Orlando, Sunday, 31 August 2025.
Last Saturday Disney revealed plans to add a Walt Disney audio‑animatronic to the Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom, introducing a new opening scene that foregrounds Walt’s voice and likeness before the four‑generation family story begins. For operators and attraction engineers, the most intriguing fact is the project’s focus on modern Audio‑Animatronics integration with existing PLCs and show tracks—signaling emphasis on show‑control retrofit, lifecycle refurbishment, and materials/actuator upgrades to raise mean time between failures. Disney frames the change as a heritage enhancement that preserves the ride’s mechanical and theatrical architecture while refreshing guest‑facing storytelling, prioritizing content refresh over large capital expansion. Expect phased installation and limited downtime organized around peak season planning; licensing and character‑authenticity considerations may drive creative and technical choices. This update serves as a practical case study in cost‑effective, low‑impact content modernization for high‑heritage dark rides and offers actionable lessons for operators managing similar legacy attractions now.