Theres A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow:

A Study of Walt Disneys The Carousel of Progress

Erin Walls
Dr. Neuman
ARH4884: Walt Disney and the American Century
12 November 2015

In 1964, the Worlds Fair in New York City caught the first glimpse of a brand new form
of Audio-Animatronics that WED Enterprises, now known as Walt Disney Imagineering, was
developing. In past years, Audio-Animatronics were used on a smaller scale on rides and in
shows at Disneyland to bring to life various animals; however, the ever forward-thinking Walt
Disney was looking to make something bigger and better. The development of human and more
life-like Audio-Animatronics started soon after the development of the animals. Walt decided to
team up with General Electric and other large companies to make the 1964 Worlds Fair an
unforgettable one. The General Electric Pavilion featured the new human Audio-Animatronics
inside of a revolving theater of five different rooms telling the story of modern conveniences
starting at the turn of the century and ending in the future. Complete with a catchy tune written
by the Sherman brothers, the Carousel of Progress was born.
This groundbreaking show can now be seen in Tomorrowland in Walt Disney Worlds
Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. However, not many people are interested in seeing it
anymore. The Carousel of Progress deserves a few updates because future generations should be
able to watch history come to life in an entertaining and meaningful way. There are those who
claim that by changing and updating this attraction, that it would be disrespectful to Walts
memory because this show is one of the only attractions at Walt Disney World that Walt actually
touched; but, Walt was always for progress and innovation, he would be thrilled to see all of the
new technological advances made since his death applied to one of his favorite projects. The
Carousel of Progress is an important part of Disney history; however, as time went on, the
version of the Carousel of Progress that Walt envisioned became insignificant. This attraction is
important to Walts memory and vision, but it needs to be updated significantly to reflect todays

family values and progress for it to become relevant again. The script should reflect some social
issues, such as equal rights for women and diversity in the cast.
There have been frequent rumors about the Carousel of Progress being closed down for
good due to its lack of popularity. Since its creation in 1964, the Carousel of Progress has only
seen six updates, the last of which was in 2016. These updates included minor refurbishments to
the characters and props, a few changes to the scripts, an overhaul of the introduction room, and
a change of dog breed. The most recent update was only for the exterior where the revolving
theater got a new paint job and the ride marker in front of the ride was changed from a large gear
to a more modern-looking sign (fig. 1-2). These updates seem like attempts to keep this ride
relevant to todays audience, but these attempts also seem to not be working. Walt Disney World
keeps this show going because it is such a significant part of Disney history. Walt Disney always
thought about the future and the future developments of mankind; for example, he had his
Disneyland television show recorded with color cameras, even though televisions of the day
were only black and white, so future generations could enjoy the show in full color.
The premise of the original show was to showcase mankinds technological progress
starting around the turn of the century and moving forward in twenty year increments:
1890s/1900s, 1920s, 1940s, and ending in the 1960s with implications of future progress. Since
this show premiered in 1964, it was not much of a stretch for the audience to imagine. As time
went on and not many updates were made, the message started to get boring for some. In 1993,
the last major update to the show was made in the last scene where the home of the year 2000
was created as conceived in 1993. That is the current script we see and hear today, what
Imagineers thought the world would be like in the year 2000 and it is now 2016. As time goes
on, the length of time between the first three scenes and the last scene grows, which has started

to cause the show to become irrelevant. The Carousel of Progress is a history of where we have
been, but it is also an open narrative on where we are going and that has significantly changed
since 1964.
Each scene is set in the interior of a house and the viewer is met with an AudioAnimatronic man, the head of the household, and dog in each scene. The first scene is set in the
spring of the late 1800s, around the turn of the century, and the host is sitting in his kitchen
singing the catchy theme song that plays at the beginning and end of every scene (fig. 3). He
starts talking to the audience and tells them how tall buildings are getting, how long it takes to
travel from New York to California by train, and he even talks about two brothers who are trying
to create a flying contraption. The second room is set in the summer of the 1920s, the host
starts the scene in the kitchen and starts telling the audience about a moving picture that has been
being advertised for months where the actors are going to talk and sing (fig. 4). The kitchen
appliances then start to come to life which causes a fuse to blow. The third scene is set in the fall
of the 1940s and the host is sitting in his kitchen, as usual (fig. 5). Along with telling the
audience about new kitchen appliances like the new automatic dishwasher, he also tells the
audience about a new thing called commuting to and from work, and another new piece of
technology called a television. The last scene is set in the winter of the future (fig. 6). This scene
is the most different from the previous three because it has the whole family together in one
room and the host does not do his typical update because the future has not been written yet.
This attraction not only educates the audience about new technology that makes life
easier and more comfortable, it also educates them about consequences of those modern
conveniences that are not as comfortable, such as blowing fuses constantly and having to
commute for long periods of time to and from work. It shows that while progress is good and

