Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress [Looking Back]

Did you know that Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom is the longest-running stage show with the most performances in the history of American Theater? It's also the oldest attraction at Walt Disney World and the only attraction to have a direct tie to Walt himself.

Walt's Carousel of Progress, currently housed at the northeast end of Tomorrowland, is both nostalgic and futuristic; humorous and informative, following a family through the 19th Century and the changing seasons.

Originally conceived by Walt Disney and WED Enterprises (the Imagineers) for GE at the 1964 New York World's Fair, the attraction was later moved to Disneyland, where it remained from 1967 to 1973. It them moved to the Magic Kingdom in 1975, where it has remained since.

Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress has undergone a series of updates over the years, most recently in 1994. Though, for those who have seen it lately, one can tell that in the final scene, new flat-screen TVs and other more modern gadgets have been added in more recent years.

The attraction has had two theme songs: first, "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" at Disneyland; then, with the move to Magic Kingdom a new song, "The Best Time Of Your Life" was introduced. But in 1994, the attraction was revamped and a newer version of 'There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" returned to the attraction. Both songs were penned by the famous Sherman Brothers, by the way.

Another interesting fact: Horizons at Epcot was more or less a sequel to Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.

Check out the entire Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress show here:

Is Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress a must-do for you when you visit the Magic Kingdom? Leave a comment below.