It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow..............." If you are singing along at this point, you are familiar with my favorite classic attraction at Walt Disney World. While some may walk by this classic attraction, this is a "MUST DO" on every visit to the Magic Kingdom for my family.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress was personally created by Walt Disney for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. In 1975, the attraction moved to its current location in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. This nostalgic attraction holds a special place in many people's hearts because it is one of the only attractions at Walt Disney World to have been touched by Walt Disney himself. The Carousel of Progress exemplifies Walt's love of history and progress. This attraction highlights the industrial advances over the past century and how they have changed everyday living for the American family.
While this show does not typically have a long wait, take time to watch the pre-show video before entering the theater. The video talks about the history of the attraction and includes clips of Walt explaining the attraction on his tv show. If the theater isn't full, I recommend sitting in the center section of any available row. The show has innovative seating, where the audience's seats rotate around a stationary central stage from scene to scene like a carousel.
After the brief introduction, the audience begins to move to the first scene as the attraction's theme song, "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" begins to play. Feel free to sing along! As the scene opens, we meet John, the father of a typical American family living at the "turn of the century". We learn how advances like gas lamps, cast-iron stoves, iceboxes and a gramophone have made the pre-electric era an easy time for families.
As we move to the next act, we find ourselves in the summer of the 1920's. John shares modern conveniences like the electric iron, the radio, the sewing machine and the light bulb! Life doesn't seem like it could get any better.
John explains to the audience that he is now part of the "Rat Race" as we move the next scene which takes place in the Autumn of the 1940's. Automatic dishwashers, televisions and refrigerators that hold more are just some of the wonders that make life in suburbia even easier for the American Family.
In the final scene that takes place in the Present, the entire family is enjoying high-tech innovations include virtual-reality games, high-definition televisions and voice-activated household appliances.
The Carousel of Progress is a classic attraction and is on my list of “Favorite Attractions”. This 20-minute Audio-Animatronic show is a great opportunity to get out of the sun (or rain), as well as great place for little ones to rest. As you look back in the past and take a glimpse the future, sit back and enjoy Walt’s vision and feel free to sing along ………. “There’s a great big beautiful of tomorrow and Tomorrow’s just a dream away….”
