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Disney’s 2026 Calendar Omits Magic Kingdom Castle Repaint and Carousel of Progress Overhaul

The omission signals Disney is withholding timelines until logistics are finalized.

Overview

  • Disney’s full-year 2026 Walt Disney World calendar lists openings, refurbishment end dates, and events but excludes the Cinderella Castle repaint and the Carousel of Progress update.
  • Both projects remain officially announced from Destination D23, where Imagineers previewed the plans earlier this year.
  • Cinderella Castle is slated to return to a classic palette after the pink 50th-anniversary scheme, a repaint that would require cranes and scrim in the park’s most-photographed area.
  • The Carousel of Progress plan includes a new pre-show featuring a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic and a refreshed finale set in a more current, near-future era.
  • Coverage from WDW News Today and Inside the Magic interprets the calendar gap as timing uncertainty, with work possibly beginning in 2026 and extending into 2027 rather than indicating cancellation.