryberry as the Progress Grandma is another signal that they’re up to the task. I truly hope that there’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for Carousel of Progress and in fact, that Now is Not the Best Time.
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Your Thoughts
Are you pleased with Disney casting Debi Derryberry to return as the Progress Grandma in the 2027 Carousel of Progress? Hope she plays a futuristic augmented reality video game? What about the other casting choices? Thoughts on the Carousel of Progress reimagining as a whole? What about the shift to 1969, 1985, Y2K, and the distant future? Do you agree or disagree with my assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
