Disney4me Posted August 16 Report Posted August 16 Horizons: A Carousel of Progress officially closed out night two of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa! If you were seated in the audience, watching at home on Disney+, or just following along with Disney Parks on social, you may already want to relive that epic opening musical medley. Neil Patrick Harris is no stranger to extravagant opening numbers, and fans were treated tonight to a show-stopping, star-studded spectacle led by our host with the most as the lights dimmed and the presentation began. And what better way to honor the name and theme of tonight’s showcase than with a song dedicated to iconic Audio-Animatronics figures across Disney Parks? What Inspired the Disney Experiences Showcase Opening Number? Carousel of Progress has some of the most beloved Audio-Animatronics figures in Disney history, and others mentioned here include it’s a small world, DJ Rex from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Throughout the song, Neil daydreams about his new goal in life – being a Disney Parks Audio-Animatronic figure – wistfully saying, “I bet everybody here has that one special Disney role meant just for them” at the top of the number. Joining Neil onstage was comedian Tig Notaro as Abraham Lincoln (and later the Yeti from Expedition Everest), Megan Hilty as Madame Leota, and Jack McBrayer as the Caretaker (kind of), along with musical theatre favorites Skylar Astin and Darren Criss (who we see as both pirates and hitchhiking ghosts). There was even an appearance from Disney Legend and the voice of Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Paige O’Hara, and surprise cameo from Disney Legend and former Imagineer Joe Rhode. The original song had a brand-new tune with some snippets of the familiar melody from The Sherman Brothers’ “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” which we know as the (extremely catchy) theme song of the Carousel of Progress, in addition to “Part of Your World” from Disney’s The Little Mermaid and “Belle” from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The lyrics take us on a harmonic journey through the decades of Disney Parks Audio-Animatronics figures, with a live band for the evening, The Phoenicians, and an electric ensemble of dancers. Ready for an “animatronic roll call?” The song is packed full of Easter eggs and nods to Disney Parks attractions and lore, in addition to pop culture moments – let us know if you can find them all! Lyrics to the Disney Experiences Showcase Opening Number IN THIS GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL WORLD, OR LAND THERE’S A JOB THAT’S WAITING FOR ME WHERE THE AIR IS SWEET AND THE SOUND’S PRE-PLANNED AND ADMISSION IS PERPETUALLY FREE A ROLE THAT LASTS FOREVER WITH NO BAD DAYS WHATSOEVER PART OF HISTORY WISH I COULD BE… ANIMATRONIC WHERE LIFE IS A RIDE ENTERTAINING ALL DAY WHILE AIR-CONDITIONED INSIDE ANIMATRONIC WHERE LIFE IS A BREEZE I’D NEVER FEEL MY AGE BECAUSE I’D HAVE ROBOTIC KNEES I’D SPEND ALL DAY GREETING FANS WITH GUTS MADE OF GEARS WHILE THAT SAME SYMPHONIC MUSIC PLAYS ON LOOP IN MY EARS I’D LIKE TO BE A DISNEY ANIMATRONIC AND LIVE MY LIFE ON A RIDE ANIMATRONIC I’D LIKE THE ROUTINE! EACH DAY IS THE SAME AND EVERY NIGHT I GET CLEANED AND SINCE MY JOB IS ICONIC THEN I’D NEVER BORE JUST TAKE IT FROM AN A-1 MODEL WHO’S BEEN HERE SINCE 1964! ANIMATRONIC YOU NEVER GET OLD! NO NEED TO REHEARSE WHEN YOU’RE REMOTE CONTROLLED I’D LIKE TO BE CATATONIC BUT WIRED WITH GLEE! YO HO YO HO AN ANIMATRONIC LIFE FOR ME! RUM! GOLD! GOLD! MAYBE I COULD BE A HANDSOME PIRATE GESTURING TO TREASURE OR A PAIR OF SKULKING SKELETONS DEVOID OF EARTHLY PLEASURE! NOTHING LIKE DEATH BECOMES HER! IN THE ENDLESS HALLWAY I’LL SING MY TUNE LIKE THE HATBOX GHOST YOU APPEARED TOO SOON I CAN DANCE AND SCARE AS A HAUNTED HOST WHILE WE DISAPPEAR LIKE PEPPERS GHOSTS HAPPY HAUNTS MATERIALIZE AND BEGIN TO VOCALIZE GRIM GRINNING GHOSTS COME OUT TO SOCIALIZE I COULD DANCE ON MY SERVOS OR GLIDE ON MY SLIDE OR JUST CHILL IN EVEREST BECAUSE MY MECHANISMS DIED IT’S GREAT TO BE A DISNEY ANIMATRONIC AND LIVE MY LIFE ON A RIDE ISN’T TECHNOLOGY AMAZING SEE HOW THE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HERE’S WALT HIMSELF, TRAILBLAZING! I’D GIVE MY LIFE TO BE CRAFTED BY THOSE BOSS IMAGINEERS THERE MUST BE SOMETHING THERE THAT WASN’T THERE BEFORE I COULD DJ LIKE REX! OR BE A SMALL CHILD DOLL! AND JOIN IN IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL! I’LL KEEP MOVIN’ I’LL KEEP TICKIN’ AND LIKE CARLOS WON’T BE CHICKEN GRAB A KNIFE AND GRAB A FORK WITH A CROONER FROM YU NORK AND LIKE SKIPPY I’LL BE STATIONED IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION DON’T CARE IF I’M LAST GEN OR ADVANCED LIKE KYLO REN I’LL MOVE LIKE THE NA’AVI SHAMAN UNLESS B-MODE IS MORE COMMON BE A SCIENTIST WHOS FOXY OR A GANGSTER FULL OF MOXY I’LL IMPRESS, I’M UNPLUGGED ASKING TOURISTS FOR WARM HUGS THEN AT LAST I’LL LAST FOREVER AND FOREVER’S WHAT IT’S WORTH TO LIVE EACH DAY THE EXACT SAME WAY IN THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! WHEN YOU ARE ANIMATRONIC YOUR LIFE IS DIVINE! YOU DON’T FEEL PAIN OR NEED THE LIGHTNING LANE TO SKIP THE LINE CAUSE WHEN YOU’RE ANIMATRONIC THE MAGIC’S INSIDE! SO LETS GET ELECTRONIC! IN STEREOPHONIC NO NEED TO EAT OR DRINK SO I CAN SKIP MY COLONIC! ALL I WANT IT LIFE IS TO BE ANIMATRONIC! ANIMATRONIC! ANIMATRONIC! ANIMATRONIC! ANIMATR— ANIMATRONIC! AND LIVE MY LIFE (THERE’S A GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW) LIVE MY LIFE (SHINING AT THE END OF EVERY) LIVE MY LIFE ON A DISNEY THEME PARK RIDE! The D23 2026 festivities are in full swing here on Disney Parks Blog. Follow along tonight for all of the exciting updates and announcements from the showcase, and stay tuned for more stories about shopping, panels, and our favorite fandom moments. Walt Disney World Resort A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: The Ever-Changing Carousel of Progress Walt Disney World Resort Exploration Awaits: New Updates Unearthed for Indiana Jones Ride at Animal Kingdom Walt Disney World Resort Yeti Audio-Animatronic Coming Back to Life Inside Expedition Everest The post Neil Patrick Harris Kicks off Horizons: A Carousel of Progress with an Epic Opening Number appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article Quote
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