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

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Places & Travel, Leisure, Society & Culture

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 1 June 2026

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

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

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Changes in sexual performance are more common than most people realize, and support doesn't
0:04.0	need to feel awkward.
0:06.0	With MedExpress, everything happens privately online.
0:09.4	Start by completing a short consultation reviewed by UK registered clinicians.
0:13.4	If eligible, treatment is delivered discreetly to your home, with ongoing support whenever
0:17.8	you need it.
0:18.9	You're not alone in this.
0:20.4	Visit Medexpress.com.
0:21.8	com.uk slash podcast to learn more.
0:25.9	Attention all passengers. The Uber ride for Mark and Jamal's romantic weekend will depart in four
0:32.6	minutes from Platform 6. Your ride comes with a rolling countryside sunset view and a table seat,
0:39.3	ideal for playing footsie beneath. Thank you for booking your tickets on Uber.
0:45.9	Trains on Uber. Welcome back to another edition of the Disney Dish podcast with Jim Hill. It's
0:51.4	me, Len Testa, and this is our show for the week of Shimmers Day,
1:00.8	June 1st, 26. On the show today, in news, I ride Smugglers Run and see Bluey, plus surveys and listener questions. Then, and what can only be described as a total coincidence,
1:06.8	Jim happens to have the history of changes to Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress just in time for this new announcement.
1:12.8	How about that?
1:13.9	Let's get started by bringing in the man who says,
1:16.1	Florida having flights to the moon shows just how desperate people are to leave this state.
1:20.8	It's Mr. Jim Hill. Jim has it going.
1:22.1	It's going well then.
1:23.2	Though, speaking of flight to the moon, I want to remind folks that debuted at Disneyland in July 67 as part of that theme park's new Tomorrowland project.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 23 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Jim Hill Media Podcast Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.