Disney just dropped the first major Disney World announcement at its D23 Parks Panel, with an update on the transformation of the Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom. The announcement comes with the new voices taking over the roles of mother and father, as well as the opening date for the updated Walt Disney classic. Credit: Paul Brennan, FlickrHost Neil Patrick Harris dropped the big news at the D23 Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase that Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston will be taking over the voice roles of mother and father at the updated attraction. Neil Patrick Harris also revealed that the updated attraction will reopen late Spring 2027. The beloved attraction closed in early July at Magic Kingdom to make way for this massive update. Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston will voice Mom and Dad in Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom #D23 #WaltDisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/1MZvwhiUxZ— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026The upcoming 2027 version will completely phase out the long-running late-19th- and early-20th-century eras (the 1900s, 1920s, and 1940s) that have framed the family’s journey for decades. Instead, the attraction will move forward in time to focus on eras that modern audiences have an active, living memory of.According to Disney, the reimagined show will unfold across a prologue and four distinct acts:The Prologue: In a historic first for Walt Disney World, guests will encounter an advanced Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney himself. Set in a creative studio inspired by the 1964 television special Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair, this scene will feature painstakingly recreated vintage props, including a prototype Tiki Bird, a model of the Tower of the Four Winds, early EPCOT concept drawings, and a doll from “it’s a small world.”Act 1 (The 1960s): The narrative officially kicks off on July 20, 1969. John and his loyal dog, Rover, sit in a sleek, mid-century modern kitchen while the family gathers around a classic tube television to witness the historic Apollo 11 moon landing.Credit: DisneyAct 2 (The 1980s): Shifting 16 years forward to Halloween night in 1985, the ride makes a major historical pivot: Sarah (the mother) takes center stage in the kitchen to showcase the decade’s neon-lit, gadget-filled wonder. Meanwhile, John is outside handing out candy, the daughter’s bedroom is a chaotic haven of Polaroid cameras and band posters, and Uncle Orville is back in the bathroom. In a hilarious narrative twist, Orville has invested his life savings into a fledgling tech company called Apple—drawing skepticism from John—and relies on “The Clapper” to turn off his bathroom lights.Act 3 (The New Millennium): Set on New Year’s Eve in 1999, the family prepares to ring in Y2K. This scene explores the dawn of the consumer internet era, filling the kitchen with single-use appliances of the period, such as bread makers and popcorn machines. John works on a laptop with a Mickey-shaped logo, Rover interacts with an early robotic dog companion, and Grandma sneaks a channel flip to watch a wrestling match after Grandpa falls asleep.Act 4 (The Possible Future): Replacing the rapidly aging smart-home finale of the current ride, the new closing scene propels the family into a distant, off-planet colony. Drawing visual inspiration from retro-futuristic concept art by Disney Legend John Hench, this scene uses advanced, automated alien-world technology and an active robot assistant to “future-proof” the attraction for decades to come.Credit: Joe Penniston, FlickrDespite the radical shift in eras, Disney has confirmed that essential elements will remain untouched. The core family members and Rover are returning with entirely refreshed animatronic builds, and practical effects like the overflowing, sudsy washing machine are staying. At the same time, the Sherman Brothers’ legendary anthem, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” will still play between every single rotation.With less than a year of downtime, the updated Carousel of Progress will once again take guests to the past and future next spring. The post Breaking: Disney Announces New Voices and Opening Date for Updated Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom appeared first on Inside the Magic.