On June 2, a Walt Disney World Resort guest shared their firsthand experience evacuating Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress after the decades-old Magic Kingdom Park attraction encountered an unexpected malfunction. The guest described how Disney cast members were aware of the issue even before the final scene finished, advising guests to remain seated until hearing further instructions.
Carousel of Progress holds a special place in Disney theme park history. It predates Walt Disney World Resort itself, having debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair before relocating to Disneyland Park in 1967 and finally making its way to Magic Kingdom Park’s Tomorrowland in 1975. Over the decades, the attraction has taken millions of guests on a journey through 20th-century technological advancements, showcased through the lives of an animatronic family spanning the early 1900s to the dawn of the 21st century.
Though it received a significant update in 1994—when the Sherman Brothers’ original song “There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” was restored after a period with the newer tune “The Best Time of Your Life”—the ride has seen few major changes since then. This has left some Disney Parks fans longing for a fresh take on the beloved classic, while others cherish its nostalgic charm. Another vocal group of enthusiasts worries about the level of maintenance the ride receives, fearing it’s barely being kept alive.
On June 1, Reddit user u/PlumAlone4599 recounted the moment the ride stopped rotating. “It seemed like the rotation mechanism wasn’t locking into place in each new scene, the whirring sound just continued,” they recalled. Despite the glitch, the guest said Disney cast members calmly managed the situation, keeping guests informed and asking them to stay in their seats.
“Before we even [knew] we had to leave the show,” the guest added, “they made an announcement instructing guests to remain seated for the entirety of the final scene.” The guest ended up experiencing the final scene one and a half times before the evacuation began, which involved removing guests from all theaters.
The only explanation given was “technical difficulties,” and a technician was reported to be on site immediately to assess the problem. Fortunately, the Carousel of Progress reopened shortly after the incident and was operating normally as of this article’s publication.
However, some Disney fans felt this incident was evidence that Walt Disney World Resort is neglecting the decades-old attraction.
“I get worried about Carousel,” u/NaiRad1000 wrote. “It’s an old [attraction]. Even older than Magic Kingdom when you remeber they brought it over from Disneyland. I’m sure they just do the bare minimum to keep it running.”
“Carousel of Progress is consistently [plagued] with issues,” said u/cricket_bacon. “I hope they continue to keep it on life support – it is one of the attractions I always look forward to.”
Have you evacuated a ride at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
We had to walk off the wedway people mover before. And the Carousel of Progress stopped on us before, but everyone just kept singing the song. We love the ride and hope they keep it going
We had to walk out of the Universe of Energy sponsored by Exxon in Epcot. It was great to walk among the giants of the past!
We had to walk off Mickey And Minnies runaway railroad. We walked from the Daisey Duck dance scene. It was very interesting how they did it. The released each car one by one having the guests wait in a line then proceed to the next car having them join the line. It was neat walking out through the various scenes
In 2010 (I think), I was exiting the carousel of progress and was in the exit door frame when the walls began to rotate. My husband reached back and grabbed my hand pulling me through. I was slightly pinched by the wall on my other sleeve (it was cold) and hand. Thank goodness for my husband. I was stunned and a little shook up at the possiblity of being injured. There was not cast member at our exit door and I don’t remember if anyone was behind me or if I was the last one to exit. We stupidly never reported it since I was not injured, just a pinch. My husband laughed it off at my slow walking pace, but years later we realized how dangerous it was. We have been back a few times since the and I can not make myself go on it. Sadly, it was one of my favorite traditions.