essential to mankind, it does come with negative side effects, like everything else. The message
is loud and clear, but the execution of the message is lost in time. The audience is welcomed into
four homes by a host, the same host every time, and they are not just sitting and watching
interactions take place, they are part of the interaction which helps give this attraction a more
memorable impression. Having that interaction with the host makes up for not being able to
move freely through the space seeing as how the audience is seated and the story is happening on
a stage. The script is also meant to be educational and humorous because it is easier and more
fun for the audience to follow along and remember facts throughout the show.
At first glance, the Carousel of Progress looks like a story about the happy all-American
family and the products that make their lives easier. Upon further inspection, it was not the
perfect all-American family Walt originally intended on, but as time goes on, things become
politically driven. At some points in the Carousel of Progresss fifty year history, the script was
changed to reflect movements that were happening at the time, particularly the waves of the
Feminist movement. Sarah, the mother, is seen in the 1940s paining the rumpus room with an
invention John, the father and host, made for her that goes haywire and sprays paint all over
Sarah and the rumpus room. In the 1970s, the script was changed to reflect the politics of the day
and had Sarah invent the paint mixer and then call for equal pay for women. She was also very
involved in her community in the 1970s and 1980s scripts and then in the 1990s that changed to
her not having invented the paint mixer and having nothing to do with her community. The
values of the times changed and so did the script, so why has the script not changed with the
changing values of the contemporary world? It was never a perfect show to critics, but Walts
underlying hopes and dreams for it have always been there in the background.i There has been a
twenty-three year gap in the updating of the script and a lot has happened in regards to social

issues. Most of the content issue is in the script, the rest is in the state of the AudioAnimatronics.
Walt was always very insistent upon two things: strong family values and progress. The Carousel
of Progress encompasses both of these outlooks he believed so strongly in into one
groundbreaking and memorable show. In each scene, the audience is in the home of a loving allAmerican family that is happy and more than willing to show the audience what has been
happening in the past few decades or so. The audience is welcomed by the same host in each
scene just in a different time period. While this is helpful with continuity and the progression of
the story, it is not completely necessary to keep. This is the perfect opportunity to incorporate
contemporary family values into the show. There could be a different family in each scene that
highlights different home lives that are pertinent today. In the 1960s, it was very rare to have
divorced parents or step-siblings, so it was not included. Another thing that could be incorporated
into the show is people of color. Representation is so important, especially to little children, who
are, more or less, what the show is aimed at educating.
The Carousel of Progress was a project that Walt came up with and stayed behind every
step of the way (fig. 7). He did not give up on it because of his beliefs in progress and the
developments that WED was producing so quickly to make this dream a reality. This twenty
minute show is full of facts, small jokes, and lighthearted family interaction. This show really is
the prime example of typical Disney values that have been the subject of many movies and
television shows. The characters the audience meets are likeable and identifiable and that is
another reason the Carousel of Progress was a huge success. The outdated values in the Carousel
of Progress can be compared to the outdated values of some of the classic Disney movies. For
example, compare the message in Sleeping Beauty to the one in Frozen. Princess Aurora was

asleep for most of the movie and was a silenced main character, but Princess Anna was an active
character trying to save her sister and put the typical love story on the back burner. The message
in the Carousel of Progress can change too.
Nowadays, the Carousel of Progress gets easily looked over for the more exciting and
fast-paced rides in Tomorrowland. Perhaps it is because it is not as technologically advanced as
the other rides and maybe it is also because there is an educational aspect to it. It is ironic
because the whole theme of the ride is progress and the technological advances of modern
convenience, but yet the show is still presented with the same Audio-Animatronics as it was in
1964. A few years ago, Imagineers developed newer and more realistic Audio-Animatronic
figures and added them into the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Adventureland. This shows that
the ability to create more life-like and visually interesting figures, and add them to the Carousel
of Progress, is available, but it is undetermined whether the Carousel of Progress will benefit
from such technological progress. Another point to the show was that in each scene, the family
was using things that were new into things that were even newer and better. As David Allen puts
it, We should note that the characters were not simply the consumers of the latest products; they
also adapted devices for their own purposesThe characters were, it seemed, Imagineers in the
making turning devices into their playthings.ii The idea that anyone could be an Imagineer
appealed to Walt and he wanted to inspire his audience to go out and essentially dream up the
next best thing.
There has been much debate over keeping this attraction running. When going to see it, there is
hardly a wait and never a long line which shows that there is not really a demand to keep it going
and the entrance has become another stroller park for the bigger and more popular rides;
however, there are still people who go to see it and like it for sentimental reasons. It is a staple in

Walt Disney history and it should stay open for future generations to experience, it might need
more updating, but it should not be taken away completely. There is not much left that Walt
single-handedly wanted to come to realization in Disneyland or Walt Disney World anymore and
the Carousel of Progress is the only one of those that really encompasses Walts own values and
views of progress, the all-American family, and Disneyland and Walt Disney World. By making
significant changes to the script and look of the Carousel of Progress, Walts meaning will not be
lost. This show meant so much to Walt that it is our responsibility to keep his dream a reality, but
that does not mean some things cannot be changed. There are those who believe this show should
be kept the way it is in fear of losing Walts original intentions, but the whole point of this show
is progress. A show about progress should be progressive in its content and message.

