The Piston Peak National Park construction site has entered a new phase of work. Crews are now installing pipes underground, and more dirt continues to arrive at the site. Meanwhile, the retaining wall has grown longer. It now stretches from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to the former Liberty Square Riverboat launch. In addition, recent construction wall changes have pulled a portion of the boardwalk into the site. We captured new photos of the work from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, both from the queue and from on the ride. Here is the latest!
Piston Peak National Park Construction Milestone at Magic Kingdom
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- In-person look at the latest underground pipe installation
- The retaining wall now reaches the former Riverboat launch
- How recent wall changes pulled in part of the boardwalk
- A recap of our prior Piston Peak coverage
UNDERGROUND PIPES NOW BEING INSTALLED
The most notable development at the site is the underground pipe installation. This work marks a new phase in the construction process. In our photos, a long purple pipe runs across the graded dirt toward a trench where crews are making connections. The purple color marks it as a reclaimed water line for non-potable uses like irrigation.
Nearby, red and black fittings sit staged on pallets, ready to join the system. We can also spot a blue potable water pipe staged on the site. Beyond the pipe in the ground, large stormwater components sit ready for installation.
Rows of big gray concrete pipe and box culvert sections are staged along the back of the site, near stacks of blue and purple PVC. Utility work like this typically comes before vertical building construction begins. As a result, it lays the groundwork for the systems that will eventually serve the new land. Notably, Disney has filed paperwork that states infrastructure work for Piston Peak and Villains Land will be completed by 2028, so this work fits that timeline.
Here’s a look at some of the larger infrastructure pieces, staged in the future Villains Land section of the sprawling construction site.
MORE DIRT HAULED INTO THE SITE
Crews also continue to haul more dirt into the site. Large mounds now rise across the graded pad, and tire tracks wind through the leveled earth. Excavators work the area, while dump trucks move material in and out. This continued movement points to ongoing grading and site preparation. In short, the work is steadily building toward a level grade for the structures to come.
RETAINING WALL NOW REACHES THE FORMER RIVERBOAT LAUNCH
The retaining wall has continued to expand. It now stretches from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad all the way to the former Liberty Square Riverboat launch. Active work is centered on a section where tall white formwork now stands. Crews are adding rebar into the forms and pouring concrete to build the next stretch of wall.
The new forms meet an already-poured gray concrete section, showing how the wall extends piece by piece. This wall will define the calming waterway that runs along the southern edge of the new land. We first saw vertical retaining wall pieces installed in March, followed by a look at the thick concrete wall itself. Since then, the wall has steadily grown to its current length.
BOARDWALK NOW PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITE
Recent construction wall changes have brought a portion of the boardwalk into the Piston Peak National Park construction site. This shift continues a pattern we have tracked for months. Earlier, we covered the construction walls expanding in Frontierland for the next phase of work. We also reported when panels were added to block views from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The latest changes pull even more of the boardwalk area behind the walls.
BIG THUNDER VIEWS
While we’ve already sprinkled in some photos from our ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, here are a few more photos showing some of the views from the attraction. In general, the construction site is noticeable, but not necessarily a focal point. Strategic placement of walls blocks a majority of views into the construction site. Here are some views that remain open to see from the ride.
A LOOK BACK AT PISTON PEAK COVERAGE
To understand where we are today, it helps to look back at how we got here. Here’s some of our prior coverage of Piston Peak National Park construction and nearby areas:
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!