Major changes are underway at Magic Kingdom as Walt Disney World Resort begins a transformation that will forever alter the landscape of one of its oldest areas. As of Monday, July 14, the water levels in the Rivers of America have started to drop, signaling the beginning of the end for this iconic water feature in Liberty Square and Frontierland. The recent changes come just days after Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat closed their doors to the public on July 6, 2025.
The biggest shift on the horizon is the upcoming addition of Piston Peak National Park, a Cars (2006) themed land coming to Frontierland. This new area will feature two major attractions: a thrilling rally race and a family-friendly ride. Walt Disney Imagineers have also revealed that parts of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be incorporated into this new landscape inspired by the natural beauty of America’s national parks.
Construction crews have been hard at work for weeks, clearing hundreds of trees from land just outside Magic Kingdom Park. The work has included pouring gravel for an equipment staging area and preparing to set up office trailers.
Now that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are officially closed, construction walls have slowly crept into view. Magic Kingdom Park guests have noticed Imagineers exploring Tom Sawyer Island, tagging items for archival preservation before they disappear for good.
The most noticeable change, however, is the significant decrease in the water levels of the Rivers of America. According to Laughing Place, the iconic waterway is being drained as of Monday, July 14. The photo below shows what an empty Rivers of America looked like during a refurbishment project a few years back.
X (formerly known as Twitter) user @pplcallmeblue shared several photos and a video of the now-shallow Rivers of America:
You can still enjoy Rivers of America at WDW!!!!
…er…well… in some of its glory. Water levels coming down… (The single door got a wall attached at least!).
You can still enjoy Rivers of America at WDW!!!!
…er…well… in some of its glory. Water levels coming down… (The single door got a wall attached at least!) pic.twitter.com/n5HxTqVrnt— Aaron (@pplcallmeblue) July 13, 2025
In addition to the visible changes to the waterway, scaffolding and scrims have begun to appear near the Haunted Mansion queue, likely to block Disney Park guests’ view of the construction from the ride queue. The rafts once used to transport guests to Tom Sawyer Island are also no longer in operation, and construction equipment is now stationed on the dock.
Wooden walls also surround the Walt Disney World Railroad station in Frontierland, which is currently closed. However, the steam train still operates in “shuttle mode,” between Fantasyland and Main Street, U.S.A.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also closed for a year-long refurbishment that includes a complete track replacement. The ride is expected to reopen in early 2026, bringing with it “new magic” that will entertain Magic Kingdom Park guests as they await the new Piston Peak National Park area and a Disney Villains land promised to take over unused land behind the iconic Frontierland roller coaster.
Do you have a favorite memory from the Rivers of America? Share it with Disney Dining in the comments!
