Walt Disney World is in the middle of a busy era of change. New attractions are on the way, familiar areas are being reworked, and Disney keeps finding ways to bring older experiences into a newer era. Now, a major decision at Magic Kingdom is sparking some interesting speculation about what could come next — particularly over at EPCOT.

Carousel of Progress Is Getting a Major Overhaul

Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress has always held a special place at Magic Kingdom thanks to its direct connection to Walt himself. Rather than retiring the attraction, Disney has chosen to overhaul it while keeping its basic identity intact. The ride closed in July 2026 and is expected to return in 2027 with updated scenes, new technology, and refreshed Audio-Animatronics.

The revamped experience will begin around the 1969 Apollo 11 era, move into a 1980s Halloween setting, and then visit a New Year's Eve scene around the turn of the millennium. The final scene jumps even further ahead, imagining the family living in an off-planet future. Disney is also adding an Audio-Animatronic Walt Disney to a brand-new introductory scene.

It's a substantial transformation for an attraction with such deep historical roots — and the approach could matter well beyond Magic Kingdom.

A Blueprint for Modernizing Classics

What Carousel of Progress offers is an interesting blueprint. Instead of choosing between leaving a classic completely untouched or demolishing it entirely, Imagineers can preserve its central idea while replacing outdated scenes, figures, effects, and technology. That middle path could open the door for similar projects across Walt Disney World, where several attractions still rely heavily on design choices from earlier eras.

At EPCOT, one attraction immediately comes to mind.

Journey Into Imagination With Figment Could Be a Prime Candidate

Journey Into Imagination With Figment occupies one of EPCOT's most recognizable pavilions, and Figment himself remains one of the park's signature characters. The current attraction sends guests through the Imagination Institute alongside Dr. Nigel Channing, played by Eric Idle. Figment repeatedly interrupts the tour as guests travel through sensory labs focused on sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. The experience eventually becomes Figment's chaotic lesson in imagination before wrapping up with "One Little Spark."

Importantly, the current ride is already the third major version of the attraction. The original Journey Into Imagination opened in 1983 with Dreamfinder and Figment. Disney replaced it with Journey Into YOUR Imagination in 1999, then introduced Journey Into Imagination With Figment in 2002. The pavilion has already proven that Disney can reinvent the attraction while retaining its broader theme.

What a Modernized Figment Attraction Could Look Like

Disney wouldn't necessarily need to demolish the building or abandon Figment to create something dramatically different. Newer Audio-Animatronics can produce movements and expressions that older figures simply can't match — Frozen Ever After is one example of how Disney can revisit an existing attraction with updated technology. Figment could benefit enormously from that same treatment.

Disney could also introduce a new host to replace Dr. Nigel Channing, creating a fresh storyline without abandoning the Imagination Institute concept. More interactive environments could let guests trigger effects or watch Figment physically interact with the rooms around them. Updated projections, lighting, practical effects, and larger sets could make each scene feel more alive, while smoother vehicles and track improvements could modernize the physical ride experience itself.

The key point: a replacement doesn't have to mean replacing Figment. It could mean replacing the current version of his attraction with something far more ambitious.

Other Aging Attractions Worth Watching

Figment isn't the only attraction that could eventually receive similar attention. At EPCOT, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros could also benefit from updated figures, effects, scenes, and technology — all while preserving its Three Caballeros theme.

Then there's "it's a small world" at Magic Kingdom. Few Disney attractions carry more historical importance, which makes a complete replacement difficult to imagine. But Carousel of Progress shows that historical significance doesn't necessarily prevent Disney from making substantial updates. Modernized Audio-Animatronics, refreshed scenes, improved lighting, and updated effects could extend the life of "it's a small world" without eliminating what generations of guests already know and love.

Disney's Next Generation of Classics Could Be on the Horizon

To be clear, Disney has not announced any overhaul for Journey Into Imagination With Figment, Gran Fiesta Tour, or "it's a small world." Any major changes to those attractions remain speculation for now.

But Carousel of Progress does change the conversation. Disney is taking a historically significant attraction and replacing its current version with new scenes, modern technology, updated Audio-Animatronics, and a story designed to carry it into the future. That signals a growing comfort with modernizing classics rather than simply preserving them exactly as they are.

And if that philosophy spreads to EPCOT, Journey Into Imagination With Figment — the 43-year-old pavilion that has already reinvented itself twice — could become one of the most compelling candidates for Disney's next old-meets-new overhaul.