New aerial photos from friend of the site Bioreconstruct offer the best look yet at foundation work taking place in the Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park at Magic Kingdom. We got a first look at the foundation work earlier this month, but it was only a sneak peek. Now, the new aerial photos provide the best look yet at early construction for the Cars-themed expansion to Frontierland.
Aerial Photos Show Foundations Under Construction in Piston Peak National Park
As a refresher, we recently speculated that the new concrete forms spotted in the former Rivers of America riverbed were for a stream that would run the length of the Frontierland boardwalk. The basis of that speculation combined reading into previously released concept art, the shape of the concrete forms, and the relative depth at which this area is being built.
Let’s jump into the aerial photos, which show the concrete forms snaking along the boardwalk from a point near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad toward the former Liberty Square Riverboat landing. This is roughly aligned with an area that appears to be a stream in the previously released Piston Peak National Park fun map.
Starting with a wide shot, we can see the entirety of the Piston Peak National Park construction site. I’ve basically been drawing an invisible line between Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Haunted Mansion. Anything to the south (left in the photo below) would be Piston Peak National Park. Anything to the north of that invisible line would be Villains Land.
For this article, we’re going to be focused on the snaking concrete forms that run along the lower half of the area.
In these closer photos, we can see that the concrete forms run from an area near the exit to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction, along the Frontierland boardwalk, and toward the end of the boardwalk near the Diamond Horseshoe dining area. When the work is done, we expect that this will run toward the former Liberty Square Riverboat landing area.
My initial speculation was that these concrete forms were for the stream/river/water feature that Disney has previously shown to run along the southern half of Piston Peak National Park. I still think that these concrete forms effectively define the southern boundary of the land, but it’s possible that the forms are for a retaining wall of sorts.
In the enhanced photo below, we can see what appears to be a vertical shoot of rebar. This could be a retaining wall. Anything on the “boardwalk side” (left) of the wall would be the river/stream/water feature, and anything to the right of the wall would be set at a higher grade for the construction of the attractions and offerings in Piston Peak National Park.
At this point, construction is so early that it’s tough to know exactly what these concrete forms are for. That said, we do have a pretty good idea of what the layout of Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land will be thanks to permits filed by Walt Disney World.
For more on the expected layout and an analysis of what each building could be when the (saw) dust settles.
For everything we know about the Cars-themed expansion to Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, check out our dedicated project page below!
For everything we know about the upcoming Villains Land at Magic Kingdom, check out our dedicated Villains Land 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!
I don’t know why they would need all that rebar if this is for a “stream” I think this is more likely the foundation of some type of barrier or rock work
As noted in the article, I think that this could be a retaining wall for the stream, but time will tell
I’m seriously hoping they have Ramones body shop set up… that is one of the main places in the original and above all you can’t leave out Lightning McQueens private painter!
Hi, my thought is that we see the track tunnel that winds behind the land with the stream on top. The picture shows the cars turning by BTMR and back to the finish. The shape of the rebar and walls point to a subway like structure.
Remember that Magic Kingdom is actually on the second floor. Perhaps utilidors will connect the new area.