Months after speculation that she was going to be towed away, aerial photos show that the Liberty Belle Riverboat is still intact and afloat behind the scenes at Walt Disney World. The Liberty Belle Lives On Aerial photographer bioreconstruct shared the photos, which show that the Liberty Belle Riverboat is still floating in a service … Read more
Crews are adding to the Piston Peak National Park retaining wall every day. The wall runs along the edge of the future Cars area near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom. Piston Peak National Park Retaining Wall White forms have been added to the side of the wall closest to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This has … Read more
Crews have begun installing retaining walls in Piston Peak National Park, a new Cars-themed area coming to Magic Kingdom. Aerial photographer @bioreconstruct on X shared these photos from the sky of the retaining walls under construction. Piston Peak National Park Retaining Walls The above photo shows a wide view of the construction zone in Frontierland … Read more
As work continues to turn the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at the Magic Kingdom into Piston Peak National Park, two more long-standing staples of Frontierland are next on the chopping block, having now disappeared from the park map, albeit with a caveat. Westward Ho and Big Al’s Missing from Digital Map As … Read more
As rumors have swirled around changes to Villains Land at Walt Disney World this week, a new permit was found where a few differences can be noted. New Villains Land Permit It’s worth noting that the document doesn’t necessarily indicate that plans have changed, they may just be better defined than the previous permit. On … Read more
Foundations are growing in the Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park area of Magic Kingdom. This extension of Frontierland replaces the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Piston Peak National Park Construction We got another look at the foundational work near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. In the center of the above photo is the foundation … Read more
More temporary wood structures and concrete have been poured in Frontierland at Walt Disney World. The area is receiving a lot of work with the refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain and the addition of Piston Peak National Park. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Update Several wooden beam structures have popped up since our last update, which … Read more
The newest permit related to the Piston Peak area under construction at Magic Kingdom is for the former Mike Fink Keel Boats dock near The Haunted Mansion. Keel Boat Landing Permit The Keel Boat Landing is next to the entrance of The Haunted Mansion, pictured above. Though the Mike Fink Keel Boats have been closed … Read more
The construction site for Piston Peak and Villains Land at Magic Kingdom is being cleared out to make way for the new themed lands. Site Clearing Recent aerial photos from @bioreconstruct have showcased the site clearing underway for both Piston Peak and the unnamed Villains land at Magic Kingdom. The former Rivers of America has been completely … Read more
Crews continue to move dirt as they prepare for construction of the new Cars area in Magic Kingdom. Not a land on its own, the Cars area will be part of Frontierland, replacing Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Rivers of America Construction We saw an excavator working near the former Tom Sawyer Island … Read more
Despite the many expansions at the soon to be Disney Adventure World, several other projects are underway at Disneyland Paris. One such project is the previously announced addition of Marc Davis-inspired scenes along the Rivers of the Far West. Rivers of the Far West By the end of summer 2026, guests will enjoy an enhanced experience at Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing, … Read more
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 … Read more
The totem poles that sat on the banks of Rivers of America in Magic Kingdom are now gone as the area is transformed into a Cars expansion. Rivers of America Totem Poles Removed The trio of totem poles were near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. They faced the river so were mostly visible to guests on … Read more
The two land masses that were once Tom Sawyer Island are now piles of dirt in the middle of Magic Kingdom. The area is being turned into Piston Peak National Park, a Cars expansion to Frontierland, while a new Villains Land is underway closer to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Magic Kingdom Construction Aerial photographer @bioreconstruct … Read more
Discounted merch spotted across Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando allegedly uses AI art for holiday decor, and the construction walls are down around the new Toy Story Land snack kiosk in Hollywood Studios — all this and more in today’s daily recap for Saturday, November 22, 2025. WDW News Today That’s it for today; we … Read more
Progress is well underway in the former Rivers of America in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. We have some updated photos and a peak at Big Thunder Mountain progress, as well. Former Rivers of America A mountain of dirt can now be seen over the construction walls in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square and Frontierland. This … Read more
