Crews have installed more construction walls, plus scrim and scaffolding, around the Rivers of America in Magic Kingdom.
Rivers of America Demolition
Initially, there were just a few walls next to Riverboat Landing in Liberty Square. The exit ramp on the left (when facing the landing) was still visible. Now there are walls running along the ramp.
There is a door in the walls at the end of the ramp for crew member access. Another set of walls then wraps around the corner, towards the Frontierland pier.
There is still a walkway open between the walls and a nearby planter. The Frontierland pier is also still open for walking.
From the Frontierland pier, we can see behind these white walls. There aren’t any visible signs of demolition or construction right now.
The Riverboat Landing dock is still intact.
The Liberty Belle riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island rafts are docked backstage in a service canal.
There are also walls along the Riverboat Landing exit ramp to the right, where the extended queue of The Haunted Mansion runs.
There were some walls in this area a week ago, but there are significantly more now.
In the proper queue for The Haunted Mansion, beige scrim hangs over the fencing along the Rivers of America.
From across the water, we can see the other side of the scrim. It’s supported by black poles embedded in the rock wall and reaching up to the top of the queue’s green shade. There is scaffolding in front of the rock wall, behind the scrim.
There are spray-painted markings on the rock wall. It’s also clear in this area that the water level of the Rivers of America has gone down. Crews are starting to drain it.
The white Liberty Square construction walls are decorated with PPG Paints-branded signs featuring patriotic and Haunted Mansion quotes.
- “Patriotism swells in the heart of the American bear.” – Fozzie Bear
- “Welcome, foolish mortals.” – The Haunted Mansion
- “Laughter is America’s most important export.” – Walt Disney
- “Tomorrow will be better for as long as America keeps alive the ideals of freedom and a better life.” – Walt Disney
On Tom Sawyer Island, we saw construction workers at Tom’s Landing. They appeared to be dismantling set pieces. Props are tagged for removal and/or destruction.
Multiple crew members were working on ladders, possibly pulling down props in the rafters of Tom’s Landing.
Check out our final look at Tom Sawyer Island.
Another crew member was driving a boat to Tom’s Landing, possibly to deliver supplies.
At the opposite end of Frontierland from Liberty Square and Riverboat Landing, brown construction walls run along this bridge in front of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
The walls continue towards Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which is currently closed for a major refurbishment. They connect to the construction walls across the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad exit ramp.
The bridge and walkways in this area are still open, with the walls just partially blocking the view of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.
There are also brown construction walls blocking the entrance and exit of the Frontierland Railroad Station. This station is closed, and the Walt Disney World Railroad is now in “shuttle mode,” running back and forth between Main Street and Storybook Circus. The station will reopen, and full operations will return after construction in the area is complete.
The Frontierland construction walls feature themed PPG Paints signs with these quotes:
- “The only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work.” – Princess Tiana
- “Thanks for bearing with us to the bear end.” – Henry, Country Bear Jamboree
- “That old star can only take you part of the way. You got to help it along with some hard work of your own.” – James (Tiana’s dad), “The Princess and the Frog”
- “This here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!” – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be replaced by a “Cars” expansion. A Disney Villains land will also be constructed beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
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