As Walt Disney World continues to juggle a number of construction projects, there is none as large right now as the northwest expansion of Magic Kingdom. For the next few years, we’ll be tracking the construction and opening of a Cars-themed expansion of Frontierland called Piston Peak National Park, and an all-new Villains Land. Both areas are not-so-tucked-away in the northwest corner of Magic Kingdom, where the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island used to sit. Recently, we made it out to Magic Kingdom for an extensive look at the current state of the project as Disney prepares for the next major phase of work.
Rivers of America Land Clearing & Preparation
Mornings in December can be hit or miss for a ride on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, but yesterday morning was a perfect time to ride, as the temperature was climbing faster than the wait time. While most of the attraction is pretty well insulated from the nearby construction, there is a sliver of space that allows for a quick view into the former Rivers of America construction site.
As invaluable as the helicopter photos from Bioreconstruct are, it’s interesting to get a “flatter”, yet elevated, view of the construction site. We can see that there is still a definition between the Rivers of America basin and the former Tom Sawyer Island islands. That said, that elevation difference is quickly shrinking as Disney works to create a level grade on the entire site.
As you can see in our photos below, crews are still working on clearing land from the former Tom Sawyer Island area, and a newly expanded construction zone right in front of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. With the removal of the Rivers of America, the entrance and exit area around Big Thunder Mountain needs to be regraded to match the upcoming Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park nearby.
In the photo immediately below, we can see that the entrance to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is now behind construction walls, and the entire area around it has been demolished. The queue remains untouched, but all of the walkways and foliage outside of the queue area are now dirt.
From the iconic drop, we get a peek over the construction walls that line the Frontierland boardwalk. From here, we can see what appear to be survey stakes in the ground. This is all likely in preparation for the installation of utilities. As a reminder, Walt Disney World just received the green light from the State of Florida’s water management district to begin developing the land.
It’s likely that the portion of the construction site seen below will become a stream, as seen in the fun map. That said, we have previously cautioned against reading too much into the fun map, so we’ll just have to keep riding Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to see how the area is transformed in the coming years.
From the ground, we can see more of the elevation change on the site. When we visited, crews were moving dirt into the area directly in front of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. With a Spring 2026 opening date, crews need to prioritize this area over other parts of the construction site.
Another good vantage point for the construction is from the opposite side of the site, near the Haunted Mansion. This provides a “reverse view” of the construction site. From this side of the site, it is easier to see the remaining elevation change between the former Rivers of America basin and Tom Sawyer Island.
There is some work underway to move dirt around the site to begin grading, but there is still A LOT of dirt left to move into the site.
Here’s a better look toward the entrance/exit of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. As you can see, the entire area outside of the queue is dirt as Disney reshapes the land here.
For everything we know about the upcoming Villains Land at Magic Kingdom, check out our dedicated Villains Land page below!
For everything we know about the Cars-themed expansion to Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, check out our dedicated project page below!
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!
