It’s been almost six months since the Rivers of America, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom permanently closed. There are now giant dirt piles where the river used to run, which we were able to see from the ground and also from up above on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

Rivers of America Demolition

Construction walls run all the way around the former river, but guests can see the demolition/construction zone from certain vantage points. Riverboat Landing remains and, according to concept art, will remain as part of Liberty Square.

In front of Riverboat Landing, where part of Tom Sawyer Island used to sit, is a dirt pile that stands taller than the surrounding construction walls. In the foreground of these photos is an excavator to move the dirt. All of the trees were removed from this area.

Construction walls also run the length of The Haunted Mansion’s outdoor queue. On December 12, we saw a crew member working directly behind these walls, where it looks like some land has been cleared of foliage. A new walkway is planned for this area, connecting The Haunted Mansion to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The trees visible in these pictures are all at the back edge of Magic Kingdom. The Walt Disney World Railroad tracks used to go through these forests, but the railroad track in this area has been removed, according to the aerial photography we previously reported on. The railroad is currently in “shuttle mode” running back and forth between Main Street, U.S.A. and Storybook Circus in Fantasyland. The railroad will not return to full operations until a much later date.

A tree trunk, pile of rubble, and some ground pipes are visible in the photo above. This area used to be part of Tom Sawyer Island. There are some markers in the ground, potentially for future foundations.

The piles of dirt continue into the backstage areas. While the Cars area is a change to Frontierland, the Disney Villains Land will be a whole new space near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It’s expected to take up some of the Tom Sawyer Island site. In the foreground of the above pic is a hole in the ground marked by red tape.

We spotted another crew member working in this area, right at the edge of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The coaster is currently closed for a year-long refurbishment. It will reopen in spring 2026, but no date has been announced.

The view from above on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure shows a different angle of the construction work taking place.

Cars Area

The Cars area will be called Piston Peak National Park, inspired by real-life national parks, particularly the Rocky Mountains. Sightlines will be maintained with architecture gradually becoming “Car-itecture” within the Cars-themed space.

There will be a large geyser, water features, barrel bridges, and two attractions. One is a rally race ride, the other will be more family-friendly. A new original car character pays homage to classic Disney cartoons.

Disney Villains Land

Not much information has been released about the Disney Villains Land, but we know it will have two major attractions, shopping, and dining. Disney animator Andreas Deja is consulting on the project. Disney shared a behind-the-scenes look at inspirational architecture and a list of villains inspiring the land, which includes Yzma. The concept art is mostly inspired by Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent, including her dragon form in the background.

Are you more excited for the Cars area or Disney Villains Land? Let us know in the comments.

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