A new permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering may indicate that work is underway to bring a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic to the Carousel of Progress attraction at Magic Kingdom. The Notice of Commencement permit was filed today, and we have a look at the details and what they might indicate.
Imagineering Permit Suggests Work Underway for Walt Disney Addition to Carousel of Progress
First, a quick refresher. Back in August 2025, Walt Disney World announced plans to bring a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic to the Carousel of Progress attraction at Magic Kingdom.
Before you follow an American family (and Rover!) over four generations of progress as technology transforms their lives and paves the way for once-unimaginable innovations, you’ll be able to catch a brand-new introductory scene and hear from the legendary man who never stood in the way of progress — Walt Disney.Â
What was missing from the original announcement, and what has been missing since then, is a timeline for the change. Now, a new permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering may hint that work is underway.
The new Walt Disney scene (concept art above) will take over the opening scene of the attraction. Currently, a narrator introduces the history of the Carousel of Progress, dating back to the 1964 World’s Fair. Then, we get a quick introduction to the premise of the show before the theater spins into our first scene.
Once Walt arrives in this new first scene, the curtains will be lifted to find Walt surrounded by images of the future.
The new permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering today lists the scope of work as “Install FA/FP systems”. Fire Alarm/Automatic Protection systems include components like detectors (smoke/heat), control panels, and monitoring, ensuring rapid response to unsafe conditions. The address on the permit is for the Carousel of Progress building. It would stand to reason that a new scene would require new fire safety systems.
If my math is correct, this could be the start of work on the Carousel of Progress to create the new Walt Disney opening scene.
Beyond the opening scene, there will be changes to other scenes in the attraction. Here’s how Walt Disney World described it.
There are still plenty of additional details to be revealed, including what John, Sarah, and the rest of the family are up to. Disney Imagineers love this attraction and the heart of it will stay the same while introducing the Carousel of Progress to an entirely new generation of fans, showing them that a great big, beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away. Â
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