New aerial photos offer a fresh overhead look at the Piston Peak National Park construction site at Magic Kingdom. The retaining wall for the stream that runs along the southern perimeter of the land is nearly complete. Early infrastructure work has also started across the cleared site. Here’s a look at the latest aerial photos from friend of the site Bioreconstruct.
New Aerial Photos of Piston Peak National Park Construction
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- An overhead look at the nearly complete stream retaining wall
- Where the wall now connects along the Frontierland boardwalk
- Early infrastructure installation spreading across the site
- A recap of our recent Piston Peak coverage
The Stream Retaining Wall Is Nearly Complete
The standout in these new aerials is the retaining wall for the stream that will run along the southern perimeter of Piston Peak National Park. From above, you can follow its full serpentine path as it traces the edge of the Frontierland boardwalk. The wall now forms one continuous barrier rather than the disconnected segments we tracked earlier this year.
The wall steps and curves to match the planned shoreline of what Disney calls a calming waterway. Crews appear to be finishing the last sections, which should put this phase of construction close to wrapping up.
Where the Wall Connects Along the Boardwalk
These aerial views allow us to trace the wall from the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad side of the site all the way toward the former Liberty Square Riverboat launch. That matches the progression we reported on the ground, when the wall first reached the former Riverboat launch in early June.
The boardwalk itself runs right alongside the site and will soon be fully closed to guests. Construction walls currently separate guests from the work, but the aerials make clear how tightly the new stream will hug the existing walkway once water is added.
Early Infrastructure Spreads Across the Site
Beyond the wall, the new photos show infrastructure installation underway across the graded site. Long runs of pipe stretch across the dirt, with sections staged in lines waiting to be trenched in. This follows the underground pipe milestone we reported earlier this month, when crews began placing reclaimed water, potable water, and stormwater lines.
Cranes and excavators are positioned throughout the site, and large concrete pipe and culvert pieces sit staged. Utility work like this comes before any vertical building construction. Disney has filed paperwork that states infrastructure for Piston Peak and Villains Land will be completed by 2028, so the pace of this work fits that timeline.
Aerial Photos vs. What’s Visible on the Ground
The overhead angle gives a fuller picture than guests can get from inside the park. From the boardwalk and from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, strategic wall placement blocks most views into the site. From above, the entire diamond-shaped footprint is exposed, including the western end near Big Thunder and the staging areas on the future Villains Land side.
With the retaining wall nearly finished and pipes going into the ground, the next thing to watch is the fill work that builds a new grade, followed by the first attraction foundations.
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!