A Great Big Beautiful Redo: Carousel of Progress Gets a New Future (Ep. 586)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Places & Travel, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 1 June 2026

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Len Testa and Jim Hill recap a busy week in the parks, from the debut of Bluey at Disney's Animal Kingdom and the updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run experience to Universal's latest expansion rumors. They also dive deep into Disney's surprise announcement that Carousel of Progress will receive its most significant overhaul in decades, including new scenes, new narration, and a fresh look at the future. Along the way, Jim shares the attraction's fascinating history, from its roots in Edison Square to its journey through the 1964 World's Fair and beyond. NEWS • Len shares his experience aboard the updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run featuring new Mandalorian and Grogu story elements. • Bluey officially arrives at Disney's Animal Kingdom, drawing massive opening-day crowds and virtual queue demand. • Disney announces a major reimagining of Carousel of Progress, with new time periods and an all-new future scene. • Universal removes Express Pass access from Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure beginning July 1. • New permits and construction activity hint at future expansions for Dark Universe and the Wizarding World at Epic Universe. FEATURE • The surprising origins of Carousel of Progress and Disney's abandoned Edison Square concept. • How General Electric helped transform the attraction from a Disneyland proposal into a 1964 World's Fair centerpiece. • The attraction's move from Disneyland to Walt Disney World and the evolution of its story over six decades. • Why Disney's latest update may secure Carousel of Progress as a Magic Kingdom staple for generations to come. For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR UnlockedMagic.com - https://unlockedmagic.com/?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=disneydish EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/DISNEYDISH⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:30.0	Ever wondered if the magic was real.
0:32.7	Well, this is where it was made.
0:35.1	The wonder of the Hogwarts Express.
0:38.3	The chill of the forbidden Express. The chill of the forbidden forest.
0:41.0	The secrets hidden in Gringot's Bank.
0:43.6	You don't watch the films here.
0:45.3	You feel them.
0:46.5	Every spell.
0:47.5	Every creature.
0:48.6	Every detail.
0:50.1	Immerse yourself in the filmmaking magic
0:52.5	at Warner Brothers Studio Tour London, the making of Harry Potter.
0:56.8	Tickets must be booked in advance, WBstor.com.com. Welcome back to another edition of the Disney Dish
1:02.8	podcast with Jim Hill. It's me, Len Testa, and this is our show for the week of Shores Day, June 1st,
1:08.1	2026. On the show today, in news, I ride Smugglers Run and C. Bluey, plus surveys and listener
1:14.4	questions. Then, and what can only be described as a total coincidence, Jim happens to have the
1:20.5	history of changes to Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress just in time for this new announcement.
1:25.6	How about that? Let's get started by bringing in the man who says,
1:28.8	Florida having flights to the moon shows just how desperate people are to leave this state. It's Mr. Jim Hill.
	...

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