A viral video captured a hydraulic fluid leak from the Carousel of Progress animatronic character John at Disney's Magic Kingdom, highlighting the ride's decay. The incident occurred amid reports of other mechanical failures, as the attraction awaits a refurbishment permitted in February 2026. Plans may include modernizing systems and adding a Walt Disney animatronic.
Disney's Carousel of Progress, which debuted at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, has shown signs of deterioration in 2026. Guests reported animatronics losing grip on props, heads drooping mid-performance, and the rotating theater emitting screeching noises. The most notable issue was a video shared by NickChaps96 on X, showing dark fluid pouring from John's hand during a show in his 1900s kitchen scene, resembling blood but identified as hydraulic fluid from failing seals in the legacy Audio-Animatronics systems. These figures rely on high-pressure hydraulic lines for movement, leading to visible breakdowns when components fail. In February 2026, Disney filed a construction permit categorized as “general construction” for the attraction at Magic Kingdom. Reports suggest it covers a mechanical overhaul of the theater’s rotation system and conversion of figures from hydraulic to modern electric actuators, similar to the A-1000 series. Internal sources indicate plans for a new introductory scene featuring a state-of-the-art Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic, depicting him in a 1960s office likeness to introduce the show. Rumors also point to updates in the final scene, set in the 1990s, incorporating smart home appliances, augmented reality glasses, and renewable energy references, while preserving earlier scenes from the 1900s, 1920s, and 1940s. The attraction is noted as the only one at Walt Disney World directly linked to Walt Disney.