With the Magic Kingdom in a massive state of change, including the removal of the iconic Rivers of America, we’re a bit unsure about the future of these long-running shows.
Carousel of Progress
Over the 30+ years I’ve been visiting Walt Disney World, I’ve seen countless iconic attractions close, which has long cemented in my mind the idea that no attraction — no matter how beloved or well-established– is safe forever. While none of these shows have been announced as closing anytime soon, there are reasons each may be on the chopping block in the future.
Carousel of Progress
Let me preface by saying I adore the Carousel of Progress. The show, which first debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair, is a longtime favorite.
Carousel of Progress
However, there’s no denying the show has seen better days — that 1994 finale really needs an update — and the theaters are usually pretty empty, all while taking up a massive piece of Tomorrowland real estate. If and when Disney announces a massive refurb of Tomorrowland, the show will probably be one of the first things to go. Hopefully, it can be preserved, perhaps at the Walt Disney Family Museum, if that day comes.
It’s always Christmas on the Carousel of Progress
Hall of Presidents
While the Hall of Presidents has been a major part of Liberty Square since 1971, audience reactions attributable to America’s political climate may have Disney thinking it’s time to move or heavily renovate the show. Plus, the massive piece of real estate the show building takes up is about to be right on the border to the upcoming Piston Peak addition to Frontierland.
Hall of Presidents
Mickey’s Philharmagic
While this may sound like blasphemy to 90s kids, this 3D film featuring Donald Duck flitting through Disney Renaissance films, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aladdin, as well as Peter Pan, and later addition Coco, is showing its age. Given the dearth of available space in Fantasyland, this space could arguably be much better utilized.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Enchanted Tiki Room
The Enchanted Tiki Room is another legendary Disney attraction that I personally love, but objectively, I could see Disney replacing. Space in Adventureland is short, and the show takes up prime real estate. Plus, the show’s content and voice performances are likely to see some edits in the coming years.
Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
While this show has always been cute, it’s feeling long in the tooth almost two decades into its run. Plus, it’s never truly fit into Tomorrowland to begin with. Furthermore, the attraction is soon to be overshadowed by the massive Monsters, Inc. Land coming to Hollywood Studios.
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
While no closures have been announced for any of those shows as of yet, it wouldn’t surprise us if at least some of them were replaced within the next decade. Stay tuned to DFB for more on the future of Disney World.
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I sure hope your wrong. If all you are looking for are thrill rides how is WDW different from any other amusement park in America. Closing the Hall of Presidents would be one of the biggest political moves simply because Donald Trump is president and all he gets is mostly cheers. Everyone knows Disney’s political leanings.
It’s probably just me but I like all those attractions and see them every time I’m there. Nostalgia? Yes. Tradition? Yes. But knowing Disney not thinking will all brain cells (removing RoA!!) I wouldn’t be surprised and it will probably be for something worse!!
I believe that the Past is a currency not used anymore. In most cases, we don’t know it, don’t remember it and don’t care about it. The Carousel of Progress doesn’t interest or mean anything to most Disney guests. I first saw it at the 1965 Worlds Fair in New York. You guessed it,…..I’m too old to be relevant (and what’s a “Worlds Fair?). The Enchanted Tiki Room, why would you want animatronics when you can make anything with AI? And the Hall of Presidents, best not to dislike this one out loud, no one wants to get fired……
If they touch Mickey’s Philharmagic or Tiki Room I will riot! 😅
I would sorely miss Carousel of Progress and probably miss Mickeys Philharmagic, but the rest could go and I wouldn’t even notice. I hope they don’t move the Laugh Floor to Monsters Inc. Land in Hollywood Studios, but come up with a better show to replace the great Muppet show.
Monsters (or something like it) should be moved to Hollywood Studios (and probably will). Hall of Presidents is really neat, but the days when people are willing to visit an attraction like that in a place like Disney are waning fast, unfortunately. But I worry about Liberty Square overall. The only ‘strong’ attraction there is Haunted Mansion. I would hate to lose any of these attractions, but I think Mickey’s Philharmagic will eventually at least change, if not get replaced. The Tiki room may survive, even if it does change too – it can seat a lot of guests in a really small space. It is a sorely needed break out of the sun and off your feet in Adventureland and in MK in general. The biggest heartbreak for us is Carousel of Progress. We love it so much. It is original Walt. We were so thrilled when we saw that the final scene had been updated, promising new life for the attraction for at least a little longer. But it doesn’t belong in Tomorrowland, and the whole Tomorrowland area is clearly due (and undoubtedly planned for) a huge makeover. I would love to think that CoP might move to one of the huge disused spaces in EPCOT, but I know that is highly unliklely. I just hope that we can have at least one more trip when we can indulge our love for the attraction to our content.
Walt loved COP should not be removed. I see it being updated and refurbished to make last scene updated to reflect a new possible future.
Limitations are the track and voice over as the actor has passed. (Same guy who did the voice over for A Christmas Story..) however with AI technology they can do an update and mimic the voice of the main character with new dialogue.
Tomorrowland WDW refurbishment COP will get a massive update and rebrand to up attendance but not removed.
Walt truly loved COP…
I think the laugh floor will be changed and moved to Monsters Inc land in the muppets theater. Perfect fit
The carousel of progress is iconic…..this needs to stay in its place as permanent reminder is the great man Walt
What about tomorrow and Speedway? That thing is ancient and it’s basically cars burning fossil fuels. It’s taking a huge piece of real estate. That could be used for something cool.
Nobody will complain if that’s removed.
Hi Brian,
You got it!
Based on pure speculation……..The speedway is essentially a tracked go cart course with cars that pull to the sides, pedals hard as heck for kids to push down on, and are not as air quality friendly as a coaster could be..speedway has had a great run and at this time is free game as it is in a very valuable space. I think that we will see movement toward closure of speedway in 2027 right before Cars Piston Peak attraction is open with public announcement for phase 2 (tomorrow land) at next years D23. This is the most logical time for closure of speedway as piston peak is very similar to speedway but more hills and more thrills.
What replaces this spot will be futuristic and will be as amazing Tron. And create even more beautiful and futuristic sight lines. Another coaster would make the most sense economically as a final big cap to phase 2. project set for a target open of 2030-31 but that is the quickest that could occur based on public threshold for construction in the parks..
In summary, Speedway is prime + real estate in WDW and plan is in place for it (I speculate 😉). No word on it until mid2026 or next years D23.
We are topped out for 2025 and 26 on patron tolerance for construction work.
Gino you are 100% right.