Disney World Immediately Closes Major Parts of Beloved Theme Park Land at Magic Kingdom
Disney World's Magic Kingdom will feel a little different to recent visitors.
Parts of the beloved Frontierland were surrounded by construction walls on April 16. That's because major changes are in the works for the beloved Disney World land.
According to an April 16 article by Inside the Magic, "Overnight, Walt Disney World Resort installed construction walls around a classic part of Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom." The site added that the change comes "over a month after Disney confirmed the closure of two locations in the Old West-themed area of its original Central Florida theme park."
Major change is coming. According to Inside the Magic, in 2024, Walt Disney Imagineering "announced plans to bring a Cars (2006)-inspired area to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park." The area will be called Piston Peak National Park, "inspired by the natural environments of national parks throughout the United States," Inside the Magic reported.
The Construction Was Not Unexpected as It's Needed to Create a Stream Along the Frontierland Boardwalk, Reports Say
(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Blog Mickey reported that the construction was not unexpected. "We were told that Big Al’s merchandise kiosk, the Westward Ho grab-and-go snack kiosk, and the Frontierland churro cart were all on the chopping block," the site noted.
Disney "erected a plywood construction barrier along the boardwalk in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park," according to Inside the Magic.
According to Blog Mickey, Disney World visitors will see "the formation of a stream that would run along the Frontierland boardwalk, separating the current areas of Frontierland from the upcoming Piston Peak National Park area."
That site noticed construction walls going up starting in early March. "We believe that the Piston Peak National Park construction site will soon expand to engulf the Frontierland boardwalk," Blog Mickey reported.
Men's Journal previously reported on the closure of four popular attractions. They are Liberty Belle Riverboat, Tom Sawyer Island, Rafts Across Rivers of America, and Aunt Polly’s Dockside Inn. They were closed to make space for the Cars-themed addition.
What Is Piston Peak National Park?
"Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers," Disney Parks Blog says of Piston Peak National Park. "While fictional, Piston Peak is inspired by the Rocky Mountain area and the history and iconic sights of the American Frontier and its national parks."
The blog noted: "Inside Piston Peak, guests will be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails and more all set within the Disney and Pixar 'Cars' universe. From the outside, trees will provide a natural barrier between the off-road rally and other parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square. Rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway across from Grizzly Hall and soaring geysers from the famed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will stretch into the trails of our off-road rally."
Added Disney Parks Blog: "To continue this journey in great American storytelling, Piston Peak National Park will be part of the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom."