PHOTO: Animatronic’s Hand Falls Off Mid-Show at Carousel of Progress in the Magic Kingdom

Derek Sterling

PHOTO: Animatronic’s Hand Falls Off Mid-Show at Carousel of Progress in the Magic Kingdom

According to user ColtsMcgee on Reddit, John’s hand fell off today during a performance of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. Based on the image, it appears his right hand fell off during the first scene, or the 1900’s section of the show.

Carousel of Progress John Hand.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=scale&h=750&ixlib=php 1.2

This isn’t the first incident for the Carousel of Progress in recent memory, because, in December, a guest climbed onto the stage during the same scene and touched some of the props. While all damages from that incident were repaired, many readers have messaged us since then to report on numerous issues with the attraction. For example, scenes have been running without background music, leading the audio-animatronics to sing eerily acapella.

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress has been long slated for a refurbishment, and we reported back in August that the attraction will have a large scale refurbishment after Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary.

Stay tuned to WDWNT for updates on this story and many more.

20 thoughts on “PHOTO: Animatronic’s Hand Falls Off Mid-Show at Carousel of Progress in the Magic Kingdom”

    • It is, it was on the America Sings ride before it closed. She died. Caught in the mechanisms and crushed between the walls.

    • On July 8, 1974, nine days after the attraction opened, 18-year-old hostess Deborah Gail Stone was accidentally crushed to death between two walls of the building between 10:35 p.m. and 10:40 p.m.
      More info so you don’t have to go looking

    • It was a cast member, and it was an exterior wall, and the attraction was America Sings at the time. Sadly the young woman died.

    • Not a guest, a cast member and that CM was killed. That happened in Disneyland version somewhere back in the 60s or 70s if I remember correctly.

    • A cast member was killed by being crushed between two of the walls on July 8, 1974. It was when the building was opened as “America Sings”, not as the Carousel of Progress. Same building. Different show.

    • Wikipedia
      Deborah Gail Stone Incident On July 8, 1974, nine days after the attraction opened, 18-year-old hostess Deborah Gail Stone was accidentally crushed to death between two walls of the building between 10:35 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. … Her death was pronounced at 11:00 p.m., when the carousel was being reset for a new cycle.

    • It wasn’t a guest, but it was a cast member. You are right, it was at Disneyland. This was back in 1970s and it was when America Sings was running. Deborah Gail Stone was her name. They made changes to the ride after that with breakaway walls. Very sad story

  1. Personally, I find it down right shameful that Disney does regular refurbs for quality control on almost all of their attractions, but one Walt Disney himself personally worked on? They can’t really be bothered because it’s not an “E ticket.” Also…how are you going to have the 50th Anniversary of WDW, but NOT do a total top to bottom refurbishment (with a new last scene or multiple new scenes) until after???

    There are just a lot of days now that I do not get Disney Management…

  2. “Just keep spinning. Just keep spinning.” When I think of the Carousel’s condition, my heart is heavy. But from where the sun now stands, I will fight no more.

  3. This is the same scene where that kid climbed on stage. Maybe he damaged the animatronic and it just broke now?

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