Disney World Celebrates 55 Years with Carousel of Progress Reveals

Walt Disney World marked its 55th anniversary with a special event for D23 members, held on October 4 at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Attendees received a commemorative anniversary pin and enjoyed presentations from notable guests, including Disney Legend Joe Rohde, who discussed his memoir and insights on storytelling in themed entertainment design.

The Carousel of Progress, a beloved attraction, took center stage during the event. A major reveal was that Debi Derryberry, who previously voiced Daughter in the attraction, will now voice the Grandmother in its upcoming new version. Several props from the original attraction were displayed, including a Jack-o'-lantern that will return and reindeer slippers introduced in 2022.

Other highlighted items included a doll believed to have been designed as a tribute to Mary Blair, a hand fan from the mid-1990s update, and a stereoscope that dates back to 1964. Additionally, an envelope featuring the signature of the Haunted Mansion wallpaper designer was shown, along with a newly recreated audio-animatronic bird from the 'Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair' episode, which will appear in the new sequence featuring an audio-animatronic Walt Disney.

Other Disney World updates include the upcoming release of an EPCOT album from the Disney Music Emporium, set for late October, and the opening of Hurly-Burly, a new venue on Disney's BoardWalk.