Could we have a reopening month for Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom? Bryan Cranston may have just let the cat out of the bag during a surprise appearance at EPCOT!
Cranston, who will voice John, the father in the reimagined Carousel of Progress, recently stopped by the La Cava Experience inside EPCOT’s Mexico pavilion. Cranston and his Breaking Bad co-star Aaron Paul co-founded Dos Hombres, a brand of mezcal and tequila available at La Cava del Tequila. While chatting with guests, the Emmy-winning actor shared that the updated attraction is reopening in May 2027. (Disney previously announced a late spring 2027 reopening window, but hasn’t confirmed a specific month or date.)
During the appearance, which a guest shared on Instagram, Cranston also explained how he landed the role. His agents initially seemed hesitant about the project, but once he learned that Disney wanted him for Carousel of Progress, he immediately jumped at the opportunity.
Cranston recalled experiencing the original Carousel of Progress at the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair, where Walt Disney introduced the attraction for General Electric. More than 60 years later, he’s becoming part of its history!
What’s Changing at Carousel of Progress?
Carousel of Progress closed at Magic Kingdom on July 6, 2026, for a major reimagining that will bring several new scenes and characters to the attraction.
Disney has already shared some exciting details about the updated show:
- Bryan Cranston will voice John, the father of the family.
- Jamie Lee Curtis will voice Sarah, the mother.
- A new opening scene will feature an Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney himself.
- The family will experience new decades, including the 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s, before looking toward the future.
- The attraction will continue to feature the Sherman Brothers’ beloved song, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.”
The updated scenes will include historical moments such as the 1969 moon landing, Halloween in 1985, and New Year’s Eve in 1999.
Carousel of Progress has entertained Disney guests for more than six decades, beginning at the New York World’s Fair before moving to Disneyland and eventually Magic Kingdom in 1975. Its last major update came in 1994.
Is May 2027 Official?
Not quite! Although Cranston mentioned May 2027 during his EPCOT appearance, Disney has not officially confirmed that reopening month. The company’s current timeline remains late spring 2027.
I’m excited to see how Imagineering updates this attraction while keeping the charm and optimism that make it such an important piece of Disney history. And having someone like Cranston tied to the project, who actually experienced Walt Disney’s original production, makes it even better. For now, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for May. After all… there’s a great big beautiful tomorrow waiting at the end of every day!
