Disneyland’s Tomorrowland refresh isn’t the only piece of the parks that are going to see a great big beautiful tomorrow… at 2026 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event we got some new details about the previously-announced refresh of the Carousel of Progress including some star power coming with the addition of Bryan Cranston and Jamie Lee Curtis.

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Here’s a look at what we got to see at the Disney Experiences Showcase during 2026 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event (formerly D23 Expo) taking place from August 14 – 16, 2026.

What to Expect

The Disney Experiences Showcase at the Honda Center was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris who shared some updates about what we can expect in the previously-announced refresh. Here’s some of what we learned.

Bryan Cranston will be voicing Father and Jamie Lee Curtis will be voicing Mother. Curtis had shared in 2024 how much she loved this attraction.
The reimagined show is scheduled to debut in late spring 2027.
The classic attraction is receiving an extensive story update spanning from the 1960s up to the present day and beyond. A newly revealed 1980s scene will be set in the 1980s and we got a peek at new concept art. There will be four total acts in the new show as outlined by Disney below.
- Act 1 – the 1960s
  - The Act I set is inspired by the optimistic, forward-looking design aesthetic of the Space Age. Imagineers faithfully recreated a contemporary family kitchen, featuring authentic cabinetry, countertops, and appliances from the late 1960s. Every detail was selected to transport guests back to the historic night when humanity first set foot on the moon.
  - Father’s Act I costume and pose pay tribute to the original 1964–65 New York World’s Fair Progressland show. His costume draws inspiration from Father’s appearance in the Act IV finale, while his pose recreates a classic tableau from Act III—a subtle tribute Imagineers incorporated to honor the attraction’s enduring legacy.
  - 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!”
- 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 new thing called the Internet is bringing John, Sarah, Jimmy and Patty – and the world – closer together than ever before.
  - And if you’re anything like my family, not everyone is making it to midnight. Grandpa has already nodded off before the big countdown, while Grandma sneaks the TV over to wrestling when no one’s looking.
- Act 4 – The Possible Future
  - For a peek into our great big, beautiful tomorrow, Imagineers designed a home of the future that draws inspiration from decades of development on the original Carousel of Progress show. The scene presents an optimistic vision of what life could be—showing how innovation will continue to enrich our homes, our families, and our daily lives.
  - The new Act IV also pays tribute to the attraction’s earliest days. Its overall composition recalls the Act IV scene created for the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair and Disneyland, linking the optimism of the original show with a new vision of the future.
  - To imagine tomorrow, Imagineers first looked to the past. Inspired by an early John Hench concept painting, they incorporated its vibrant colors, distinctive bookcase, and sculptural details into the new scene.
  - As we reach the end of our show, we see the family one last time in the distant future, in an out-of-this-world home. 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.
As previously announced, you will be able to see Walt Disney through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology. He will be shown in 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 to the world.

More Fun

Costumes, concept art, and the Rover dog figure were on display at the Disney Experiences Imagineering: Horizons pavilion.

Photos

Concept Art

Below is the concept art released by Disney for the upcoming updates. The image of the Halloween scene from the 1980s had previously never been seen before.