Bibliography
Allen, David. "Disneyland: Another Kind of Reality." European Journal of American Culture 33,
no. 1 (March 2014): 33-47.
Bryman, Alan. Disney and His Worlds. New York: Routledge, 1995.
"Carousel of Progress Overview." Carousel of Progress. Accessed November 1, 2015.
http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/carousel-of-progress.htm.
Grosch, James. "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress." Guide2WDW. Accessed November 1,
2015. http://guide2wdw.com/magic-kingdom/attractions/walt-disneys-carousel-ofprogress/.
Hobbs, Priscilla. Walts Utopia: Disneyland and American Mythmaking. Jefferson: McFarland &
Company, Inc., 2015.
Knight, Cher Krause. Power and Paradise in Walt Disneys World. Gainesville: University Press
of Florida, 2014.
"Magic Kingdom - Carousel of Progress." Carousel of Progress. Accessed November 1, 2015.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/tom-carousel.htm.
Neuman, Robert. Disneylands Main Street, U.S.A. and its Sources in Hollywood, U.S.A. In
Disneyland and Culture: Essays on the parks and Their Influence, edited by Kathy
Merlock Jackson and Mark I. West, 37-58. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2011.
Pinsky, Mark I. The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
Watts, Steven. The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life. New York:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.
"Walt Disneys Carousel of Progress." Celebrations Press. 2013. Accessed November 1, 2015.
http://www.celebrationspress.com/explore-the-parks-and-resorts/magickingdom/tomorrowland/walt-disneys-carousel-of-progress/.
"Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress." The Mickey Wiki: Your Walt Disney World Encyclopedia!
Accessed November 1, 2015. http://themickeywiki.com/index.php?
title=Walt_Disney's_Carousel_of_Progress.
"Walt Disney World Wallpaper Photos, Webcam and HD Videos." WDWLive.com. Accessed
November 1, 2015. http://www.wdwlive.com.
Weiner, L. Y. There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: Historic Memory and Gender in Walt
Disney's Carousel of Progress. Journal of American Culture, 20 (1997): 111116.

West, Mark I. Animator as Architect: Disneys Role in the Creation of Childrens Architecture.
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Merlock Jackson and Mark I. West, 37-58. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2011.

Photographs

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(Fig. 1 courtesy of wdwmagic.com)

(Fig. 2 courtesy of guide2wdw.com)

(Fig. 3 courtesy of www.wdinfo.com)

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(Fig. 4 courtesy of wdwlive.com)

(Figure 5 courtesy of wdwlive.com)

(Figure 6 courtesy of celebrationspress.com)

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(Figure 7 courtesy of themickeywiki.com)

i Lynn Y. Weiner. There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow': Historic Memory and Gender in Walt Disney's
Carousel of Progress. Journal of American Culture, 20: 111116.
ii David Allen. "Disneyland: Another Kind of Reality." European Journal of American Culture 33, no. 1 (March 2014): 38.

Abstract
This paper was written for an art history class. The assignment was to pick an attraction at Walt Disney
World, research it, analyze it, and write about it. The prompt gave a lot of freedom in regards to what
direction we could take the paper; I focused on The Carousel of Progress which Walt Disney had an

idea for very early on in his work. Along with a detailed analysis, including photographs, my main
point of the paper was that this attraction is a staple of the Walt Disney name and brand. There have
been many controversies regarding this attraction and I highlight a few and there have even been
rumors and discussions about whether this attraction still has a place in the Disneyland and Disney
World theme parks. Ultimately, the argument of my paper is that this attraction meant too much to Walt
Disney and means too much to Walts ideals to just get rid of it. Walt was all about progress (i.e. The
Carousel of Progress) and this attraction shows where we were and, more importantly, where we are
going. I do agree that this attraction could stand some upgrading, but I do not agree that it should be as
overlooked as it is today.
1. What is the discourse about?
a. My paper is about the Carousel of Progress at Disney World and it is, first and foremost,
an in-depth analysis of the attraction, but I also try to make a point by saying how much
this attraction matters and, although it needs updating, this attraction should not be taken
away.
2. Why is this discourse needed?
a. Walt Disney made his franchise with only his ideas, this attraction being one of his first
ones, so there should be a discussion about the well-being of this attraction. There are
plenty of historians that focus only in Walt Disneys history and this is an important part
of his history.
3. What should the discourse accomplish?
a. The goal of this paper, ultimately, is to start a discussion among those that care about
Disney. This paper is supposed to highlight the real reasoning behind this attraction and
make the readers see its importance in Disney history.
Strengths:
The analysis of the attraction
Not relying on too many quotes to make my point
Organization
Weaknesses:
There should be more pictures
The thesis could be a bit stronger
The controversies could be elaborated on
Does this paper change your view on the Carousel of Progresss meaning/Does it make the point that
this attraction is necessary?
What areas do you think I could strengthen throughout my paper?