A number of permits have been filed today, signaling early work for what appears to be a construction trailer compound for the upcoming Cars-themed expansion to Frontierland. As you may recall, Walt Disney World received the regulatory green light for the draining and demolition of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island back in February, and the recently filed permits suggest imminent movement on the project. Here’s what we know.
Construction Trailer Compound for Frontierland Expansion Project at Magic Kingdom
Six permits were filed today by Walt Disney Imagineering, covering a number of infrastructure needs for what appears to be a construction trailer compound. The address for the work is a backstage gate behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which will likely be the early staging area for work related to the draining and demolition of the Rivers of America.
The permits cover infrastructure installation such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and trailers. As a whole, the permits indicate that Walt Disney Imagineering is not only moving forward with the project, but that they’re moving forward soon. The trailer compound will likely be utilized by Disney project teams and third-party contractors as offices during the work.
As of publish time, Walt Disney World has not announced a closing timeframe for Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, but it is hard to imagine that either offering will be open in 2026 – especially if Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro wants to make good on his “shovels in the ground” pitch from last year’s D23 Expo.
In terms of what we expect to see over the next few years, we expect to see the closure and draining of the Rivers of America this year, with demolition lasting into 2026. Hopefully, we’ll start to see a level grade and the start of the construction of new infrastructure for the Cars-themed expansion of Frontierland in later 2026, with work running through 2027 and probably even 2028 for a 2029 opening timeframe.
Construction will also start at some point for the nearby Villains-themed expansion in the northwest corner of Magic Kingdom, with our best guess on an opening timeframe sometime in 2030 or 2031. In short, buckle up, Magic Kingdom is about to change, and we should start to see movement soon.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
