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.